Archive for April, 2009

Diabetes is the most common disease in society today. There is a lot of advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Diabetic care has also improved greatly. Of the basically three types of diabetes Type1 is called as Juvenile onset. Type2 is named as adult onset and gestational Diabetes. Basically similar in effect, they are different in treatment, duration and how they affect the person.

Type 1

Type 1 or Juvenile onset affects a child or young adult. Insulin, the hormone, is not produced in the body of the affected child or young adult. In the absence of insulin the body cannot change the sugar into energy required for life. This diagnosis is very unfortunate because the patient has to live with it for ever. The treatment for
Type 1 consists of insulin, diet control and activity. With proper intervention and treatment the young person can live a full and productive life.

Type 2

Adult onset Diabetes, diagnosed later, occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when it cannot use the insulin secreted easily. It occurs some times in people who are very fat which changes the need for insulin and its effect. Type 2 diabetes is difficult to manage as it necessitates a change in life style and the food habits of people. The treatments for Type 2 are medication, diet and exercise.

Gestational Diabetes

The gestational form of diabetes is seen in pregnant women where certain hormones prevent the release or decrease the release of insulin. This disorder is very difficult because the increased blood sugar levels are harmful to the mother and the unborn baby. In the absence of control of blood sugar the baby will not have normal development. This gestational diabetes automatically disappears after the baby is born. But for the mother there is a risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Treatment for Gestational Diabetes includes medicine and diabetic diet as recommended by the diabetes dietician.

One of the most significant aspects of diabetic control is the knowledge of how foods affect blood sugar levels and sticking to a staple diabetic diet for long. For a diabetic it is an eating plan and not for losing weight. Some diabetics are able to control diabetes completely their diet control and keep the blood sugar under control without the aid of medicines. So it is important to know where to find good diabetic diet information.

The Medical Team

First and foremost good diabetic diet information can be obtained from the family doctor and the local medical centre. Doctors have the diet information with them and may even refer a patient to a dietician who can work out a diet plan with the patient. Local medical centers conduct classes and have support groups to discuss diabetic diet and see how others personally deal with the disease and diet.

The American Diabetic association

The Association concentrates totally on the cure and treatment of diabetes. Several resources and materials are available with them for the diabetic along with information on good diabetic diet. Their information is up to date and they assist the patient in curing the disease. They refer the patients to specialists in diabetes in the local area who counsel them on diabetic diet. Their monthly publication “Diabetes Forecast” gives the latest information on new discoveries for the diabetic diet and other treatments.

Internet Information

Any information including all about diabetes is now available, because of the sudden explosion of technology, on the internet. Plenty of sites give the maximum information on diabetes. Some deal with diet information while a few focus on diabetic recipes as in www.cyber diabetes.com. The information here is brief and clear on dietary needs. WWW.ediets.com offers a free living with diabetes profile. Here a nutrition dietician recommends a diet for losing weight and controlling diabetes. Any information gained by the diabetic should be checked with the doctor to ensure its accuracy and usefulness for his specific and particular case.