Type 1 diabetes is a condition that affects people at a young age when the pancreas stops producing a satisfactory amount of insulin. When insulin levels dip below normal, the body begins to use fat cells as an energy source – a catastrophic development that cannot be sustained for long without serious health risks. It’s therefore important to recognize the symptoms of diabetes in children and to seek immediate treatment.
Signs of diabetes may include fatigue as the cells become deprived of sugar, blurred vision as the body pulls liquid from any available tissue source and hunger resulting in a loss of energy. Without a way to rid itself of excess sugar, the body will also seek moisture to dilute it. That means increased thirst and an increased frequency of urination. The sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated and the child can return to a happy, normal life.
Just three years ago, the United Nations designated November 14 as World Diabetes Day. As that day approaches, let’s take a look at mankind’s arduous and dedicated struggle with the disease. In the centuries before Christ, the Egyptian and Greek physicians made rudimentary diabetes diagnoses, noting the passage of too much urine. Later, in the 18th century, an English doctor confirmed suspicions that diabetic urine contained sugar.
The history of diabetes is really the story of individuals overcoming steep challenges and physicians breaking new ground. Just before the turn of the 19th century, doctors recognized that diabetics’ bodies were more adept at handling certain diets. By 1921, the work of Fredrick Banting had led to the discovery of insulin and the best means of treating the condition to date.
When the cells of the body don’t get the glucose they need to function properly, plenty of warning signs become evident in a hurry. Most people who suffer from diabetes recognize that there’s something wrong almost immediately, but it can take much longer to get a proper diagnosis. The following list of diabetes symptoms can help you to recognize the problem and seek treatment as soon as possible.
Insulin is a necessary part of kidney function, and without it a person will experience frequent trips to the bathroom. Urine will also be rich in glucose because the kidneys are unable to filter it back into the blood. A general feeling of weakness or fatigue is another tell-tale sign, as the body cannot get its full complement of energy from glucose. Unquenchable thirst is yet another potential symptom.
It’s important for all people to get regular exercise, and this is the same for diabetics. However, exercise can have an adverse effect on a diabetic if not done on a regular basis. For example, a diabetic who endures fast paced exercise that is not accustomed to it will burn calories and metabolize at a faster rate, and thus, there is a much higher chance that blood sugar will be low when finished. However, diabetics who exercise a little at a time and on a schedule will be able to regulate their blood sugar level, and will also understand how their blood sugar is affected by exercise.
Diabetes exercise can encompass a wide range of physical activities, including resistance training and cardio. It’s a good idea to start out with a little cardio, even a walk or a short jog can be enough if done three times per week. Resistance training is often less strain, but over time, the body will need more food to compensate for building muscle, so it’s important to be aware of this fact before beginning a resistance training regimen.
For diabetics, one of the most important aspects of managing diabetes is proper nutrition. Diabetics need to eat on a regular schedule, and eat nutritious meals without a lot of sugar. Without proper diabetes nutrition, it’s much likelier that a diabetic will have a reaction and see their blood sugar drop to a low level.
Diabetes nutrition begins with breakfast, and as a diabetic, it’s important to eat a balanced breakfast each morning. It’s important to be on a schedule for eating because blood sugar can drop to lower levels, and thus the diabetic will need to adjust their insulin intake to compensate, which is often dangerous. Each meal should be around 400-500 calories, and snacks should be no more than 100-200 calories and not contain a lot of sugar. It’s also a good idea to check blood sugar often, at least after meals, and also throughout the day at regular intervals. This will reduce the chance of a drop in blood sugar, and ensure the diabetic leads a healthier life managing their condition.
Type-1 diabetes sufferers are anything but helpless. In fact, many diabetics derive strength from the knowledge that they can control the disease. Some diabetics prefer to stick to a strictly regimented diet and exercise plan, which help to keep insulin levels around normal. Others choose to implement an insulin pump, which infuses their body with insulin and allows them to monitor their blood sugar.
Using an insulin pump for the first time may seem like a daunting task, but it can quickly become a staple of any diabetic’s daily routine. It’s important to keep in mind that insulin pumps are more expensive to use and replenish than simpler methods of delivery such as syringes. Also, pump users will need to plan ahead so that they can protect their investment from damage during physical activity. Insulin pumps are just one solution to diabetes self management; be sure to explore every possibility before settling on the choice that’s right for you.
Although a cure for diabetes has not yet been discovered, thousands of doctors and scientists are investigating the problem every day. The American Diabetes Association is one of the world leaders in funding and diabetes research. While the association does not actually conduct the physical research, it helps to disseminate information to the public at large.
The association was founded in 1940 by a team of concerned citizens who were increasingly disturbed by the negative impact of type-1 diabetes. Since that time, its employees have worked to increase diabetes awareness through the distribution of supplemental materials and informational Web sites. Diabetics nationwide have collectively benefited from the hard work and dedication of the ADA and likeminded organizations.
When people are diagnosed with diabetes, they often feel like they are being sentenced to a life without any kind of enjoyable food. But that’s simply not the case. Although you will probably have to eliminate a lot of junk food, sugar, or carbs from your diet, it doesn’t mean you can’t find delicious and simple to prepare meals that the whole family can enjoy.
To that end, one of the food categories that most concerns recently diagnosed diabetics is dessert. While many people opt to simply eliminate this part of the meal, it doesn’t need to be that drastic. Rather, you can simply replace a piece of cake or bowl of ice cream with some fresh fruit and cream. In this way, you’ll still be receiving a bit of sugar, but it will be sugar that’s better for your body to process. You’ll also be receiving some beneficial vitamins and nutrients. And if you ever feel stuck with your diet, just hop online. You’ll find all kinds of diabetes recipes that will give you quick, easy, and healthy choices for all your meals.
Increasingly, articles are appearing in the news about diabetics getting in accidents on the road because of episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), sometimes with tragic results. Although it might not be right to charge those drivers with any type of vehicular crime, diabetics should not get a free pass just because they have this disease. Diabetics have a responsibility not only to themselves but also to those around them to properly monitor and control their blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes really is a controllable situation, and the best way to manage it is with constant blood glucose checks. A type 1 diabetic should check their blood sugar a minimum of 5 times a day, and some DMV codes say diabetics need to check their sugar EVERY time they get behind the wheel.
Blood glucose monitors can deliver a reading in less than 10 seconds. That really is not a long time for a diabetic to wait and see if he/she is in range, and thereby safe to operate a vehicle. No matter how busy someone is with errands, work, school, or life in general they HAVE to take the time to check sugar levels. Regular monitoring can help diabetics better detect glucose trends, react to carb intakes and maintain more consistent glucose levels, thereby minimizing the harmful long-term effects of peaks and valleys in their blood glucose. More importantly, diabetic drivers need to check blood sugars to avoid the potentially disastrous effects of hypoglycemia.
Controlling diabetes with a pump
For people with Type 1 diabetes who depend on daily insulin injections, changing to an insulin pump which delivers a regulated amount of fast-acting insulin might be an alternative they would want to look at for a number of reasons.
Because the pump can be programmed by the user to deliver varying amounts of insulin 24 hours a day, diabetics can more precisely control their insulin intake and quickly adjust for unforeseen adjustments. Users can also temporarily modify their bolus rates to account for a change in their daily habits (vacations, long travel periods, non-routine days).
The pump can be more convenient to use than needles or insulin pens. It is much less conspicuous to deliver a mealtime bolus at the dinner table with a pump than via manual insertion. Dosages can be controlled very tightly and with proper training from a doctor or diabetes educator, it is virtually seamless to set the pump to deliver several units of insulin immediately and then spread out a different dosage over the next 2 hours.
Some diabetics find the pump more comfortable than using syringes. Fewer injections means fewer injection sites. There are multiple injection delivery options, giving the user choices in picking the most comfortable type for them.
Tight blood-sugar control is key in controlling diabetes with a pump. Glucose should be tested at least 5 times a day and the user should be diligent in keeping track of not only the test results but also carbohydrate counts, corrections amounts and exercise.
Consulting with a doctor or diabetes educator is the first step in making the change to using a pump. Training can be extensive but the results can be more than worth the effort.