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Facts On Type 1 Diabetes

Information on type 1 Diabetes isn’t hard to come by nowadays with an entire world of information available on the internet with just a few strokes of the keyboard and clicks of the mouse. Not only is information on type 1 diabetes easier to obtain than ever before, but it also could not have come at a better time as the incidence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are certainly on the rise.

Diabetes affects almost 30 million people in the United States alone. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% to 95% of the diagnosed cases of diabetes and type 1 diabetes accounts for approximately 5% of the diagnosed cases.

Over the last 20 years or so, the number of diagnosed cases of diabetes in adults has actually doubled as the population in America ages and unfortunately becomes more and more overweight.

So What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?

First of all, diabetes type 1 is not a lifestyle disease. The cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown and so as a result, it’s not considered preventable.

Some researchers believe that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is characterized by the pancreas not producing insulin, producing it in insufficient quantities, or the cells of the body not responding to the insulin that is produced – the pancreas by the body’s own immune system.

Type 1 diabetes usually manifests itself during childhood or early adulthood, and if not properly cared for, can be quite devastating. Since the body either does not produce or does not respond to insulin, the glucose that is taken in as food can rapidly build in the bloodstream to dangerous levels.

Even though glucose is required by every cell in the body as fuel at higher levels it begins to damage organs and tissues and can cause a variety of negative health effects including coma and even death.

Because of this, the key to the proper management of diabetes is glucose control. Glucose levels are controlled either by dietary means or through the use of medications, or both.

It is therefore a real blessing that organizations like the American Diabetic Association exist, where a person can get actual and factual information on type 1 diabetes and also on type 2 diabetes.

If you think you or someone you know may have signs or symptoms of type 1 diabetes the best place to start is at your personal physician.

How are you diagnosed with diabetes type 1?

The main screening test for type 1 diabetes is a random blood sugar test. This test measures glucose levels at any point during the day and can indicate the result quite quickly – especially important for those who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and need urgent supplementary insulin.

2. The AC1 test gives a reading of the patient’s average blood glucose levels over a period of 2 or 3 months.

3. Fasting Blood sugar test. This is when a sample of blood is taken and tested after your child has been fasting overnight.

4. You may have your blood tested for autoantibodies which are substances that indicate your body may be attacking itself. Another indication of diabetes type 1 is the production of ketones which are produced when your body burns fat for energy. Your doctor may recommend this test also if he suspects diabetes type 1.

Your personal physician can do these tests for the disease quickly and easily.

How long can you live with diabetes type 1?

Research has shown that people with type 1 diabetes have a life expectancy of around 11 years less than average, most people who have type 1 diabetes will eventually die from the complications of the disease such as heart disease.

If you can look after your body, follow a healthy lifestyle that helps prevent heart disease, and keep control of your blood sugar levels, these figures above may certainly change.

Is diabetes type 1 a genetic disease? (Can it be inherited)

Yes, there are strong genetic links with diabetes type 1. The risk is certainly higher with one’s first-degree relatives ie parents, child, or sibling.

What is the best food for type 1 diabetes?

If you have diabetes type 1, you should eat a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits, lentils, beans, brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and whole wheat. You should also include protein-packed foods such as legumes, eggs, dairy, tofu, seafood, lean meat, and chicken in your healthy meal plan.

Tips for when you eat out, with diabetes type 1

Always ask for sauces to be served on the side – so then you have a choice as to whether you add it, how much to add, or leave it off altogether.

Opt for broiled, baked grilled, or roasted dishes and avoid fried dishes altogether.
Go for the ‘broth-based soups’ as opposed to rich creamy soups.
Try and avoid too much cheese – If you can go without it, even better.
Go for fruit sorbets or fresh fruits for dessert.
Have vegetable or tomato toppings on your pasta.

Read more about Juvenile Diabetes Here!

Continuous blood glucose monitoring

Continuous Blood Glucose monitoring helps people with diabetes manage the disease and avoid its associated problems. A person can use the results of glucose monitoring to make decisions about food, physical activity, and medications. The most common way to check glucose levels involves pricking a fingertip with an automatic lancing device to obtain a blood sample and then using a glucose meter to measure the blood sample’s glucose level.

Continuous blood glucose monitoring (CGM) systems use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin to check glucose levels in tissue fluid. The sensor stays in place for several days to a week and then must be replaced. A transmitter sends information about glucose levels via radio waves from the sensor to a pager like wireless monitor. The user must check blood samples with a glucose meter to program the devices.

Continuous blood glucose monitoring systems are more expensive than conventional glucose monitoring, but they may enable better glucose control. Users can set alarms to alert them when glucose levels are too low or too high. Special software is available to download data from the devices to a computer for tracking and analysis of patterns and trends, and the systems can display trend graphs on the monitor screen.

Some of the key factors to remember when it comes to diabetes and properly maintaining them is that Glucose monitoring helps people with diabetes manage the disease and avoid its associated problems. The most common way to check glucose levels involves pricking a fingertip to obtain a blood sample and using a glucose meter to measure the glucose level in the sample. Continuous blood glucose monitoring (CGM) systems use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin to check glucose levels in tissue fluid. A transmitter sends glucose measurements to a wireless monitor.

Diets for Type II Diabetes

While maintain a healthy diet should be an important goal for everyone for those with the disease diets for type II diabetes can be a matter of life and death. For a person with normal health maintaining a healthy diet is important for weight control and to make sure that the body has the needed nutrients to function properly. For those using diets for type II diabetes the matter isn’t so much about actual weight control as it is about controlling glucose levels within the body.

A properly designed and adhered to diet can make the difference between needing to take pharmaceutical measures for glucose control and simply controlling glucose levels by managing the diet.

Diets for type II diabetes deal mainly with making sure that the body has appropriate levels of proteins and vitamins, and keeping the levels of carbohydrates under control. Carbohydrates are one of the main parts of the dietary needs of the body as it is from the intake of carbohydrates that the body metabolizes the glucose that is used as fuel for each cell in the body.

There are two types of carbohydrates simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are sugars like glucose, fructose, sucrose and lactose and are mainly found in processed foods and fruits. Complex carbohydrates are usually found in starchy foods like nuts, potatoes, rice, and beans. Complex carbohydrates are generally more desirable as part of healthy diets for type II diabetes as they digest slowly and provide long lasting and steady sources of energy father than the quick spike and fall of glucose levels which comes from simple carbohydrates.

The key to diets for type II diabetes is to properly balance carbohydrates in order to maintain blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. If you have type II diabetes you should consult with your doctor or dietician for information on the type of diet that is just right for you.

Are you looking for good diabetic recipes?

It’s a fact that being overweight has become almost pandemic in most western societies, and many people are looking at specialized recipes in an effort to drop a few pounds, for diabetics however good eating habits can really make a difference in the management of their condition and diabetic recipes are the key. The key to diabetes management is glucose control, controlling the amount of blood sugar, and this can sometimes be achieved through the proper diabetic recipes and sometimes medication must be taken, but with out of control eating habits even the medications won’t work as well as they could. Diabetic recipes are generally going to be low in simple sugars and will contain only moderate amounts of complex carbohydrates and a good amount of protein.

While it is common knowledge that sugar must be greatly reduced or eliminated in most diabetic diets, the fact is that many other foods such as potatoes, rice, pastas and breads should also be eaten in limited amounts. This is because the starches and carbohydrates in these foods are readily broken down into glucose during the digestive process. Though these types of carbohydrates are better for those on a diabetic diet than simple sugars they should still be eaten only in moderation.

There are many sources of information on diabetic diets, and many places to find diabetic recipes, including health magazines, online sources, and even organizations like the American Diabetes Association can provide good advice. The best place to start getting advice on what foods ahould be included in a diabetic diet is with your physician. Your physician will be familiar not only with your diabetes, but also with any other health conditions you might have as well as your body weight and overall health, and is the go-to person when it comes to getting the right information to start compiling your own book of diabetic recipes.