Managing diabetes: you can do it!
1.0:Introduction
If you’re reading this booklet, chances are you’ve been told that you have diabetes. Maybe you’re unsure what diabetes
actually is, or what impact it will have on your life. This book will help you find the answers to those and other questions.
Here’s some good news right up front: you can successfully manage your diabetes. And, you’ll have help along the way.
The members of your “diabetes care team” - your doctor, nurse, diabetes educator, dietitian and pharmacist - can all answer
your questions and give you support. Many, many people of all ages live full, active lives even though they have diabetes.
You can learn to do the same.
The first thing you need to know is what diabetes is, and how it affects your body. To understand diabetes you’ll need to know
a few medical terms. At first these may seem confusing, but don’t worry. As you learn a little more about the disease, the terms
will start to make sense.
1.1:Diabetes, insulin and glucose
To understand diabetes you need to learn about glucose and insulin. These are two substances produced by the body. Your body makes glucose from the foods you eat and releases it into the bloodstream. Glucose is a form of sugar. It’s also the main energy source for your body. But glucose has to get from the bloodstream into your body’s cells to supply power. That’s where a hormone called insulin comes in Insulin is produced by special cells (called islet or beta cells). These cells are in an organ called the pancreas, located near the stomach. Insulin allows the glucose to get inside your cells where it can be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body isn't producing any insulin, not enough insulin or it doesn't respond to the insulin it does produce properly. Without insulin, your body can't process glucose and turn it into energy. To use a simple analogy, if the cells in your body were cars, glucose would be the fuel that makes them go. But the body has to produce insulin to get glucose where it’s needed – inside the cells. Not only that, but cell walls need to be able to respond to insulin by moving glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. When part of this process breaks down, the result is diabetes. Depending on what part of the process is affected, the result can be either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Let’s look at these two different forms of diabetes and see what causes them. 1.2: Type 1 diabetes
Insulin, as you’ve already learned, is produced by special cells in the pancreas. The only job of these cells is to create and release insulin. Sometimes, for reasons scientists don’t yet completely understand, the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys these cells. In rare cases, these cells die without any obvious cause. Whatever the reason, once the insulin-producing cells are dead, they do not grow back. That means the body can no longer produce any insulin at all. This condition is known as type 1 diabetes. Today, advances in medicine have made it possible for people with type 1 diabetes to live full, active lives. By taking insulin they can keep their blood glucose near normal ranges most or all of the time. This allows them to live normally and reduce or avoid long-term problems associated with diabetes. 1.3: Type 2 diabetes Between 90 and 95% of people with diabetes have this form. People with type 2 diabetes are still able to produce insulin. Here’s the problem: If you have this form of diabetes, your pancreas may not be producing enough insulin to meet your body’s needs. And, your body may be resistant to the insulin that’s available. Over time, if your body’s insulin needs have increased, your pancreas may not be able to keep up with the extra demand. People who are overweight sometimes develop type 2 diabetes because their insulin production simply can't keep up with the “insulin resistance” caused by their bodies. The first approach to treating type 2 diabetes is usually a combination of healthier eating and more physical activity. If you have type 2 diabetes, you first need to develop healthy eating habits. This means you need to know what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. Healthy eating is vitally important for people with type 2 diabetes. It is the cornerstone of treatment. Physical activity is also very important for people with type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps your body to burn glucose. This lowers your blood glucose level. It also keeps weight down, and can help protect you against cardiovascular problems (problems with your heart or circulatory system). These are often complications of diabetes. In addition to managing your diabetes through healthy eating and physical activity, your doctor may also prescribe oral medications and/or insulin for you to take. These will be discussed later in this booklet. 1.4:Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women. It is first diagnosed during or after the sixth month of pregnancy. It is brought on by the normal hormonal and weight changes in the pregnant mother's body. Gestational diabetes generally disappears after the mother gives birth. However, women who have had this type of diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Treatment of gestational diabetes starts with healthy eating and more physical activity, if the mother is capable of it. If these measures do not bring blood glucose to normal ranges, the mother may also need insulin injections for the rest of her pregnancy.
*DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY AS MEDICAL ADVICE. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A HEALTH PROBLEM, PLEASE CONSULT A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY