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

Type 2 Diabetes: What does is mean for you?

What is Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is when your pancreas can no longer process insulin. Insulin helps breakdown the sugar in your cells and without it to too much sugar can end up staying in your blood stream. Although there is no cure for the disease, proper diet and exercise can help decrease the effects it has on your daily life. Without proper treatment, it can lead to medical complications in the future. Although it is scary, type 2 diabetes is the most common form. Over 37 million American has diabetes and 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2021).

How did I get it?

There are many risk factors when it comes to type 2 diabetes. The most common risk factors are weight, family history, and race/ethnicity. Other common risk factors can be your age, being older than 45 years old. Lastly having gestational diabetes, or developing diabetes while pregnant, can be a big risk factor (Mayo Clinic, 2021).

What are the treatments for type 2 diabetes?

As mentioned earlier, there is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes but there are ways to manage the disease. Every treatment for type 2 diabetes varies on a case-by-case basis, however, losing weight, eating healthy foods, and exercising are the top ways to manage it. Should those lifestyle changes not be enough, medication or insulin therapy can be an option as well (Mayo Clinic, 2021).

Where can I find more information?

With how common diabetes has become, there are tons of places to find reliable information regarding type 2 diabetes such the American Diabetes Association, Mayo Clinic and the CDC website.

 

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 16). Type 2 diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, January 20). Type 2 diabetes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193

Professional Practice Committee: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2020. Diabetes Care 1 January 2020; 43 (Supplement_1): S3. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-Sppc

 

 

STROKES: SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & PREVENTION

A stroke aka massive brain attack occurs when there isn’t enough blood flowing to the brain and this may be due to a blockage in the large blood vessels that lead to the brain or may occur when a blood vessel surrounding the brain tissue bursts, and may last 30 minutes or less. When a stroke lasts 30 minutes or less it is known as a mini-stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) but regardless of how long a stroke lasts, treatment should be started immediately. “Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, stroke kills nearly 140,000 people each year, accounts for 1 of every 20 deaths, and is the leading cause of long-term disability. Public awareness of the symptoms of stroke and how to access emergency assistance is essential to increase the likelihood of achieving a favorable outcome” (Patel., et al., 2019).

TYPE OF STROKES

    • Ischemic Stroke: Occurs when the blood vessel supplying blood to the brain becomes blocked due to an occlusion (clot)
    • Hemorrhagic Stroke: Occurs when a blood vessel surround brain tissue bursts
    • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIAs): Also known as “warning strokes” and usually produce the typical signs and symptoms seen in strokes but last for a shorter period of time (30 minutes or less)

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATLEY IF EXPEREIENCING ANY OF THESE SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS

    • Abrupt inability to speak/Trouble understanding speech: Slurred speech, Delayed responses, Expressive Aphasia, Receptive Aphasia, Global Aphasia
    • Expressive Aphasia: People know what they want to say but have a difficult time saying it due to not being able to find the right words
    • Receptive Aphasia: People have trouble understanding what is being said to them
    • Global Aphasia: People with global aphasia may be unable to speak, name objects, repeat phrases or follow commands. They also have a hard time understanding what others are saying (American Heart Association., 2019)
    • Facial droops/Facial numbness/Trouble swallowing
    • Difficulty walking, loss of balance and/or dizziness
    • Abrupt onset of headache/Abrupt onset of confusion
    • Numbness or tingling of an arm, leg or both on one side of the body 

STROKE PREVENTION: 80% of stokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices; Over the years researchers have identified many different ways people can take to lower stroke risk

    • Stop smoking: Studies have shown that for every five cigarettes a person smokes each day, the risk of having a stroke goes up by 12%” (Williamson, et al., 2021)
    • Increase daily physical activity or exercise
    • Maintain a healthy/Eat a healthy diet: Diets such as DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) or the Mediterranean diets have been said to help reduces the risk of having a stroke
    • Keep blood pressure under control: High blood pressure or Hypertension is said to be one of the leading causes of strokes in both men and women 

REFERENCES 

American Stroke Prevention. (2019). Life After a Stroke: Our Guide Forward. Retrieved from https://www.stroke.org/-/media/Stroke-Files/life-after-stroke/Life-After-Stroke-Guide_7819.pdf

Patel, A., Fang, J., Gillespie, C., Odom, E., King, S., Luncheon, C., Ayala, C. (2019). Awareness of Stroke Signs and Symptoms and Calling 9-1-1 Among US Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2009 and 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieve from http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd16.180564

Williamson, L. (2019). 5 Critical Steps to Help Prevent a Stroke. American Heart Association News. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2021/05/05/5-critical-steps-to-help-prevent-a-stroke