Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes is occurs when your body cannot produce enough or zero insulin. This after beta cells found in the pancreas are destroyed by the white blood cells. Insulin is useful in a healthy body as it aids in absorption of sugar from blood to provide energy for the body cells to function properly.

Type 1 diabetes is commonly treated by administration of some amount of insulin depending on the level of blood sugar at any moment. This is mostly done by injections though a distributed diet containing very little carbohydrate may temporarily help maintain a steady supply of insulin. Since insulin injections cannot control the blood sugar uniformly through out the day, this results in occurrence of high and low blood sugars from time to time. You should get some advice from your local diabetes department

You blood sugar will go up and down througout the day. But if it goes too high or too low, it can really cause havoc with your body. When your blood sugar is high, you may find that you need to go to the toilet - a lot, you can become quite thirsty and you can even go into a type of coma. If your blood sugar drops too low, you may find yourself become shaky and confused. What follows is a short discussion about the factors that affect your blood sugar variations:

Causes of High Blood Glucose level

* Forgetting to take an insulin shot will mean that your body’s cells will be unable to use the sugar in your blood and so your cells will become sick and your blood sugar will increase.
* Eating more food than usual may lead to shooting of blood sugar when the food is digested.
* When the patient is under stress or ill having an infection.
* In the morning, the body usually has high concentration of blood sugar due to the reduced rate of activity of body cells. It’s called the dawn phenomenon or the Somogyi effect.
* Taking other medicines, consult your doctor before using most types of medicines.
* Growth hormone, which mediates growth and is increased during puberty, will make your body relatively resistant to insulin and causes your blood sugar to rise.

Reasons for a Low Blood Glucose level

* If your insulin dose is too high, your body will take up more glucose into the cells and leave your blood sugar low.
* When a patient skips or delays taking a meal or snack, this interferes with regular release of insulin to the blood after digestion.
* By exercising more than usual without eating enough food, the body uses more energy than it can supply leading to a deficit in blood sugar which supplies energy to body cells.
* If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, your blood glucose will drop as a result of the alcohol on your digestion and cell function.
* Just as some medications can raise your blood glucose level, some can also drop your blood glucose level - this includes some that you can purchase over the counter, like aspirin. Always ask for advice before you take any medication.
* Women in their menstrual period, this is because hormonal changes may affect how well insulin works in the blood.

While exercise is an important part of maintaining health for anyone, diabetics will find it especially beneficial. Besides helping to maintain a healthy weight and giving an increased level of energy, exercise can also be helpful in managing diabetes by keeping your blood sugar in check.

However, the active diabetic has to be especially careful to get enough nutrients to prevent hypoglycemia from setting in due to a drop in their blood sugar levels.

The exact details of your diabetic meal plan will depend on how active you are – the more exercise you get, the more calories and nutrients you’ll require each day.

The best practice when you are just starting out is to monitor your blood sugars before and after working out and during if you feel it is necessary. It is important to listen to your body and stop if you are feeling light-headed or are experiencing any of the other signs associated with low blood sugar.

Before you work out, have a snack that is going to sustain you for a long period of time without spiking your blood sugar levels. A granola bar eaten with a handful of nuts is a good choice as it combines a carbohydrate that is high in fiber and a high-quality protein.

You should always have high fiber foods before a workout; fiber causes carbohydrates to be digested more slowly, which keeps your energy level steady instead of giving you a rush and then a crash quickly following.

Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) when you are working out to stay hydrated. In case of an emergency, carry glucose tablets with you at all times or some hard candy that will quickly raise your blood sugar. At other times of the day, eat balanced meals to maintain your energy.

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