Diabetes Management Program
Diabetes management program is a series of lifestyle changing processes to keep diabetes at bay. Although there are many different aspects of controlling diabetes such as healthy diets and physical activities, diabetes management comprises all aspects of it and if done correctly and consistently, patient will enjoy an improved lifestyle at the end. Diabetes management also has to be done continuously so as to ensure its efficiency.
The most important of a diabetes management program is to control the glucose level in the bloodstream. In fact, keeping the glucose level healthy and the cells not resisting the insulin is what keeps diabetes at bay. A diabetes patient will need a glucose meter to check the sugar level often and to make sure that they are at a safe level. Glucose monitoring is important as it helps to plan and decide on intakes of foods that are allowed and which are suited to each patient personally. Normally, a patient can do the glucose test at home by using a blood glucose meter. A finger will be pricked with a needle and he blood taken to be tested for the sugar level.
For type 1 diabetes patients, their diabetes management program includes insulin injections. This is because type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 diabetes as in type 1 diabetes patients, their pancreas does not produce enough insulin to and so they need external supply of insulin. Insulin injections are usually done using jet injector and insulin pump.
For type 2 diabetes, diabetes management program also includes a proper diet. This is because people who have type 2 diabetes are most likely to have obesity. Obesity complicates diabetes as excess fat causes cell resistance towards insulin. Basically, a proper diet is done by following the food pyramid. However, a doctor may design an exclusive or personal diet plan for each individual patient.
Diabetes management plan also includes physical activities and usually cater to type 2 diabetes patients. Physical activities are mainly to resume the body’s normal function. This also means that physical activities are so that cells will need more glucose and will not resist the insulin. In diabetes management plan, physical activities are basic and not body punishing such as walking, dancing and doing house chores. Physical activities are also to prevent sedentary lifestyle which can cause obesity.
Diabetes management program also has another important aspect that is the use of various drugs, such as anti-diabetic drugs. They can be divided into oral drug and injections. Some of the oral drugs in the market are sulfonylureas, biguanides and meglitinides. However, these drugs may also cause weight gain.
Diabetes management program should be planned by a doctor or nutritionists to make sure that it caters personally to every individual. Moreover, it takes self discipline and monitoring to ensure that diabetes management plan is really effective.