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How is Diabetes Managed?


Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, everyone with type 1 diabetes died within a few years after diagnosis. Although insulin is not considered a cure, its discovery was the first major breakthrough in diabetes treatment.

Today, healthy eating, physical activity, and taking insulin are the basic therapies for type 1 diabetes. Blood glucose levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood glucose checking. People with diabetes also monitor blood glucose levels several times a year with a laboratory test called the A1C. Results of the A1C test reflect average blood glucose over a 2- to 3-month period.

Healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose testing are the basic management tools for type 2 diabetes. In addition, many people with type 2 diabetes require oral medication, insulin, or both to control their blood glucose levels.

Adults with diabetes are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, at least 65 percent of those with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. Managing diabetes is more than keeping blood glucose levels under control--it is also important to manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels through healthy eating, physical activity, and use of medications (if needed). By doing so, those with diabetes can lower their risk. Aspirin therapy, if recommended by the health care team and smoking cessation can also help lower risk.

People with diabetes must take responsibility for their day-to-day care. Much of the daily care involves keeping blood glucose levels from going too low or too high. When blood glucose levels drop too low--a condition known as hypoglycemia--a person can become nervous, shaky, and confused. Judgment can be impaired, and if blood glucose falls too low, fainting can occur.

People with diabetes should see a health care provider who will help them learn to manage their diabetes and who will monitor their diabetes control. Most people with diabetes get care from primary care physicians--internists, family practice doctors, or pediatricians. Often, having a team of providers can improve diabetes care. A primary care provider such as an internist, a family practice doctor, or a pediatrician.

An endocrinologist (a specialist in diabetes care)
A dietitian, a nurse, and other health care providers who are certified diabetes educators experts in providing information about managing diabetes.

A podiatrist (for foot care)

An ophthalmologist or an optometrist (for eye care)
The team can also include a pediatrician or a neonatologist with experience taking care of babies born to women with diabetes. The goal of diabetes management is to keep levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol as close to the normal range as safely possible. A major study, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), showed that keeping blood glucose levels close to normal reduces the risk of developing major complications of type 1 diabetes.

This 10-year study, completed in 1993, included 1,441 people with type 1 diabetes. The study compared the effect of two treatment approaches--intensive management and standard management--on the development and progression of eye, kidney, nerve, and cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Intensive treatment aimed to keep A1C levels as close to normal (6 percent) as possible. Researchers found that study participants who maintained lower levels of blood glucose through intensive management had significantly lower rates of these complications. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, a European study completed in 1998, showed that intensive control of blood glucose and blood pressure reduced the risk of blindness, kidney disease, stroke, and heart attack in people with type 2 diabetes.

Successful Diabetic Management
It is also known as adult onset diabetes as it contrasts with type 1 diabetes and which typically form later in your adult life when the pancreas lost the facility to manufacture insulin that your body require.

When you are afflicted with the following symptoms, fix an appointment your doctor as soon as possible: extreme thirst, extreme urination, inexplicable weight loss, vaginal itching, and blurred vision, wound that takes too long to recuperate, fatigue and weakness, headaches, existence of sugar in urine, elevated levels of blood sugar.

With the existence of such symptoms and if you have a family history of having diabetes and are obese, immediately seek the advice of a physician. Types 2 diabetes can cause severe long term complications such as loss of eye sight, amputation of the limbs, kidney failure, heart attack, etc. Do not be complacent if you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as your inability to follow doctor's order might compromise your quality of life.

With type 2 diabetes, there is no available cure and the best answer is through exercise, diet and medications, Type 2 diabetes can be dealt with only if you are disciplined by staying clear of sweet things, reducing your weight to a manageable level and when it comes to fruit, though healthy, consume moderately as many types of fruit do contain sugar. Plan your meal well and avoid too much salts and sugar.

Type 2 diabetic is manageable with no requirement for insulin injection but discipline is vital. With a successful diabetic management plan, type 2 diabetic can be controlled and your lifestyles do not have to compromise. With the right exercise and regular medications, diet also play an important part and you can acquire delicious diabetic recipes by following the recipes at www.healthydiabeticrecipe.com. A healthy diabetic recipe need not be bland but one you can enjoy.

With all the proper diabetic management techniques, it need not be a chore and your diabetic diet can be just as appetizing. Diabetes though a severe condition, need not be life threatening if there is successful diabetic management system.


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