Archive for October, 2008
The best source for diabetes information is the internet which tells you about all diabetic cures, knowledge, treatment, statistics and stories and true life accounts of others with diabetes. Above all these you must consult your doctor who has information specific to your type of diabetes and he is the best person to recommend the suitable treatment. Don’t be scared that you are alone. There are many who have diabetes and lead long and healthy lives.
Internet Forums
Internet forums by diabetics give a lot of diabetes information. Many diabetics post questions and they are answered by others suffering from diabetes. You find thus that you are not alone. It is really great that answers come from those who like you have suffered and experienced problems. For true life accounts you can log on to one of the forums and browse through each thread or entry to get all diabetes information. Post your questions personally and see if some one answers you. After some time you may get the answer from one who has gone through exactly what you are experiencing now.
Consult your doctor
Your doctor has to test you and diagnose what Type of diabetes you have. You have to ascertain from your doctor all information about the type of diabetes you have. You should know how to test your blood glucose, how to give yourself insulin injections, and maintain your health. As diabetes can lead to other problems, you should be on the look out for symptoms of other diseases also. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor any question as he is a compendium of information on diabetes.
Do not conclude that your chapter of life is over because you have diabetes. By a little adjustment and maintenance of your life style you can continue to live a productive and healthy life. See that diabetes does not the better of you. Similar to checking the oil in ear, you should check your blood sugar levels every now and then to ensure that everything is normal and smooth. This is the key to diabetes and living with it. It is for this reason that you should get all the available information about diabetes for living with it without serious consequences.
Diabetes in children is long lasting when compared to that in adults. It does not show any sign of abating. Almost all children of 16 years and below are affected with type 1 diabetes. In most cases of this childhood diabetes the pancreas is affected and it becomes incapable of secreting the much needed insulin. In theses cases the immune system attacks its own tissues and organs and in type 1 diabetes the pancreas is affected as the insulin producing cells are destroyed.
Affects children differently
Though un-common, childhood diabetes affects children differently in different parts of the world. It affects 43 persons in hundred thousand people in Finland while in Japan it is only three out of hundred thousand people. But since thirty years childhood diabetes is on the increase and in Europe and America type 2 Diabetes has begun to affect the youth which may be related to their obesity.
The causes of childhood diabetes are as mysterious as those of adult diabetes. People believe that is could be because of genes and environmental triggers acting together. Family history is found not playing any part in childhood type 1diabetes.
The symptoms of diabetes-thirst, loss of weight, tiredness, frequent urination, pain in the stomach, head aches and problems in behavior. Doctors should check children for long history of illness, pain in the stomach lasting for a few weeks. If the diagnosis is positive he should refer the patient to a childhood diabetes specialist.
It is always better to hospitalize the child rather than go for a general medical practitioner. As insulin treatment is required, a daily regimen is needed by the child in an individual manner.
It is difficult for parents to cope up with childhood diabetes in their child. They must offer solid support to the general practitioner, hospital service, or even social services. This is specifically significant as this type lasts longer than the adult type of diabetes.
Diabetes is always associated with certain drugs and procedures like insulin shorts, blood sugar monitors and other medicines. In spite of all these, health professionals and researchers are trying their best to cure diabetes or at least manage and control the disease and help patients’ live normal happy life.
Commonly Prescribed Medications
Actos is one such commonly prescribed medication, a once a day insulin sensitizer helping to increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin. In other words a daily dose of Actos strengthens the body’s insulin and makes it more effective. This helps in managing your diabetes and insulin levels.
It is available in three dosages-15 mg, 30mg, and 45mg. People mostly take 30mg and 45mgs dosage. As this drug is costly it is better to have health insurance to cover the cost of prescription drug expense.
Another commonly prescribed oral diabetes drug is Amaryl which should be taken once a day. It is considered to be sulfonylurea and works mainly on the pancreas to increase your body’s insulin production after meals to make your body use the glucose more effectively.
Amaryl is the most inexpensive drug for diabetes which can be split in order to adjust dosage according to the situation. Amaryl can be taken on an empty stomach or minutes before eating your first main meal of the day. It is guaranteed to work fast usually within 24 hours.
A fix medication oral tablet for instant management of diabetes is Avandaryl. It is composition of Avandia mixed with glimiperide, the generic name for Amaryl.
Discuss with your doctor for more information on these drugs and the one that suits you best. It s always better to discuss with your doctor first and decide on the best for your type of diabetes.
Diabetic complications are of two kinds, viz. acute (short term) and chronic (long term). Regular monitoring by the patients, the doctors and the nurses is an absolute necessity in view of these complications and risks involved.
Short term complications
Imbalance of sugar level is the chief cause of short term complication. High level sugar leads to Hyperglycemia which when untreated leads to coma or even death. Death is rare in people not dependent on insulin. Hyperglycemia is very serious when the blood sugar level is more than 20. It is also connected with ketones in urine. Undiagnosed diabetes causes hyperglycemia. It is seen first through an illness directly caused by high sugar levels.
In sufficient medication in tablet or insulin form, illness can cause hyperglycemia. Colds and other infections cause the body to release more of its own sugar. A bad diet with excess sugar can cause hyperglycemia as also change in exercise habits. Subnormal sugar causes hyperglycemia which is also dangerous. It is caused by insufficient intake of food like missing a meal or not eating enough causing sugar levels to go low. Too much insulin is also a problem. Exercise affects low sugar levels. Lot of exercise makes glucose give off energy to muscles and so a diabetic who does exercise must take extra calories or reduce his insulin.
Long Term Complications
Diabetes affects the circulation to the back of the eye. In its serious long term complication fragile new blood vessels are formed which can easily burst causing a haemorrhage which can blind the eye.
Another complication is related to the kidneys. Kidney failure is due to the damage in small blood vessels. The sign of damage is the presence of a protein-albumin in the urine. Strict control of blood pressure in diabetics can prevent this going on to destroy kidneys. Diabetes attacks smaller blood vessels causing ulcers that do not cure easily. So diabetics should look after their feet properly.
Diabetes can damage the sensory nerves resulting in loss of sensation in feet leading to damage in feet and wounds without one’s knowledge. Diabetes can damage automatic nerves that control blood pressure. This damage causes blood pressure to fall.
Diabetes can also cause heart disease and so blood pressure should be controlled by a diabetic as also cholesterol to be out of danger.
