Archive for August, 2008
Diabetics take insulin to control their blood sugar or glucose. It cannot be taken orally as it is destroyed by digestion. Insulin shorts are taken by diabetics through pens, jet injectors and pumps.
Background Information
The food eaten is broken in to compounds of glucose among others. Body cells use glucose as a source of energy for movement, growth, repair and other functions. Before using glucose, the cells have to move away from the blood stream in to the individual cell that requires insulin.
Beta cells produce insulin in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. When glucose enters the blood stream the pancreas should produce the right amount of insulin, by instruct, to move glucose in to the cells. People with Type 1 diabetes produce no insulin. In Type 2 diabetes enough insulin is not produced. The insulin used by people is taken from either pigs or cows or manufactured in labs, similar to human insulin.
Types
The available products are of more than 20 types. Each has a different time and duration of action. The insulin a person should use depends on the individual’s life style, the doctor’s first choice and knowledge and the person’s blood sugar levels. Among the parameters of choice of insulin are(1) how soon it starts to work(onset) (2) when it works to the maximum level (peak time) (3) how long it lasts in the body (duration).
Types of delivery
Syringes are needles attached to hallow barrels that diabetics use to inject themselves with insulin. Syringes are small with sharp points and coated with a substance to help needles enter the skin painlessly. Pens look like pens but the cartridges are filled with insulin. They can substitute the needles.
Jet Injectors
These are good for people who dislike using needles. Compressed air is used to send a spray through the skin. The injectors have no needles.
Pumps are small pumping devices worn outside of the body, connecting the catheter by tubes, located under the skin of the abdomen. It is programmed to dispense the necessary amount of insulin.
It is hoped that some day the diabetic will not need any needles. Constant research is going on to find new ways of getting insulin in to the blood stream.
Diabetes, in which the body does not produce enough insulin to convert the glucose into energy required for the body activities, scares every one, specifically if it is Type 1 diabetes. But it is possible for a person to live for long and productive life even with Type 1 diabetes. But it is possible for a person to live for long and productive life even with Type 1 diabetes.
They must learn to live with that condition and see how it does not lead to further serious condition. An awareness of all aspects of the disorder and regular listing will help in caring for themselves and lead normal lives.
You have been Just Diagnosed
Don’t panic if you are diagnosed for Type 1 diabetes as the doctor will come to your rescue and give all information you require to test and care for yourself. By using a blood glucose meter you can measure your blood glucose level and see that it is normal. This is a crucial aspect for Type 1 diabetes people because very high or very low blood sugar level is very dangerous for them. But by knowing what to do if blood sugar levels shoot up or dive down they will be prepared to tackle any complications that arise.
Medications, Injections, Inhalers
Insulin injections are prescribed to control blood sugar levels manually. Follow the doctor’s instructions strictly. For very low glucose levels take a glucose shot or eat something with sugar. The doctor will however answer your specific questions on your specific condition.
The good news is that you have insulin inhalers which substitute the usage of syringes and needles. You may ask the doctor about this Type 1 diabetes drug.
As one with Type 1 diabetes, you have to look after yourself properly. If you are obese you have to lose weight and stop smoking if you are a smoker instantly. YOU should also be cautious regarding your alcohol in take. For a long and healthy life these precautions are indispensable. Through proper care, and following the doctor’s instructions it is not impossible to live successfully with diabetes and with a normal healthy life throughout your life span.
Though diabetes is all embracing in its sweep, much about the disease is really unknown in spite of the prolonged researches to find out its cause and cure. It is only through persistent research and untiring zeal that diabetes can be controlled and methods found to contain and cure it. Blood glucose levels can thus be controlled and the best ways to inject insulin in to blood can be devised.
Newer and Better Medicines
It is only diabetes research that can unravel better medicines for control and even give clues for the prevention of the disease even at the initial stage. So you have to look up to research organizations expecting something great to happen in the near future. One such diabetes research organization is the FDA. There are also others like Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation or the DAREF and also Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Diabetes research is not only conducted in advanced countries like the US, Australia and UK but in all parts of the world and areas prone to the disease. Efforts and research is being made to find vaccinations to fight auto immune response that triggers Type 1 diabetes, genetic engineering to produce liver cells that secrete insulin, stem cell research and many others.
More diabetes research is being done by using cinnamon to bring down blood sugar levels. The US Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Centre has isolated one of compounds of cinnamon that lowers blood sugar level. Diabetes research has thrown up newer means of treating diabetes. It is likely to make inhaling insulin possible instead of getting great benefit and boon to children who are averse to and terrified with injections that perturb them.
The never ending and persistent research on diabetes for better treatment methods, control, and cure will surely yield good results in the not distant future and the disease will be sorted out once and for all.
Diabetes is the villain that causes the maximum number of deaths in the country affecting a very large percentage of people in America. A few people are still at a loss to know the reason or the cause of this disease. There are few myths about the cause of this malady.
A few myths and real reasons are given here to keep the record straight so that we are not unduly affected by them. Though some reasons are unrealistic it is better for us to delve deep in to the causes of this disease which takes the toll of many lives at present.
Sound Baloney
There are different types of diabetes caused by different factors. Though it seems unrealistic and illogical a few people believe that diabetes is cased by an infection with a specific virus or bacteria. Another reason adduced is that exposure to food borne toxins or to cow’s milk as a very young infant where an un identified component triggers our auto immune reactions.
These causes are undoubtedly illogical, baloney, hypothetical and un- testified. Whatever may be the causes of diabetes, it is imperative that you go for doctor’s advice, consultation and diagnosis. A diabetician is the proper person to take care of it.
Real Reasons
According to medical science, common causes for diabetes are advanced age, obesity and physical in activity. Lethargy, an un healthy life style and sedentary habits contribute to the presence of this disease.
Very surely diabetes is caused by certain medicines. Pregnancy causes gestational diabetes. Damage to pancreas by some kind of illness affects the secretion of insulin. This damage is called Pancreatitis.
You should never jump in to any conclusion and run after a doctor for help. You should never believe in myths and hearsays which will not help you. You better consult the doctor and try to know more about the disease.
As diabetes is a serious disease to live with for long, it is the duty of every diabetic to know all about the disease and how to control it for his own good and avoidance of risk to life.
Diabetes discussion groups are a great help in supporting the patients with valuable suggestions, support and perspectives significant for living with diabetes.
Different Kinds of Diabetes Discussion Groups
There are multiple forms of diabetes discussion groups for diabetes patients. You should know what you are looking for before you start looking for a diabetes discussion group. If you want to make friends and create social circles, your requirement is a highly active community discussion group.
If you want to remain unknown but want to share the information and general support, diabetes discussion groups in the form of forums on the internet are ideally suited for you.
Do Your Home Work
Register for the right diabetes discussion group. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the group when you enquire for general information. It is always better to sit in on the group once or twice before deciding to join them.
The diversity in people’s background renders a few diabetes discussion groups unsuitable for you or, causes them not to concentrate on the same concerns and issues you consider as important.
Depending on the Type of diabetes you have, you should think of joining a diabetes discussion group. It can be a generalized diabetic discussion group open to all diabetics. It can also be a group specifically for your disease.
These are the questions you have to ask yourself while looking for a diabetes discussion group and raise these personal questions during discussions. Choose the group comfortable for you and that from which you can get the most. If you are unsatisfied with the group, you have plenty of other groups to join depending on what they give you according to your expectations. It is only your responsibility to join a group which is the right one for you.
Diabetes is a serious condition where the body is incapable of converting glucose into energy. This may be the result of insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas which is impaired in its functioning. Diabetes symptoms develop slowly and steadily and may not be easy to detect. These include fatigue, abrupt loss of weight, and difficulty in vision.
Other diabetes symptoms include wounds that take a very long time to heal, frequent urination, and at night, thirst caused by loss of fluids, and excessive urination also. Any or all of these symptoms requires a check up by the doctor to see if they are symptoms of diabetes, specially if you have heart trouble, defective vision, numbness in the feet and legs. You must immediately get yourself checked up and diagnosed.
Type 2 Diabetes
It is common in some cases that the diabetics do not show any symptoms of diabetes. Type2 diabetes is such an example as it takes years to develop before it is finally diagnosed. It differs from person to person. Type1 and Type 2 symptoms are different from each other and in youth or young children take a few days or weeks before they surface.
In Type 1 diabetes there is a pronounced thirst, dry mouth frequent urination, loss of weight, feeling low and worn out trouble with vision with loss of focus. In Type 2 diabetes symptoms differ and include unhealing cuts and wounds itchiness of skin, abnormal thirst, frequent urination, and pain in the leg.
In gestational diabetes, another type of diabetes, the symptoms are excessive thirst, frequent urination, loss of weight in spite of good appetite, feeling low and worn out, feeling nauseous, vomiting and infections relating to vagina, skin and also to bladder.
Therefore a person has to be on his toes and test himself immediately to know if he is afflicted with diabetes. Then he can identify the type of diabetes he has been affected with by seeing the common or abnormal symptoms of different types of diabetes. It is important to understand that delay is dangerous in the case, especially of diabetes.
