What is Diabetes and How to Manage It

• What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar levels, which can lead to many other health complications if left untreated. This means that the liver is unable to fulfill homeostasis in the body due to an improper regulation of glycogen into glucose. Glycogen is a stored form of glucose that later breaks down into glucose. Without this synthesis there is essentially no maintenance of glucose homeostasis resulting in an imbalance of blood sugar, which is what we call diabetes. 

• How to Monitor Blood Sugar. 

Blood sugar should be monitored using an at home glucometer meter. There are many different glucometers to use and typically your doctor will recommend which one is best suited for you. How many times you should check your blood sugar is also dependent on the individual’s needs. Those who are insulin dependent typically check their blood sugar four times a day which is before meals and at bedtime. Those who are not insulin dependent will be directed by their doctor when it is necessary. 

Here is a list of supplies you will need…

• Glucometer
• Test Strips
• Lancets
• Log book

And here is how you will use your at home glucometer…

• Wash your hands
• Load test strips into glucometer
• Collect blood sample from finger using lancets
• Apply blood sample to test strips
• Wait a few seconds for results

What are Some Complications Associated with Diabetes

• Nephropathy – Kidney dysfunction 
• Neuropathy – Nerve dysfunction that results in tingling and burning of an affected area
• Retinopathy – Damage to the back of the eye
• Cardiomyopathy – Disease of the heart muscle 

• Some General Health Management for Those with Diabetes 

There are obviously many other things to manage when dealing with diabetes besides blood sugar levels. Every individual is different and talking to your doctor on a regular basis will help each individual to know what exactly should be monitored on a regular basis. For most of the general public some things that should be regularly monitored for diabetes include cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure. 

References 

1. American Diabetes Association. (2002). Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose. Clinical Diabetes, 20(1), 48–48. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaclin.20.1.48 
2. Kaul, K., Tarr, J. M., Ahmad, S. I., Kohner, E. M., & Chibber, R. (2012). Introduction to diabetes mellitus. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 771:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5441-0_1 
3. Papatheodorou, K., Papanas, N., Banach, M., Papazoglou, D., & Edmonds, M. (2016). Complications of Diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Research, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6989453 
4. Gretchen, B. (2010). The Role of Disease Management in Diabetes Care. Diabetes Spectrum, 23 (2): 116–118. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaspect.23.2.116