Diabetes care, Glucometer, blood glucose test, self monitoring of blood sugar.

FACTS ABOUT DIABETES

Basics of Diabetes and Diabetes Management

What is diabetes? What causes diabetes?

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is classified as a metabolism disorder. Metabolism refers to the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Most of what we eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood - it is the principal source of fuel for our bodies.

When our food is digested the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present - insulin makes it possible for our cells to take in the glucose.Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, and lowers the blood sugar level.When our food is digested the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present - insulin makes it possible for our cells to take in the glucose.Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, and lowers the blood sugar level.

A person with diabetes has a condition in which the quantity of glucose in the blood is too elevated (hyperglycemia). This is because the body, either, does not produce enough insulin, produces no insulin, or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces. This results in too much glucose building up in the blood. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy and growth requirements.

Why is it called Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes comes from Greek, and it means a siphon. Aretus the Cappadocian, a Greek physician during the second century A.D., named the condition diabainein. He described patients who were passing too much water (polyuria) - like a siphon. The word became "diabetes" from the English adoption of the Medieval Latin diabetes.In 1675 Thomas Willis added mellitus to the term, although it is commonly referred to simply as diabetes. Mel in Latin means honey; the urine and blood of people with diabetes has excess glucose, and glucose is sweet like honey. Diabetes mellitus could literally mean "siphoning off sweet water".In ancient China people observed that ants would be attracted to some people's urine, because it was sweet. The term "Sweet Urine Disease" was coined.

Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetes include:


	Increased thirst and urination
	Weight loss
	Blurred vision
	Hunger
	Fatigue
	Frequent infections
	Slow healing of wounds or sores

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

There are three main types of diabetes:

Diabetes type-1 - You produce no insulin at all.

Diabetes type-2 - You don't produce enough insulin, or your insulin is not working properly.

Gestational Diabetes - You develop diabetes just during your pregnancy.

(World Health Organization)

Diabetes types-1 & -2 are chronic medical conditions - this means that they are persistent and perpetual. Gestational diabetes usually resolves itself after the birth of the child.

Type-1 usually appears suddenly and most commonly in those under age 30. Type-2 diabetes occurs gradually and most often in those over age 40. Up to 95 percent of those with diabetes have type-2. You’re more likely to develop type-2 if you are overweight or obese, especially with extra weight around the middle, over age 40, have high blood pressure, or have a family history of diabetes. Diabetes is particularly prevalent among African Americans, Asians, and Native Americans.Because of the link with heart disease, it’s important for those with diabetes to prevent or control heart disease and its risk factors. Besides diabetes, major risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, and overweight and obesity.Fortunately, new research shows that the same steps that reduce the risk of heart disease also lower the chance of developing type-2 diabetes. And, for those who already have diabetes, those steps, along with taking any prescribed medication, also can delay or prevent the development of complications of diabetes, such as eye disease and nerve damage.

According to the research, a 7 percent loss of body weight and 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week can reduce the chance of developing diabetes by 58 percent in those who are at high risk. The lifestyle changes cut the risk of developing type-2 diabetes regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or weight.

To reduce the risk of developing diabetes, as well as heart disease, you should:

Follow a heart healthy eating plan, which is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat

Aim for a healthy weight

Be physically active each day–try to do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking on most and, preferably, all days of the week

Don’t smoke

Prevent or control high blood pressure

Prevent or control high blood cholesterol

If you already have diabetes, you can delay its progression, or prevent or slow the development of heart, blood vessel, and other complications by following the steps given above and these:

Eat your meals and snacks at around the same times each day

Check with your doctor about physical activities that are best for you

Take your diabetes medicine at the same times each day

Check your blood sugar every day. Each time you check your blood sugar, write the number in your record book. Call your doctor if your numbers are too high or too low for 2 to 3 days

Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, redness, or sore toe nails

Brush and floss your teeth and gums every day

Take any prescribed medication for other conditions, such as coronary heart disease

Check with your doctor about taking aspirin each day if you have heart disease

Treatment is Effective and Important

All types of diabetes are treatable, but Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes last a lifetime; there is no known cure. The patient receives regular insulin, which became medically available in 1921. The treatment for a patient with Type-1 is mainly injected insulin, plus some dietary and exercise adherence.Patients with Type-2 are usually treated with tablets, exercise and a special diet, but sometimes insulin injections are also required.If diabetes is not adequately controlled the patient has a significantly higher risk of developing complications, such as hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, and nonketotic hypersosmolar coma. Longer term complications could be cardiovascular disease, retinal damage, chronic kidney failure, nerve damage, poor healing of wounds, gangrene on the feet which may lead to amputation, and erectile dysfunction.