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Type 2 Diabetes and Self-Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels!

August 2nd, 2010 4:36 am

Not sure what Type 2 diabetes is? Well to start with, even if you have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,

you have probably been living with it for many years. Often it is not diagnosed until it is found by a routine blood

test, or maybe by a symptom such as a slowly healing infection. The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be so

subtle they slip past the radar, pretty much unnoticed in an otherwise healthy person.

Type 2 diabetes is different to Type 1, in that there is plenty of insulin. During the 1950′s medical researchers

discovered insulin resistance and so Type 2 diabetes was born. Insulin resistance is where, although there is

plenty of insulin in the bloodstream, the cells no longer respond to the body’s insulin.

Type 1 generally develops in childhood or in young adults, and occurs when the body’s white blood cells attack

the cells of the pancreas and destroys it’s ability to produce insulin. Therefore very little or no insulin is produced.

In both cases glucose is unable to enter the cells, therefore, in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes blood sugar levels

rise and there is too much sugar in the bloodstream. The key thing is to control these levels and bring them back

as close to normal as possible.

Your diabetes care plan will include learning how to monitor your blood sugar levels each day. Blood sugar

testing is one of the most important self-management tools you can ever have as it allows you to know exactly

where your blood sugar levels are at any given time. This means you will be able to spot problems pretty much

straight away.

Suggested Times to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels:

* when you are newly diagnosed
* if you give yourself insulin injections it is ideal to check before every meal and at bedtime
* if you start a new medication
* if you start reducing calories, reducing starches and carbs, you may want to check before and after some

meals to see the effect
* if your blood sugar levels are between 75 to 125mg/dL (4 to 7mmol/L) and you are taking oral medications,

or following a diet and exercise plan, test your blood sugars twice daily
* when you blood sugar levels become stable, your doctor may suggest testing three times a week, rotating

the times around
* if you eat foods not usually in your diet or
* if you exercise, be sure to test your sugar levels then to see if it’s really working

It’s rare for people with Type 2 diabetes to experience low blood sugar reactions, which can include fainting at

unfortunate times, such as while driving. Exceptions to this may include diabetics who are taking hypoglycemic

drugs and particularly those who are taking insulin.

Blood Sugar Levels:

* non-diabetics usually have levels between 80 to 100mg/dL (4 to 5mmol/L)
* diabetic’s blood sugars can bounce around during the day but tend to follow a trend
* illnesses or infections can raise blood sugars
* it’s normal to have up/down swings but if levels are high for long periods, there’s the possibility of

complications
* levels will vary for every diabetic and so will the control… it depends on the age of the diabetic

The American Diabetes Association suggests:

* fasting levels or preprandial (before meals)… 90 to 130mg/dL (5 to 7.2mmol/L)
* two hours postprandial (after eating)… below 180mg/dL (10mmol/L)
* just before bedtime…100 to 140mg/dL (5.6 to 7.8mmol/L)

Diabetes Insipidus Symptoms and Causes

June 23rd, 2010 3:36 am

Diabetes insipidus symptoms and causes need to be addressed immediately. The disorder produces an abnormal increase of urine, and nocturia or enuresis, both involuntary and embarrassing. The color of the urine is also something that becomes a concern as people with this disorder might see a colorless or watery appearance and overall concentration in a lower caliber than normal. Many people think that this is the same sickness as normal cases, but it is not true. It is simply not the true thing, and the more people that can get serious information about this, the better things are going to be for anyone.

You should definitely get information about Diabetes insipidus symptoms and causes before you self diagnose yourself the wrong way. Only a doctor can really tell you what you are experiencing and what to do next. Some people think that Diabetes is a death sentence, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It is also not like the normal symptoms that you see for “sugar” diabetes. In fact the easiest way to understand this disorder is by understanding that it’s not sugar that you’re having a problem regulating, it’s water. This disorder is sometimes called “water” diabetes as it really manages the urination in your body, and has problems with the excretion.

There are several other major things to figure out in regards to understanding Diabetes insipidus symptoms and causes, and that’s whether or not is is a lack of vasopressin, a hormone that acts upon the kidney to reduce urine output by increasing the concentration of the urine. If you have this type of Diabetes Insipidus, you need to get a simple test done and you can really see if you have a Pituitary Gland problem. Some people do in fact lack this and many pregnant women end up garnering this problem, but if you visit your doctor regularly, you can end up getting a better life for yourself and your baby.

If you are pregnant and are noticing Diabetes insipidus symptoms and causes, you can get treatment and you can have this sort of thing disappear in four to six weeks time. However, it appears that signs and symptoms reappear in subsequent pregnancies, so make sure you are in good tides with your doctor and make sure you’re taken care of well. The main focus of this is definitely for you and your doctor to keep up on what is going on with your body, and that you make sure to ask a lot of questions. Doctor’s are not mind readers and you need to express any concerns you may have in regards to the overall good of your health and the health of your baby.