Becoming a diabetic nutrition specialist can provide you with an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life and get paid well to do so. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dietitians and nutritionists made a median salary of $50,590 in May of 2008. However, those working in the field of nutrition and food management made $64,002 as a median salary. A diabetic nutrition specialist works specifically with individuals in the diabetic community, helping them tailor their diets in such a way to meet their own basic nutritional needs.
Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body does not properly regulate sugars. There are two types of diabetes: In Type 2 diabetes, the body attacks its own insulin-producing cells. With Type 2, sometimes called adult-onset diabetes, the body produces insulin, but does not regulate it properly. Symptoms of both types are similar, and it's important to have a doctor check your symptoms, because untreated diabetes can cause serious complications.
According to the American Diabetes Association website, 20.8 million people have diabetes, which is 7 percent of the total population. The health industry diagnoses over 2,200 people each day. It's no wonder that the prevalence of diabetes is a concern. Diabetes is a chronic disease that makes it difficult to turn food into energy. When you digest food, your body breaks it down into sugar. The sugar moves into the blood cells to provide needed energy. Insulin is necessary to let the sugar into the cells. Type 1 diabetics do not produce any insulin. Type 2 diabetics do not produce…
The food you eat is broken down into sugar called glucose. Your body uses the sugar to supply energy. Insulin is the hormone that carries the sugar into the body cells. Diabetics' cells are unable to receive the sugar for energy. The sugar builds up in the bloodstream. The result is high levels of blood sugar that can damage your body. Type 1 diabetes is when your body stops making insulin so you need insulin shots for your body to carry the sugar into the cells. Type 2 diabetes is when your body doesn't make enough insulin or the body…
Because of the growing diabetic population, there is a major need for certified diabetes educators across the country. In order to become a diabetes educator, however, there are several criteria that must be met. Once these criteria are met, you will reach a position where you can help thousands of people diagnosed with diabetes and teach them how to properly manage their condition.