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Reducing the Effects of Diabetes

By: Julia Hanf Diabetes can have both short-term and long-term consequences. Discipline can help you reduce both sets of consequences.

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.

The newer devices may have a laser which makes a hole in the skin from which to obtain blood; these are painless, producing a gentle tingling sensation. Another monitoring device can measure the glucose level by sending an infrared beam through the skin, drawing no blood.

The aim is to maintain a normal or near normal glucose-insulin balance. A fasting glucose level of under 99mg/dL is normal in non-diabetics. After a heavy meal, glucose may increase to over 200 mg/dL, but in non-diabetics released insulin will bring the level down within two hours. So keeping a proper glucose level means maintaining a balance, rather than keeping the glucose level at a steady number.

Monitoring should include routine physician visits and an A1C test four times a year. The glucose level at a particular time can be measured with various tests. However, the A1C test measures the average level over time. The test name comes the abbreviation for glycated hemoglobin-HbA1c.

Hemoglobin molecules in the red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues. The extra glucose in the bloodstream of a diabetic causes that hemoglobin to get glycated. That effect persists and allows an A1C test to measure the accumulated result.

The effects of diabetes continue over the long-term. In the past, many diabetics would suffer from kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage and ills within a decade or so of the condition's onset. Luckily this need not occur. Modern medical knowledge enables most diabetics to lead nearly normal lives, with few ill effects.

Much of this management is disciplined exercise and diet. Many diabetics can keep their glucose-insulin balance nearly normal through diet and exercise, without medicine.

This is possible because the lowering of body fat with exercise and diet helps the body maintain a better balance on its own. Body fat affects hormone production and release and it affects how the body responds to glucose levels. There is a definite correlation between body fat and the degree of diabetes, although researchers don't understand all the factors involved.

One part of the puzzle is role lowering body fat plays in lowering the blood pressure. Chronic hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major contributor to the cardiovascular and nerve problems experienced by some diabetics.

With diligence a diabetic can lead a normal life, one very much like those fortunate enough not to have the condition. A little attention a few times a day can lead to not having to pay too much attention at all.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

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