Diabetes
About
Diabetes is the inability of the body to process foods efficiently, due to either a lack, or inefficient use, of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that caries the sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells of the body (such as the brain, tissues, and muscles). You have millions of cells that have to be fed with sugar (glucose). This works in a way similar to how a car's gas tank works. A car must be fed with fuel to function--and so must you!
In Type I Diabetes, the pancreas makes no insulin. He or she must take insulin injections. Although they are eating "plenty" of food (sugar or fuel) the lack of insulin would result in "starvation". In Type 2 Diabetes, also known as insulin resistant, (the insulin resists working), the person's insulin is "lazy" and doesn't work hard enough to move the sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells. Therefore, the blood sugar goes higher than normal.
The good news is that Diabetes is a very controllable disease. Each person with Diabetes has the choice of controlling his or her own disease. Most of this control is done through meal planning. Sometimes people with Type-2 Diabetes also need pills and/or insulin to control their Diabetes. However, food choices must be considered, no matter what the medication regimen or type of diabetes.
Seven self-care behaviors that are key to managing diabetes
- Healthy Eating
- Problem Solving
- Being Active
- Reducing Risks
- Monitoring
- Healthy Coping
- Taking Medication
