How to Manage Diabetes

The best plan for managing diabetes is to first understand the disease and the different ways it can affect your life. It is important that more people become aware of the disease and its symptoms.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Diabetes has become more common in our society today. People are also recognizing the symptoms earlier and that is the key. You can delay or prevent long-term side effects with early recognition. It is the long-term effects such as kidney disease and cardiovascular disease which are usually fatal and not the diabetes itself. You can control the diabetes, you would have a harder time getting over kidney disease or heart disease.
2. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is the hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environment play a part. Overeating sugars and starches can cause the pancreas to over work itself and finally stop producing insulin. Obesity and lack of exercise play huge roles in diabetes.
3. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type II. Type 1 occurs when the body does not produce any insulin at all. This type of diabetes can be due to a virus or autoimmune disorder in which the body does not recognize an organ as its own and attacks it. In this case, the body attacks the pancreas where insulin is produced. Those with Type 1 are usually diagnosed before age 40 and are required to take insulin injections to move the sugar from the bloodstream.
4. Type II Diabetes occurs when the insulin the body produces is less efficient at moving sugar out of the bloodstream. Diet, exercise, weight loss and possible medications are the treatment for this type.
   
   There are 20 million children and adults in the U.S. who have diabetes. There is unfortunately 6 million people that are unaware they have the disease. Early detection is really important. The main symptoms to look for are extreme hunger and thirst, fatigue, excessive urination and sometimes weight loss. In some cases, when a wound doesn't heal the disease may be more advanced. Left untreated diabetes can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, amputations, and blindness. With proper control, you can lead a normal life.
5. Checking your blood sugar is really important in managing your diabetes. You should check it more than just one time a day. You may have a perfect reading when you get up in the morning and not realize that your blood sugar is way up after you eat. Normal sugar levels range about 80 and 120 throughout the day and up to 140 before bedtime. You also need to know not to use alcohol when prepping your finger for a stick but to use antibacterial soap instead.. It will sting less and won't affect the reading like alcohol can. If you've been diagnosed you should talk with your doctor or specialist and learn more about what type you have and what treatment is right for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Always talk to your doctor
• Take responsibility for yourself and read up and understand. Lose the weight, exercise, change your diet, what ever it takes, but its better than taking too much medicine when you can control some other ways.