Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).
Types of Diabetes
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Type 1
“Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.”
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Type 2
“Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.”
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Gestational Diabetes
“During pregnancy – usually around the 24th week – many women develop gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn’t mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you’re planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy.”
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Prediabetes
“Prediabetes, also known as “impaired glucose tolerance” or “impaired fasting glucose,” is a health condition with no symptoms. It’s blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.”
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Diabetes Insipidus
“Diabetes insipidus (die-uh-BEE-teze in-SIP-uh-dus) is an uncommon disorder characterized by intense thirst, despite the drinking of fluids (polydipsia), and the excretion of large amounts of urine (polyuria). In most cases, it’s the result of your body not properly producing, storing or releasing a key hormone, but diabetes insipidus can also occur when your kidneys are unable to respond properly to that hormone.”
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Symptoms
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Common symptoms of diabetes:
- Urinating often
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry – even though you are eating
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Weight loss – even though you are eating more (type 1)
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)
Learn More About Diabetes
How Many People Are In The World Living With Diabetes?
The (WHO) World Health Organization estimated as of November 2014. It is estimated nearly 347,000,000 people worldwide have diabetes.
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How often is someone diagnosed with diabetes?
The (CDC) report states that every 17 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes, and that diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
  
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How to live with diabetes
There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed. Balancing the food you eat with exercise and medicine (if prescribed) will help you control your weight and can keep your blood glucose in the healthy range. This can help prevent or delay complications. Many people with diabetes live long and healthful lives.
Diabetes is a common disease, yet every individual needs unique care. We encourage people with diabetes and their families to learn as much as possible about the latest medical therapies and approaches, as well as healthy lifestyle choices. Good communication with a team of experts can help you feel in control and respond to changing needs.
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What is Insulin?
A hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. The lack of insulin causes a form of diabetes.
Site reference: http://goo.gl/nR1yUp
The types of insulin:
- Rapid acting – covers insulin needs for meals eaten at the same time as the injection. This type of insulin is often used with longer acting insulin.
- Short-acting – covers insulin needs for meals eaten within 30-60 minutes Intermediate acting – covers insulin needs for about half the day or overnight. It’s usually combined with rapid or short acting insulin.
- Long-acting – covers insulin needs for about one full day. This type of insulin is often combined, when needed, with rapid or short acting insulin.
- Pre-mixed
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What is B.G.T?
Blood Glucose Testing:
Blood glucose (blood sugar) is an essential measure of your health. If you’re struggling to manage your blood glucose levels, we can help! With the latest tools and strategies, you can take steps today to monitor your condition, prevent serious complications and feel better while living with diabetes.
Site reference: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/
How To Use A Blood Glucose Device:
How Do I Check?
- After washing your hands, insert a test strip into your meter. Use your lancing device on the side of your fingertip to get a drop of blood. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood, and wait for the result. Your blood glucose level will appear on the meter’s display.
Note: All meters are slightly different, so always refer to your user’s manual for specific instructions.
Other tips for checking:
- With some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or fleshy part of your hand. There are spring-loaded lancing devices that make sticking yourself less painful.
- If you use your fingertip, stick the side of your fingertip by your fingernail to avoid having sore spots on the frequently used part of your finger.
What Do My Results Mean?
When you finish the blood glucose check, write down your results and review them to see how food, activity and stress affect your blood glucose. Take a close look at your blood glucose record to see if your level is too high or too low several days in a row at about the same time. If the same thing keeps happening, it might be time to change your plan. Work with your doctor or diabetes educator to learn what your results mean for you. This takes time. Ask your doctor or nurse if you should report results out of a certain range at once by phone.
Keep in mind that blood glucose results often trigger strong feelings. Blood glucose numbers can leave you upset, confused, frustrated, angry, or down. It’s easy to use the numbers to judge yourself. Remind yourself that your blood glucose level is a way to track how well your diabetes care plan is working. It is not a judgment of you as a person. The results may show you need a change in your diabetes plan.
Diabetic Training Classes
The HATT Foundation offers informational seminars/training sessions every Saturday 10am-12pm and Saturday evenings 8pm-10pm.
Why is the training important?
These sessions will provide in-depth information on diabetes. The topics range from the history of diabetes to the nutritional diets for people living with diabetes. HATT Foundation will also provide visual aids on how to properly use blood glucose devices to test blood sugar levels. We will have guest speakers such as doctors; nurses, nutritionists and other health professionals come in and educate our eager-to-learn community dwellers about the serious issues of diabetes.
Call HATT Foundation Today for More Information @ (844) 737-4288 or send us an e-mail at info@hatt.today.