Diabetes

Diabetes is when a person has high blood sugar levels which result in talking daily injections of insulin that help regulate the blood sugar levels. Those with diabetes can’t get rid in other words it stays with you forever. If you get diabetes you can follow a specific health plan depending on what type you have. You can also take anti-diabetic drugs. This essay will mention the types of diabetes, health plans, and medications.

There are 2 main types of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2. Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the amount of sugar in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. The sugars come from food such as rice, potatoes, bread and other sweet foods. The sugar from these foods is carried through the blood stream and is used as fuel for the cells in order to produce energy. In order for the sugar to enter the cells it needs insulin. Diabetic patients produce little, no insulin at all or the cells reject it. When the cells reject it, the sugar stays in the blood. Over time this can have effects like damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. Type 1 diabetes is when the body produces no insulin for the sugars and they can’t be carried throughout the body to produce energy. This can also lead to damaged eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

The diabetic health plan includes that you eat healthy carbohydrates, fibre-rich foods, heart-healthy fish like salmon, cod, tuna and halibut and good fats like almonds and pecans. The foods that diabetic s should strongly avoid are saturated fats, Trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium. A sample menu would include whole-wheat pancakes, one piece of fruit and one cup of low-fat milk for breakfast. For lunch it’s suggested that diabetics eat a chicken kabob, half cup of steamed broccoli and a half cup of cooked rice with half a cup of orange juice. Dinner should include vegetables like carrots yellow squash and parmesan cheese. 1 cup of low fat milk and pasta prepared with broccoli. People with diabetes should ask their doctor about a diet that fits their specific lifestyle. Diabetics who don’t follow their prescribed diet are risking of very high blood sugar levels and more serious complications.

For type 2 diabetes it is recommended that you take Sulfonylurea’s. These medications help your pancreas make more insulin, which helps lower your blood sugar. This medication only works if your pancreas makes some insulin, if your pancreas makes no insulin then this medication would not be good. Some side effects of this medication are low blood sugar, upset stomach, skin rash or itching and weight gain. The most common medication for diabetes is insulin. This medication works when your pancreas hardly makes any. Insulin is injected into the abdomen, thighs or back of the upper arm. It should be taken 30 minutes before a meal. Most people with diabetes need to take at least 2 insulin shots per day for good sugar control.

People who have diabetes have to constantly monitor what they are eating, how often they injected themselves with insulin and have to follow a strict diet plan. Having diabetes is no joke and can have serious consequences to the body.

By: Jakub Hrica

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus
http://www.realage.com/topics/health/diseases/diabetes-insulin.htm
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/diabetesinsulindependent.htm
http://www.umm.edu/careguides/000296.htm
http://ask.metafilter.com/39803/Diabetes-and-low-blood-sugar