Diabetes Management

Diabetes is a very popular chronic disease. Another name for diabetes is sugar. It is a disorder, which affects the way the body, utilizes food for the proper formation of energy. The sugar consumed by the body is digested and broken down into simple sugar, which is generally termed as glucose. A hormone called insulin, produced by the pancreas helps the glucose to move into the cells. In case of a patient with diabetes, this functioning of the body does not work and the process breaks down leading to the rise of blood sugar level in the body. The glucose does not move into the cells and with the passage of time, these high level glucose can lead to serious complications in the body.

Diabetes is generally referred as Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Diabetes can simply be defined as a chronic disorder in metabolic disorder. The main characteristics of diabetes happen to abnormal rise in level of blood sugar. It is known as hyperglycemia. Insulin is a hormone that controls level of Blood glucose and is produced by the pancreas. If insulin production becomes insufficient, then it affects normal glucose level. There are two common types of diabetes mellitus and they take place either due to insufficiency in insulin production, which is commonly known as type 1 diabetes or because of inadequate response of the body to insulin, which is precisely known as type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes.

Since diabetes today has become one of the common diseases among humans throughout the world and especially in India, management of this disease has become very much necessary. Proper management of diabetes will lead to lower risk of complications within the body. This management may include modification of lifestyle, which involves maintenance of healthy and proper body weight, diet, exercise, checking the blood sugar level regularly, proper medication and foot care.

Management of diabetes is designed in such a way so that it can help diabetics to learn the strategies of real life. Each diabetic patient is required to learn the basics about managing diabetes and follow the path towards betterment. When diabetes is not managed and monitored properly, diseases like kidney failure, blindness, limb amputation and heart problems can always occur.

Diet should always be proper so as to keep the blood sugar level under control and in the normal range. However, The American Diabetes Association has rightly stated that no single dietary regimen can be given for diabetes. Recommendations for proper diet can be developed on the basis of individual body requirements. One is also required to stay fit and active. Daily exercises are a very much necessity.

Besides this, metabolic parameters have to be regularly monitored. These metabolic parameters will include blood glucose, lipids, and blood pressure. It is also very necessary to avoid glucose overloads and the diet should be such that 12-20% of the calories should be provided by protein, less than 10% by saturated fats etc.

Thus, the main important thing in managing the disease is proper education of the patient and compliance with treatment. Use of medications should not be improper and when one is armed with the correct tools, support and information diabetes can always become a manageable disease