Dealing with Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious disease. It cannot be cured, but careful control of blood sugar can prevent or delay the complications of the disease. Our bodies change the foods we eat into a form of sugar called glucose. Glucose travels through the bloodstream to "fuel" or feed our cells. Sometimes it is stored in the liver for future use. Insulin is a hormone that is made in the pancreas and helps cells take in the amount of glucose they need. People with diabetes do not make or properly use insulin. As a result, glucose builds up in their blood and causes many symptoms of diabetes such as feeling tired, losing weight, feeling hungry or thirsty, urinating frequently or having vision problems. In time, blood glucose that is not well controlled causes serious damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
Types of Diabetes
About 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Once known as juvenile onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and adults under age 30. It develops when the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Along with exercise and controlled diet, lifelong treatment with insulin is required to replace the insulin that the body can no longer produce. About 90 percent of diabetes in the U.S. is type 2 diabetes. It is most common in adults over age 40. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells do not use insulin properly and the pancreas is not producing enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, inactivity, family history of diabetes, and ethnic heritage. Early in the disease, many people with type 2 diabetes can keep their blood glucose levels near normal by controlling their weight, exercising, and following a sensible diet.
Blood glucose levels that are either very high or very low can lead to serious medical emergencies. Diabetics may go into a coma when their blood sugar levels get very high. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can also lead to unconsciousness. People who have diabetes must know the warning signs of hypoglycemia and what to do if problems occur. Also, diabetes can cause long-term complications such as stroke, blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, gangrene, and nerve damage.
Research has shown that strict blood glucose control helps to delay or prevent these problems.
Treatment
Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Good control requires a careful blend of diet, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and medication. People with type 1 diabetes control their blood sugar with insulin injections and frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose. People with type 2 diabetes generally control their blood sugar with oral medications. In some cases, insulin injections are needed to keep type 2 diabetes under control.
Exercise is very important because it helps the body burn off some of the excess glucose as energy. Taking part in a regular fitness program has been shown to improve blood glucose levels in older people with high levels.
Drugs may not be needed for type 2 diabetes if good control can be achieved through diet and exercise. But when these measures fail, oral drugs, insulin, or a combination of the two may be prescribed. A person who normally does well without drugs will need to take medication during acute illnesses.
Self-Help
Diabetes is a self-help disease. People who take steps to control their diabetes can make a big difference in their health. If you have diabetes, stick to a diet plan, monitor your blood sugar, exercise regularly, take prescribed medication, and make healthy lifestyle choices. Strict blood glucose control is your best defense against the serious complications of diabetes.
Information from the National Institute on Aging (NIA)