Archive for May, 2009
Being diagnosed with any kind of a disease is undoubtedly a difficult time. It almost always means a change in lifestyle, whether that means taking daily medication or an alteration of what you eat on a daily basis. To that end, the news that you’re diabetic can be particularly troubling, because it often means a change on many different fronts. For one, you will probably have to drastically change your diet and exercise habits, and this alone is stressful enough.
But for others, it will also mean having to take medication to help keep your diabetes in check. As with any disease, however, make sure to explore all your options. Especially if you’re a borderline diabetic, it might not be necessary to take this medication. Your condition might be controlled solely through diet and exercise. But if you’re going to take that step, make sure you have all the information you need. Consult with several doctors and nutritionists about whether the medication is right for you, and seek out many different sources of diabetes information. These will give you a better idea of the pros and cons of taking diabetes medication.
Diabetics are at risk of cutting back on necessary supplies, medications and check-ups during these tough economic times, putting even more strain on an already taxed health system. A recent AP study found that doctors are reporting more patients skipping regular visits, diabetics cutting back or even eliminating daily testing, and drops in sales of top-selling diabetic drugs.
Even with a good health plan, it can cost upwards of $200 a month to maintain proper control (insulin, test strips, associated medications, office visits) and without insurance that cost can skyrocket to over 5 times that amount.
It’s critical for controlling diabetes to maintain a regular regimen of blood sugar checks; for Type 1 diabetics that means 5-6 tests per day. By not keeping a tighter control on blood sugar levels Type 1 diabetics risk greater chances of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) which will cause long term damage, and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that can have drastic immediate effects by causing dizziness, blurred vision, and unconsciousness.
As tough as it is, diabetics can not afford to spend less on their essentials. They need to talk to their health professional about less expensive alternatives (generics) and learn how to lessen their dependence on medication if possible. By sticking to a better diet, checking blood sugar regularly, and regular exercise diabetics can get better control over their diabetes and ease some of the monetary burden.
If you’ve recently learned that you’re diabetic, it usually doesn’t serve as a shock. Many people suspect that they’re diabetic long before they get the official confirmation from their doctor. But it will still constitute a major life change. For one, you’ll have to be careful about monitoring your blood levels, and this means you’ll have to learn how to prick your own finger and accurately read your levels without the help of a doctor. For some, especially those that are squeamish about blood, this will be a trying part of life as a diabetic.
But like everything else, it will invariably get easier with time. This is also true of the diabetes diet. The biggest element of your diet that you’ll have to monitor is your sugar intake. While you’ll want to limit the sugar present in the foods you eat, it’s actually the drinks that pose the biggest problem. To that end, avoid sugary juices or adding sugar to your morning coffee or tea. The body processes this sugar slightly differently, and it can cause an unnatural spike in your blood levels.
How do I start a diabetes self management regimen? Here are a few tips that will let you lead a good life:
1 Undergo regular checkups to keep your blood sugar levels under control.
2 Stick to a healthy, balanced diet. Diet control is a key factor in controlling diabetes.
3 Do moderate exercise. That itself will help you regain your stamina
4 Make it a point to carry some sweets with you always. Just put some pieces of candy in your pocket. It comes of great use whenever your sugar levels go awry.
5 Keep a check on your weight. Overweight can complicate already existent diabetic symptoms.
6 Educate yourself on all aspects of the disorder. Talk to your healthcare professional and discuss all issues related to diabetes.
So you see, diabetes self management is not the monstrous thing it seems to be! Just take good care of yourself and you can lead a rich life in spite of your diabetes.