Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.
See also:
High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including:
- Blurry vision
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Hunger
- Weight loss
However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:
- Fatigue
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time. The condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
The immediate goals are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. Because type 1 diabetes can start suddenly and have severe symptoms, people who are newly diagnosed may
need to go to the hospital.
The long-term goals of treatment are to:
- Prolong life
- Reduce symptoms
- Prevent diabetes-related complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs
These goals are accomplished through:
- Blood pressure and cholesterol control
- Careful self testing of blood glucose levels
- Education
- Exercise
- Foot care
- Meal planning and weight control
- Medication or insulin use
There is no cure for diabetes. Treatment involves medicines, diet, and exercise to control blood sugar and prevent symptoms.
LEARN THESE SKILLS
Basic diabetes management skills will help prevent the need for emergency care. These skills include:
- How to recognize and treat low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
- What to eat and when
- How to take insulin or oral medication
- How to test and record blood glucose
- How to test urine for ketones (type 1 diabetes only)
- How to adjust insulin or food intake when changing exercise and eating habits
- How to handle sick days
- Where to buy diabetes supplies and how to store them
After you learn the basics of diabetes care, learn how the disease can cause long-term health problems and the best ways to prevent these problems.
Review and update your knowledge, because new research and improved ways
to treat diabetes are constantly being developed.
SELF-TESTING
If you have diabetes, your doctor may tell you to regularly check your blood sugar levels at home. There are a number of devices available, and
they use only a drop of blood. Self-monitoring tells you how well diet,
medication, and exercise are working together to control your diabetes.
It can help your doctor prevent complications.
The American Diabetes Association recommends keeping blood sugar levels in the range of:
- 80 - 120 mg/dL before meals
- 100 - 140 mg/dL at bedtime
Your doctor may adjust this depending on your circumstances.
WHAT TO EAT
You should work closely with your health care provider to learn how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you need in your diet. A registered
dietician can help you plan your dietary needs.
People with type 1 diabetes should eat at about the same times each day and try to be consistent with the types of food they choose. This helps to prevent
blood sugar from becoming extremely high or low.
People with type 2 diabetes should follow a well-balanced and low-fat diet.
HOW TO TAKE MEDICATION
Medications to treat diabetes include insulin and glucose-lowering pills called oral hypoglycemic drugs.
People with type 1 diabetes cannot make their own insulin. They need daily insulin injections. Insulin does not come in pill form. Injections are
generally needed one to four times per day. Some people use an insulin
pump. It is worn at all times and delivers a steady flow of insulin
throughout the day. Other people may use inhaled insulin. See also: Type 1 diabetes
Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes may respond to treatment with exercise, diet, and medicines taken by mouth. There are several types of
medicines used to lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetes. See also: Type 2 diabetes
Medications may be switched to insulin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Gestational diabetes may be treated with exercise and changes in diet.
EXERCISE
Regular exercise is especially important for people with diabetes. It helps with blood sugar control, weight loss, and high blood pressure. People
with diabetes who exercise are less likely to experience a heart attack
or stroke than those who do not exercise regularly.
Here are some exercise considerations:
- Always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
- Ask your doctor or nurse if you have the right footwear.
- Choose an enjoyable physical activity that is appropriate for your current fitness level.
- Exercise every day, and at the same time of day, if possible.
- Monitor blood glucose levels before and after exercise.
- Carry food that contains a fast-acting carbohydrate in case you become hypoglycemic during or after exercise.
- Carry a diabetes identification card and a cell phone in case of emergency.
- Drink extra fluids that do not contain sugar before, during, and after exercise.
You may need to change your diet or medication dose if you change your exercise intensity or duration to keep blood sugar levels from going too
high or low.
FOOT CARE
People with diabetes are more likely to have foot problems. Diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves and decrease the body's ability to fight infection. You may not notice a
foot injury until an infection develops. Death of skin and other tissue
can occur.
If left untreated, the affected foot may need to be amputated. Diabetes is the most common condition leading to amputations.
To prevent injury to the feet, check and care for your feet every day.
See: Diabetes foot care
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both.
To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food
is digested:
- A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body.
- An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, whereit can be used as fuel.
People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because:
- Their pancreas does not make enough insulin
- Their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally
- Both of the above
There are three major types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed when they are older than age 20. In this disease, the body makes little or noinsulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause isunknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role.
- Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It makes up most of diabetes cases. It usually occurs in adulthood, but young people are increasingly beingdiagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not make enough insulinto keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does notrespond well to insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not knowthey have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes isbecoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise.
- Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetesare at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later inlife.
Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans. Over 40 million Americans have prediabetes (early type 2 diabetes).
There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including:
- Age over 45 years
- A parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Gestational diabetes or delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Heart disease
- High blood cholesterol level
- Obesity
- Not getting enough exercise
- Polycystic ovary disease (in women)
- Previous impaired glucose tolerance
- Some ethnic groups (particularly African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic Americans)
A urine analysis may be used to look for glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat. However, a urine test alone does not diagnose diabetes.
The following blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes:
- Fasting blood glucose level -- diabetes is diagnosed if higher than 126 mg/dL on two occasions. Levels between 100 and 126 mg/dL are referred to asimpaired fasting glucose or prediabetes. These levels are considered tobe risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its complications.
- Oral glucose tolerance test -- diabetes is diagnosed if glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL after 2 hours. (This test is used more for type 2diabetes.)
- Random (non-fasting) blood glucose level -- diabetes is suspected if higher than 200 mg/dL and accompanied by the classic diabetes symptoms of increased thirst, urination, and fatigue. (Thistest must be confirmed with a fasting blood glucose test.)
Persons with diabetes need to have their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level checked every 3 - 6 months. The HbA1c is a measure of average blood glucose
during the previous 2 - 3 months. It is a very helpful way to determine
how well treatment is working.
With good blood glucose and blood pressure control, many of the complications of diabetes can be prevented.
Studies have shown that strict control of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels in persons with diabetes helps reduce the risk of kidney
disease, eye disease, nervous system disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Maintaining an ideal body weight and an active lifestyle may prevent type 2 diabetes.
Currently there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
There is no effective screening test for type 1 diabetes in people who don't have symptoms.
Screening for type 2 diabetes and people with no symptoms is recommended for:
- Overweight children who have other risk factors for diabetes starting at age 10 and repeating every 2 years
- Overweight adults (BMI greater than 25) who have other risk factors
- Adults over 45, repeated every 3 years
To prevent complications of diabetes, visit your health care provider or diabetes educator at least four times a year. Talk about any problems
you are having.
Regularly have the following tests:
- Have your blood pressure checked every year (blood pressure goals should be 130/80 mm/Hg or lower).
- Have your glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) checked every 6 months if your diabetes is well controlled, otherwise every 3 months.
- Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked yearly (aim for LDL levels below 100 mg/dL).
- Get yearly tests to make sure your kidneys are working well (microalbuminuria and serum creatinine).
- Visit your ophthalmologist (preferably one who specializes in diabetic retinopathy) at least once a year, or more often if you have signs ofdiabetic retinopathy.
- See the dentist every 6 months for a thorough dental cleaning and exam. Make sure your dentist and hygienist know that you have diabetes.
- Make sure your health care provider inspects your feet at each visit.
Stay up-to-date with all of your vaccinations and get a flu shot every year in the fall.
Emergency complications include:
- Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
Long-term complications include:
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary artery disease
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Erection problems
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension
- Infections of the skin, female urinary tract, and urinary tract
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Stroke
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of ketoacidosis:
- Abdominal pain
- Deep and rapid breathing
- Increased thirst and urination
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Sweet-smelling breath
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of extremely low blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma or
severe insulin reaction):
- Confusion
- Convulsions or unconsciousness
- Dizziness
- Double vision
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Lack of coordination
What are the effects of energy drinks
on blood sugar level?
Energy drinks are becoming more and more popular among
physically active people that need a good source of energy during their activities. But are they safe for
diabetic people? We will demonstrate in this article the
effects of energy drinks on on blood sugar level among
diabetics, the dangers related to energy drinks and some
diabetic friendly alternatives to energy drinks.
First of all, one of the major components of most energy drinks is caffeine. Caffeine is very dangerous to diabetic people. A
research conducted on ten diabetics revealed that glucose
levels rose by 8 percent when participants took pills filled
with the level of caffeine found in four cups of coffee.
Another effect caffeine has on the system is that it increases
the level of insulin tolerance of blood cells making it harder
for the insulin to break down the glucose in the blood thus
resulting in a build up and subsequent rise in blood level.
Besides caffeine, energy drinks are full of refined sugars and carbs. Refined sugars are the 1# enemy of every diabetic. They
have an almost immediate effect on the blood sugar level and do
not provide energy over a long period of time. This is why
people who drink heavily sweetened drinks may feel thirsty
right after they consume them. Carbs are also very harmful to
diabetics and should be avoided at any cost.
So what are the best alternatives for diabetics who still need a good source of energy and hydration? Well a Minority Business
Enterprise by the name of Hip Hop Beverage Corporation just
released an ADA approved sugar free energy drink called Pit
Bull sugar free energy drink, the first of its kind to receive
such certification. Pit Bull sugar free energy drink contains
no calories, carbs or sugar per portion, making it a perfect
choice for any diabetic. More and more companies are becoming
aware of the huge demographic diabetic people represent and try
to do their best to make their products diabetic friendly, but
none of them have been approved by the ADA or any other
healthcare association as safe for diabetics.
If I was to give you only one piece of advice, it would be to stay away from energy drinks by all means if you are diabetic,
especially if you have type 2 diabetes. Most energy drinks just
have to much harmful ingredients in their composition and can
be very dangerous to diabetics.