Best Diabetes Tips

Types of Diabetes

2009-06-17T21:47:00.002+08:00

There are 3 types of diabetes:

Type 1 – Type 1 diabetes has also been called "juvenile diabetes" and "insulin dependant diabetes" and is most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults. This is caused when the body failed to produce insulin. It is estimated that 5-10% of American diabetics have type 1.

Type 2 – Type 2 diabetes are caused by the body does not produce enough insulin or the blood ignore the insulin. As insulin is important to bring glucose from the blood to the cell, the glucose stay in the blood and damage the body.

Gestational diabetes – It begin when the mother’s body is not able to produce and use up all the insulin needed for pregnancy. The extra blood glucose goes through the placenta and may lead macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face may have may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

People suffered from diabetes is serious, but does not mean you can't live a long, healthy and happy life. The key is proper monitoring and management of your blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Test. How to choice blood glucose meter and test strip

2009-06-13T22:36:00.005+08:00

The most common method of monitoring the blood sugar is by pricking your finger with a lancet (a small, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip and then placing the strip into a meter which displays your blood sugar level. Usually, the meter shows the results in less than 5 seconds and may record down the information for later use. The meters can also calculate the average blood sugar level for a period of time.

In choosing blood glucose meter, you should discuss with you doctor or pharmacist. You may choose models that store the testing results for a day, a week or a month according to you need. If you have to monitor frequently, you may want to find a blood glucose meter that requires a smaller sample of blood. If you want to compare daily tests result, you may get one with more memory capability. Other factors you have to consider are the size of the display, testing speed, portability of the meter, cost of the device and cost of the test strips. Make sure the meter is easy for you to use. And remember to consider the maintenance and cleaning, too. Last but not least, all home blood glucose meters and test strips must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This ensures the meter compares in consistency and accuracy to similar products on the market.

You should also note the compatibility of blood glucose meter and test strips. As different brand blood glucose meter and test strips may not work probably. Therefore, you should probably choose the same brand blood glucose meter and test strips.

Blood sugar testing is usually recommended before meals, after meals, and at bedtime. Frequency and timing of blood sugar measurements should be depended on yourself.

Diabetes Treatment

2009-06-13T22:35:00.001+08:00

The major purpose of diabetes treatment is to control the glucose level in the blood to normal level by taking insulin and to monitor the glucose level seriously.
For type 1 and type 2 diabetics, they required to have lifelong treatment by taking tablets, insulin injections every day or using an insulin pump, depend on their seriousness.

Other than taking medicine, diabetics should check their glucose level day by day, to ensure the glucose level is as close to normal level as possible. That is 80 to 120 mg/dL (4.4 to 6.7 mmol/L) at daytime and 100 to 140 mg/dL (5.6 to 7.8 mmol/L) at nighttime.

For gestational diabetes, it usually goes away after pregnancy. However, some of them further developed to Type 2 Diabetes.

Other than taking insulin, diabetic should
a. take diabetes diet like having more vegetables and less carbohydrates, as what and how much they eat will affect the glucose level. Glucose level is highest 1 to 2 hours after meal
b. do more exercise as exercise can help to move the glucose in the blood to the cell which resulted to a lower glucose level
c. avoid getting cold or other illness
d. stop smoking and drinking alcohol
e. keep relax as staying stress may prevent insulin from working properly

Symptoms of Diabetes and Who are at the high risk?

2009-06-13T22:29:00.002+08:00

Diabetic often don’t aware they were suffer from diabetes as the symptoms of diabetes seem harmless. The diabetes symptoms included frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision.

If you are obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, seldom have exercise, pregnant, family member with diabetes record, aged over 40, Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, then you are at the high risk of getting diabetes.

How Popular is Diabetes?

2009-06-13T22:27:00.002+08:00

According to the World Health Organization, in 2000, there were 171 million people of the world suffer from diabetes. It is estimated that, in 2030, 366 million people in the world will be suffer from diabetes. That is, on average, 6.5 million increased every year!

In America, there are 23.6 million people, or 7.8% of the population, is suffer from diabetes. It was estimated that 17.9 million had been diagnosed with diabetes. However, one quarter of these people do not aware that they have the disease.

What is Diabetes?

2009-06-13T22:04:00.002+08:00

Diabetes is caused by to much glucose (sugar that absorbed by people after eating) present in the blood. Diabetes occurs because the body can't use glucose properly, either because the lack of the hormone –insulin (produce by the pancreas), or the insulin available but doesn't work effectively.

When very high levels of blood glucose are present for years, it may lead to damage of the small blood vessels. It resulted to blind, foot ulceration (amputation), damage to kidney (nephropathy), heart attack and etc.