Researchers the world over are grappling with the problem of how best to manage diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that can affect any age group. It does not spare even children, pregnant women, adults and the aged. Scientists have come to the conclusion that in the case of diabetes, environmental factors cause the immune system to annihilate insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin regulates carbohydrate metabolism in the body. So, when the body stops producing its own insulin, blood sugar levels can go haywire. This is why it is important for insulin to be administered to diabetic patients.
There are two types of diabetes. Namely type I and type II.
Type I diabetes cannot be cured and is a lifelong burden for those affected by it. Type I diabetes also brings in its wake a host of other serious diseases which can be life threatening. On the other hand, type II can be cured. As a matter of fact, 90% of type II diabetic cases are treated successfully. This can, however, only be achieved by strictly maintaining a proper diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Overall, insulin has a dual function as it regulates both blood sugar as well as the rate at which it is absorbed into cells. For type I diabetes, an individual may require around 2 to 5 injections per day. Insulin may also be administered through an insulin pump. However, insulin cannot replace the benefits of a proper diet and will give favorable results only in combination with the right diet.
Another way to tackle diabetes is by ensuring your blood sugar stays around the normal level. When the blood sugar level is low, a person may experience irritability, weakness, fatigue, headaches, jitters and uncontrollable hunger. If the blood sugar levels fall below a certain point, it could cause serious trouble. When blood sugar levels are high, insulin is required to regulate the same.
The easiest way to maintain blood sugar levels is to control your eating habits. It is advisable to eat slow, avoid that second helping and eat several small meals a day. Remember, if you are a diabetic, your body cannot process extra sugar like most people. So, smaller meals ensure less sugar in you blood and frequent small meals result in stable blood sugar levels.
The daily insulin shots that many people take have gotten much easier to administer in recent years. This no longer necessitates rolling up your sleeve or pant leg to give yourself a shot, but can be done very simply, almost as easily as taking a vitamin or an aspirin. This advance is a boon to many who have been self-conscious about giving themselves a shot in a public place or amongst friends.
Jon Arnold is an author and computer engineer who maintains various web sites on a variety of topics. More info on this topic can be found at his Diabetes Information web site at diabetes-datadotcom