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Diabetes is a disease that affects nearly ten million American adults, and it's not the benign problem that many people belive it to be. In fact, in 2015 diabetes ranked as the seventh leading cause of death. Of those ten million patients living with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association estimates that almost one third were undiagnosed. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, heart attack, and stroke, so this statistic is particularly worrisome.
Type 1 diabetes is actually an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks cells that normally produce insulin. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in childhood, though in rare cases can be brought on later in adulthood, and is controlled with insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common. The pancreas produces insulin, but the body does not use it properly to control blood sugar. The pancreas works overtime to produce more, but eventually can’t make enough to keep blood sugar at normal levels. Type two diabetes can be controlled by a variety of medications, and can actually sometimes be reversed and prevented in many patients by modifying diet and exercise.
In order to remain healthy and avoid complications, a person with diabetes has a full-time job to do. Monitoring blood glucose (blood sugar) and keeping it within healthy levels is the biggest and most crucial part of that job.
If blood glucose gets too low, the body can’t carry out its normal functions. Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) include dizziness, sweating, confusion, fatigue, extreme hunger, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, and mood changes.
On the other hand, high blood glucose that’s uncontrolled causes the body to break down. Nerve damage, kidney failure, and blindness can be the result.
A person with diabetes must check their glucose levels at least once daily. If they use insulin, are newly diagnosed, or are particularly active, they made need to check it several times a day.
Testing blood sugar involves a skin prick to the finger to withdraw a drop of blood, and testing it with a blood glucose meter. It’s important to keep a log of these numbers, and periodically take an A1C test, which gives a “batting average” kind of number representing average blood glucose level over several months.
As you can imagine, it can be inconvenient to stop during a busy day and take these measurements. Products like Independence Medical's Freestyle Lite Blood Glucose Monitoring System make it easier by using a digital readout, and helping the person keep all needed supplies in a small, easy-to-carry kit that isn’t cumbersome or unattractive. Most digital glucose monitoring systems will store readings so that a written log isn’t necessary.
While people with type 1 diabetes always need to take insulin, those with type 2 often start out keeping things under control with diet, exercise, and medication. However, the longer someone has type 2 diabetes, the more likely it is that they will need to inject insulin during the day.
To make this easier, compact and convenient kits are available that enable them to discreetly carry both monitor and insulin injection system to work or school. Independence Medical's Pen Plus Diabetic Pen Wallet is a good example.
Even with the best of self-care, complications from diabetes can occur. There are many products available that make it easier and less stressful to manage these complications, while preventing pain and keeping things from getting worse.
About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes will experience peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage to the hands and/or feet.
This can be an extremely painful condition, and it can also result in complete loss of sensation. In either case, walking or performing everyday tasks can become difficult to impossible.
The Diabetic Neuropathy Pain Relief Kit from PDC Restorer is a good example of a product that makes life with neuropathy easier.
It is a small electrotherapy unit that delivers soothing electrical impulses via a sock or glove. These impulses increase blood and oxygen flow to the extremity, which helps relieve symptoms of pain, burning, and numbness.
Poor circulation to the feet, known as peripheral vascular disease, makes people with diabetes far more susceptible to leg and foot ulcers, fungal infections, and gangrene or tissue death due to lack of oxygen.
Compression socks like the Bamboo Diabetic Crew Socks from EcoSox work by providing more pressure on the foot and less on the calf than a normal sock. This can improve circulation, prevent swelling, and help ease nerve pain.
For people with diabetes, even the richest skin cream often isn’t enough to soothe and moisturize their feet. Specialized creams like Independence Medical's Triderma Diabetic Dry Skin Defense Fast Healing Cream use additional skin protectants like urea and zinc that soothe and heal diabetic skin.
The heel is the most vulnerable area for sores resulting from diabetic neuropathy. Taking the weight load off the heel whenever possible can help prevent those sores. Inflated wedges and sloping pillows like Span America's Offloading Heel Elevator accomplish this by providing a comfortable, supportive place to elevate the feet and take pressure off the heel and other foot bones.
Type 2 Diabetes is one of the most preventable of all illnesses.
A 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine was the first to prove that lifestyle changes really can help prevent diabetes, and can do so better than medication.
In the study, lifestyle changes reduced the likelihood of Type 2 Diabetes by 58 percent, significantly higher than use of the drug metformin.
Risk factors like family history are out of our control. However, there are a few risk factors that are within in our control:
Good nutrition and regular activity are the best ways to combat your risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes, not to mention providing an array of other health benefits that help keep you happy, healthy, and functional through your whole life.
