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Reducing the Effects of Diabetes

by: JuliaHanf
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Diabetes can have both short-term and long-term consequences. Discipline can help you reduce both sets of consequences.

The most common short-term effect is sudden dips and spikes in blood sugar. These can cause dizziness, confusion, upset stomach, and other problems. While some diabetics seldom have this problem, most will occasionally experience mild episodes. Routine self-care can help minimize episodes.

Regular and careful monitoring is a must. It's no picnic to endure a finger prick three times a day. For those who simply can't muster the will, it is worthwhile to look into some of the newer glucose monitoring devices that don't require it.

The newer devices may have a laser which makes a hole in the skin from which to obtain blood; these are painless, producing a gentle tingling sensation. Another monitoring device can measure the glucose level by sending an infrared beam through the skin, drawing no blood.

The intent of monitoring is to keep the glucose-insulin balance near normal. In people without diabetes, the fasting blood glucose level is under 99 mg/dL. Eating a big meal may cause the level to rise to above 200 mg/dL, but normal functioning releases enough insulin to bring the level down within a few hours. So a little variation in the glucose reading is normal; keeping the proper balance is the goal.

Monitoring should include routine physician visits and an A1C test four times a year. The glucose level at a particular time can be measured with various tests. However, the A1C test measures the average level over time. The test name comes the abbreviation for glycated hemoglobin-HbA1c.

Hemoglobin molecules transport oxygen to the tissues from the red blood cells. When the blood has extra glucose, hemoglobin becomes glycated. Since this a long-term effect the A1C test can obtain an average of the glucose levels over time.

The effects of diabetes continue over the long-term. In the past, many diabetics would suffer from kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage and ills within a decade or so of the condition's onset. Luckily this need not occur. Modern medical knowledge enables most diabetics to lead nearly normal lives, with few ill effects.

Much of this management is disciplined exercise and diet. Many diabetics can keep their glucose-insulin balance nearly normal through diet and exercise, without medicine.

Because diet and exercise help keep body fat low, the effects of diabetes are minimized. Body fat plays a role in hormone production and release and it also interferes with the body's reaction to glucose levels. Several studies show a definite correlation between the degree of diabetes and the degree of body fat, but the mechanisms for this are unclear.

Proper weight and body fat maintenance will also help keep blood pressure at the right level. Chronic high blood pressure is one of the major elements in increasing the risk of common diabetes problems: heart attack and stroke, eye and nerve damage, and others.

With diligence a diabetic can lead a normal life, one very much like those fortunate enough not to have the condition. A little attention a few times a day can lead to not having to pay too much attention at all.

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About the Author

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.  

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