Successful type 1 diabetes self management

By John Richmond

Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood but can be found in older patients to age 40. The body makes little if any insulin, and daily injections of it are needed to avoid death. Lacking insulin, the blood glucose levels rise which can cause some of the more common symptoms of hyperglycemia. What causes type 1 is not completely known but lifestyle and genetics are known keys. When the disease occurs a type 1 diabetes self management program becomes necessary.

More than a million Americans suffer from type 1 diabetes. Heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and circulation problems leading to amputation are some of the complications associated with it. Therefore, having a comprehensive diabetes self management program in place is necessary for those who are diagnosed with this disease.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, excessive hunger, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue and absence of menstruation.

For those with type 1 diabetes seeking help with their diabetes self management plan, educational programs have been developed to aid patients in this endeavor. Dietitians and certified diabetes educators who are experts in diabetes management, staff the best of these programs. Topics like blood sugar control, tracking carbohydrate intake, exercise and diet recommendations and insulin self-injection are covered. These healthcare professionals put together a regimen of diabetes self management that is suited to their particular requirements. When these plans are followed closely, patients tend to have fewer complications and they feel better too. Patients are typically sent to them by way of physician referral.

It is usually easier to implement a type 1 diabetes self management plan for people who maintain a consistent schedule in their lives. Those who have jobs that require traveling, work different shifts, or have others that they have to care for like children or elderly relatives have a more difficult time.

Diabetes self management typically involves the patient giving his or herself daily injections of insulin. Another option is the use of an insulin pump. This device, which is about the size of a cell phone and worn about the waist, is attached to a catheter implanted under the skin. The pump injects the patient with insulin around the clock in tiny amounts as needed. It can be removed when necessary and insulin doses can be easily changed when necessary to keep blood sugar in check. The pump is a very convenient option because if your eating schedule is interrupted the dosage is easily adjustable.

It is of utmost importance that pregnant women who have have diabetes keep their blood sugar in check. While everyone coping with the disease should see improvements in the way they feel, proper diabetes self management is especially necessary for pregnant women because failure to control their blood sugar increases the chances that their baby could have an abnormality.

Your health is one of your most important assets and those with diabetes need to be extra vigilant about it. A good type 1 diabetes self management plan is critical for those with the disease. In the years to come we will undoubtedly see more progress made in the treatment of type 1 as well as other forms of the disease. Doing everything possible now to avoid complications will only enhance the benefits of the future.

Daily diabetes self management is mandatory for those with diabetes and John Richmond who writes for YourDiabetesInfo.com has done extensive research on the subject. Please check out this site for more information.
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Topics: Diabetes | Comments Off

Tags: Diabetes, diabetes self management, diseases, fitness, health, Type 1 diabetes

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