Increased thirst and frequent urination Dehydration Possibly extreme hunger with confused appetite (nothing satisfies you) Unexplained blurred vision Unexplained weight loss Unusual weakness/fatigue Irritability Slow-healing sores Frequent infections (such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections), Nausea and/or vomiting Ketones in the urine, in medical tests – ketones are a byproduct of the unhealthy breakdown/loss of muscle and fat (wasting away) that happens when there’s not enough available insulin to support life.
Weakened immunity to infectious diseases Poor circulation (including in the eyes and kidneys) Illnesses, infectious diseases Numbness, tingling in toes and feet Infections slow to heal (if at all) especially in toes and feet Gangrene (dead flesh) in toes, feet, and legs (usually without pain)
Neither Type 1 nor Type 2 diabetes can be completely cured, but with a lifelong commitment to your treatment plan, these diseases can be managed to the point that you will be able to live a normal life. Begin your treatment plan immediately after you develop diabetes, for better health. If you think you may have diabetes, do not wait on seeing a doctor. It is highly recommended that you see a doctor. [3] X Research source
Rapid-acting: “Mealtime” (bolus) insulin. Usually taken right before a meal to prevent elevated blood glucose levels after eating. Short-acting: Basal insulin. Usually taken between meals once or twice a day to control “resting” blood glucose levels. Long-acting: A combination of bolus and basal insulin. Can be taken before breakfast and dinner in order to keep blood glucose levels low after meals as well as throughout the day. Intermediate-acting: Combined with rapid-acting insulin. It covers the blood glucose elevations when rapid-acting insulins stop working. This type is typically taken twice a day. [6] X Trustworthy Source Joslin Diabetes Center World’s largest diabetes research center, focused on patient support and public education and outreach. Go to source
There is the new tubeless (no tubing) insulin pump that is an “all-in-one” unit that typically come loaded with a three-day supply of insulin with the battery and pump built-in, it is the Omnipod, that is wirelessly controlled by a Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM). It takes ideally about ten pumps per month that come in a box holding a 30-day supply. [7] X Research source The old, standard injection set consisted of a plastic cap attached to a catheter that injects the insulin (subcutaneous delivery of insulin). It was inserted into your chosen injection site brought from the pump by tubing called the cannula. The pump set might be attached to a belt or near the delivery site with an adhesive pad. On the other end, the tubing connects to a cartridge that you fill with insulin and insert into the pump unit. Some pumps have a compatible glucose monitor that measures glucose levels just below the dermis. While not as effective as a glucose meter, this device will allow early detection and compensation for sugar spikes and drops. Pump users typically monitor their blood sugars more frequently to evaluate the effectiveness of insulin delivery by the pump, to be aware if the pump malfunctions. Some malfunctions of the insulin pump include: Pump battery is discharged Insulin is inactivated by heat exposure Insulin reservoir runs empty Tubing loosens and insulin leaks rather than being injected The cannula becomes bent or kinked, preventing delivery of insulin.
Diabetes resources generally recommend exercising at least several times per week. Most resources recommend a healthy mix of cardio, strength training, and balance/flexibility exercises. See How to Exercise for more information. Though low, manageable glucose levels are generally a good thing for moderate activity for people who have diabetes. Exercising vigorously while you have low blood sugar levels can lead to a condition called hypoglycemia, in which the body doesn’t have enough blood sugar to fuel its vital processes and the exercising muscles. Hypoglycemia can lead to dizziness, weakness, and fainting. To counter hypoglycemia, carry a sugary, quick-acting carbohydrate with you while you exercise, such as a sweet, ripe orange, or a soda, a sports drink or such as recommended by your health team. [9] X Trustworthy Source American Diabetes Association Health-based nonprofit focused on preventing and researching diabetes Go to source
Other stress management techniques include seeing a therapist, practicing meditation techniques, eliminating caffeine from your diet, and pursuing healthy hobbies. See How to Deal With Stress for more information.
If you have the common cold, try drinking plenty of fluids, taking over-the-counter cold medications (but avoid sugary cough syrups), and getting plenty of rest. Since having the cold can ruin your appetite, you’ll want to be sure to eat roughly 15 grams of carbohydrates every hour or so. [11] X Research source Though having a cold usually elevates your blood sugar levels, refraining from eating as may feel natural can cause your blood sugar to fall dangerously low. Serious illnesses always require the advice of a doctor, but managing serious diseases in patients with diabetes can require special medicines and techniques. If you are a person with diabetes and you think you may have a disease that is more serious than an ordinary cold, see your doctor right away.
Additionally, menopause can change the way that the body’s blood sugar level fluctuates. Many women report that their glucose levels become more unpredictable during menopause. [13] X Research source Menopause can also lead to weight gain, sleep loss, and temporary vaginal ailments, which can increase the body’s levels of stress hormones and elevate glucose levels. [14] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source If you have diabetes and are going through menopause, talk to your doctor to find a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Those with Type 1 diabetes should expect to see their doctor once every 3 - 6 months once a routine is established. [15] X Research source
It’s important to remember, however, that some cases of Type 2 diabetes are more severe than others and can’t be managed with diet and exercise alone and can require insulin or other medications. Note: see the sections below for information relating to diet and medications.
As with Type 1 diabetes, you should keep in close contact with your physician if you have Type 2 diabetes - regular tests and checkups can help you detect the progression of Type 2 diabetes before it becomes serious.
Gastric bypass surgery - the stomach is shrunk to the size of a thumb and the small intestine is shortened so that fewer calories are absorbed from food. This change is permanent. Laparoscopic Gastric Banding (“Lap Banding”) - a band is wrapped around the stomach so that it feels fuller with less food. This band can be adjusted or removed if needed.
Those with Type 1 diabetes are often instructed to check their blood sugar three or more times a day. This is often done before or after certain meals, before or after exercise, before bed, and even during the night. If you are sick or are taking a new medication, you may need to monitor your blood sugar even more closely. [17] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source Those with Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, usually don’t have to check their blood sugar quite as often - they may be instructed to check their levels once or more per day. In cases where Type 2 diabetes can be managed with non-insulin medications or diet and exercise alone, your doctor may not even require you to check your blood sugar every day. [18] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
A1C tests work by analyzing a molecule in your blood called hemoglobin. When glucose enters your blood, some of it binds to these hemoglobin molecules. Because hemoglobin molecules usually live for about 3 months, analyzing the percentage of hemoglobin molecules that are bound to glucose can paint a picture of how high blood sugar levels were over the past few months. [19] X Research source
Nausea Vomiting Sweet-smelling, “fruity” breath odor Unexplained weight loss.
Comprehensive dilated eye exams check for diabetic retinopathy (vision loss from diabetes) and should normally be scheduled about once a year. During pregnancy or illness, more-frequent is likely to be necessary. Foot tests check for pulse, feeling, and the presence of any sores or ulcers on the feet and should be scheduled about once per year. However, if you have had foot ulcers before, having tests as often as once every 3 months may be necessary. [22] X Research source
If you are unsure of how to obtain personalized diet information, talk to your doctor or general practitioner. S/he will be able to guide your diet plan or refer you to a qualified specialist.
If you are unsure of how to obtain personalized diet information, talk to your doctor or general practitioner. S/he will be able to guide your diet plan or refer you to a qualified specialist.
Low-calorie, high-nutrient diets are also helpful for diabetes because they ensure you remain at a healthy weight. Obesity is known to strongly contribute to the development of type 2 Diabetes. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/d/de/Manage-Diabetes-Risk-with-Diet-and-Exercise-Step-3. jpg/v4-460px-Manage-Diabetes-Risk-with-Diet-and-Exercise-Step-3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/d/de/Manage-Diabetes-Risk-with-Diet-and-Exercise-Step-3. jpg/aid1108879-v4-728px-Manage-Diabetes-Risk-with-Diet-and-Exercise-Step-3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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Many carbohydrates are grain products, which are derived from wheat, oat, rice, barley, and similar grains. Grain products can be divided into two categories - whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain, including the nutrient-rich outer portions (called the bran and germ), while refined grains only contain the innermost starchy portion (called the endosperm), which is less nutrient-rich. For a given calorie amount, whole grains are much more nutrient-rich than refined grains, so try to prioritize whole grain products over “white” breads, pastas, rice, and so on. Bread has been shown to raise a person’s blood sugar more than two tablespoons of table sugar. [24] X Research source
High-fiber foods include most fruits (especially raspberries, pears, and apples), whole grains, bran, legumes (especially beans and lentils), vegetables (especially artichokes, broccoli, and green beans). [26] X Research source
Lean proteins include skinless white meat chicken (dark meat has a little more fat, while the skin is high-fat), most fish, dairy products (full-fat is better than low-fat or fat free), beans, eggs, pork tenderloin, and lean varieties of red meat. [27] X Research source
Foods that are rich in “good” fats (mono and polyunsaturated fats) include avocados, most nuts (including almonds, pecans, cashews, and peanuts), fish, tofu, flaxseed, and more. [29] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source On the other hand, foods that are rich in “bad” fats (saturated and trans fats) include fatty meats (including regular beef or ground beef, bacon, sausage, etc. ), fatty dairy products (including cream, ice cream, full-fat milk, cheese, butter, etc. ), chocolate, lard, coconut oil, poultry skins, processed snack foods, and fried foods.
Cholesterol comes in two forms - LDL (r “bad”) cholesterol and HDL (or “good”) cholesterol. Bad cholesterol can build up on the inner walls of the arteries, causing eventual problems heart attack and stroke, while good cholesterol helps remove damaging cholesterol from the blood. Thus, people with diabetes will want to keep their level of “bad” cholesterol intake as low as possible while eating healthy amounts of “good” cholesterol. [31] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source “Bad” cholesterol sources include: Fatty dairy products, egg yolks, liver and other types of organ meat, fatty meats, and poultry skin. “Good” cholesterol sources include: Oatmeal, nuts, most fish, olive oil, and foods with plant sterols[32] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source
Note that, for medical purposes, “drinks” are defined as standard-size servings of the beverage in question - about 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 & 1/2 ounces of liquor. [35] X Trustworthy Source American Diabetes Association Health-based nonprofit focused on preventing and researching diabetes Go to source Note also that these guidelines do not account for sugary mixers and additives which may be added to cocktails and can negatively impact the blood glucose level of someone with diabetes.
Many diabetes resources offer sample meal guides to help teach the importance of portion control. Most of such guides offer advice that strongly resemble the following:[36] X Trustworthy Source American Diabetes Association Health-based nonprofit focused on preventing and researching diabetes Go to source Devote 1/2 of your plate to non-starchy, fiber-rich vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli, green beans, bok choy, onion, pepper, turnip, tomatoes, cauliflower, and many more. Devote 1/4 of your plate to healthy starches and grains like whole grain breads, oatmeal, rice, pasta, potatoes, beans, peas, grits, squash, and popcorn. Devote 1/4 of your plate to lean protein like skinless chicken or turkey, fish, seafood, lean beef or pork, tofu, and eggs.
Additionally, you won’t necessarily want to stop taking any medications you are currently on if you discover you are have diabetes. A doctor must evaluate all of the variables at play - including your current medication usage - to develop a plan to treat your diabetes. The effects of using too much or too little diabetes medication can be serious. For instance, an overdose of insulin can result in hypoglycemia, leading to dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and even coma in severe cases.
Note that people with Type 1 Diabetes must take insulin. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the body being completely unable to make insulin, so it must be added by the patient. People with Type 2 Diabetes may or may not take insulin depending upon the severity of their disease.
Sulfonylureas - stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin. Biguanides - lower the amount of glucose produced in the liver and makes muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin. Meglitinides - stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin. Thiazolidinediones - reduce glucose production in liver and increase insulin sensitivity in muscle and fat tissue. DPP-4 inhibitors - prevent the breakdown of normally short-lived chemical mechanisms which regulate the level of blood glucose. SGLT2 Inhibitors - absorbs blood glucose in the kidneys. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors - lower glucose levels by preventing the breakdown of starches in the intestine. Also slow the breakdown of some sugars. Bile Acid Sequestrants - reduces cholesterol and simultaneously lowers glucose levels. The method for the latter is still not well understood.
Aspirin - sometimes prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks for people with diabetes. [38] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Mechanism of action is not well-understood but is thought to relate to aspirin’s ability to prevent red blood cells from sticking together. Flu shots - since the flu, like many illnesses, can cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate and make diabetes harder to manage, doctors often recommend that patients receive yearly flu shots to reduce their chance of contracting this disease. Herbal supplements - though most “homeopathic” supplements have not definitively been proven effective in a scientific setting, some diabetes patients offer anecdotal testimonies to their effectiveness.
