Battling Diabetes

Diabetes can present two main categories of problems, in the form of short term ill-effects and longer term harm. Minimizing both areas requires discipline.

Rapid spikes or dips in blood glucose level can result in several unpleasant effects: dizziness, disorientation, muscle weakness, nausea and others. For some diabetics, it’s very difficult to prevent this from happening at some time. But there are practices that can improve the odds.

Regular and careful monitoring is a must. It’s no picnic to endure a finger prick three times a day. For those who simply can’t muster the will, it is worthwhile to look into some of the newer glucose monitoring devices that don’t require it.

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The word diabetes is common enough. Nearly everyone has heard it and may know someone who has it. But how many know what it is?

Diabetes is a medical condition identified by continual abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. It is a disease that results when either the body fails to produce adequate insulin or the cells resist using the insulin produced.

In the first case (too low an amount of insulin produced) diabetes is called Type 1. In the second instance, the condition is known as Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 constitutes about 7% of cases, with Type 2 responsible for 90% or more. The disease affects about 7% of the population of the U.S., occurring more frequently among those age 60 or older.

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Tracking the level of glucose in the blood is vital for proper diabetes management. Fortunately, the devices available to do that today are easy to use and provide many features.

One of the earliest self-test systems was developed in the mid-1970s. Then as now they used a sample of blood that is chemically analyzed by the device. Since then, they’ve gotten smaller, more accurate and require less blood.

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Coping with diabetes typically involves a combination of physical treatments and psychological adjustments.

Over time, diabetes can affect the kidney, eyes and other vital organs and systems. The kidneys may filter less efficiently. Eyesight may become less sharp. But all those physical circumstances can be managed through careful diet, exercise, and (if needed) drugs.

But coping with the disease and its effects involves another dimension, one less easy to quantify and treat, and one which has both physical and mental consequences.

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