.....I'm sure diabetes management holds different meanings for different people. Your Physician might like to see your laboratory HBA1C test results to range between 6-7%. Your Peoples Pharmacist might want you to understand your medicines and know how to properly use your blood glucose testing machine. A Dietician would like you to understand how the glycemic index of foods can affect your blood sugar. But how do you manage your diabetes? Perhaps the best way to manage your diabetes is to ask how to reduce your risk of developing the complications from diabetes. Then find ways to integrate these suggestions into your daily routine. This month I hope to help you find ways to better manage your diabetes by answering some questions and giving some suggestions.
.....What is diabetes? The condition of diabetes occurs when the body does not produce, or is unable to properly use, insulin. Insulin is needed by all cells to use glucose, which is the body’s primary source of energy. One analogy is that insulin is the “key” to open your cells “door” to let in glucose. |
.....There are many symptoms that can indicate if you have diabetes: unusual thirst, frequent urination, weight change (gain or loss), unusual fatigue, or blurred vision.
.....There are three types of diabetes: type I, type II and gestational.
 .....Type I is also called insulin dependent diabetes. In this case, the pancreas produces little or no insulin for the body to use. People with type I diabetes require daily injections of insulin. Type II diabetes, also called insulin resistant diabetes, affects about 90 percent of the people who have diabetes. Type II diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not use the insulin that is produced effectively. Gestational diabetes is generally temporary and occasionally occurs
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during pregnancy.
.....Perhaps the best way to manage your diabetes is to monitor your blood sugar regularly. It can either be done at home with a home blood glucose monitor or it can be measured at the lab. The lab test is called glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) and can determine your average blood sugar levels over the past 3-4 months. How does this work? The sugar in your blood stream coats your red blood cells. The amount of coating is proportional to the amount of sugar that is normally in your blood stream. If you regularly have higher blood sugar, there will be more sugar to coat your red blood cells.
.....The first step in managing any medical condition is education. This part is easy; just visit your local library or used book store and pick up a book or two about diabetes. It is important that you and your family understand the treatment options and complications of diabetes. Your family can be a great source of encouragement in maintaining a proper lifestyle and diet habits.
.....The next step should be to learn about the dietary changes that can help lower your blood glucose. Learn about the glycemic index (GI) of foods. This |
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