Empowering Individuals and Families with Knowledge and Support
Diabetes Awareness
What is diabetes?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Diabetes is a condition that happens when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It develops when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or any at all, or when your body isn’t responding to the effects of insulin properly. Diabetes affects people of all ages. Most forms of diabetes are chronic (lifelong), and all forms are manageable with medications and/or lifestyle changes.” (my.clevelandclinic.org) There are two forms of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is a form of diabetes where the individual is born with it and Type 2 is the form where individual gets diagnosed with it, typically because of lifestyle choices.
Symptoms of diabetes
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Numbness in hands/ feet
- Slow-healing cuts/ sores
How to get tested for diabetes?
To get tested for diabetes, the first step is to contact your doctor. Your doctor has the option to administer an array of tests. The first test is called the Hemoglobin A1C blood test, which measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. The second option would be to do a fasting blood glucose test, which measures the amount of glucose in your blood when you are fasting. The third type of test is the oral glucose tolerance test, which measures how your body responds to a dose of glucose after fasting. The fourth and final test is called the random plasma glucose test and checks your blood sugar without regard when you ate your last meal.
How to treat diabetes?
The management of diabetes includes monitoring blood sugar levels, taking insulin and oral medication, eating a healthy diet, remaining at a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity. Diabetes is a chronic condition that currently does not have a cure. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes do not go away, specifically type 1. Type 2 diabetes does not go away either, but if the individual modifies their diet, maintains a healthy weight, and make healthy lifestyle choices, the individual with type 2 diabetes has the chance to put their diabetes into remission, where they do not have to monitor their blood sugar because of their lifestyle changes.
Resources for those with diabetes
Within the United States, approximately 38.4 million Americans have diabetes. That being said, there is a plethora of resources for individuals to learn about and monitor their diabetes. These resources can also help families stay on top of their loved one’s condition. Below are some options to learn more about diabetes:
- The American Heart Association (heart.org)
- American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org)
- The Center for Disease Control (cdc.gov)
If non-medical home care is needed, there are also A-1 Home Care Agency. A-1 Home Care Agency specializes in caregiving, at home care, and choosing the perfect caregiver for each individual, at home. The home care assistance services they provide are senior care, respite care, in-home care services, round-the-clock care, after surgery care, memory care, hospice care and more for elderly, senior, disabled and terminally ill patients. If you or a loved one is interested in finding a care provider, call (562) 929-8400 or (949) 650-3800.
