Friday, March 25, 2011

Control Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is often referred to as “Juvenile Diabetes” because it occurs during a child’s early years or adolescence. In Type 1 diabetes, the individual’s body does not produce any insulin. As a result, the individual must watch his or her diet in and take insulin shots in order to keep blood sugar under control. Taking insulin shots and following a strict diet are just a couple of things that a Type 1 diabetic must do in order to keep his or blood sugar under control. Read on to learn control Type 1 diabetes.


Instructions








1. Count your carbohydrates. Since carbohydrates are converted into sugar it is important for an individual with Type 1 diabetes to count the carbohydrates in each meal and base their insulin dosage on that. It is important to count the carbohydrates accurately or you will experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).


2. Eat meals and snacks on a schedule. For an individual with Type 1 diabetes, it is important to stick to a schedule. Since the individual must take insulin, he or she must eat on time. Try to stick to a strict meal and snack schedule in order to keep blood sugar under control. Write down what you eat in your food log and then write down your blood sugar in your glucose log.


3. Test your blood sugar. Every doctor will say that one of the most important things a diabetic should do is test his or her blood sugar. Oftentimes, you will feel it if your blood sugar is too high or too low. However, if you don’t have the precise numbers you cannot treat your blood sugar efficiently and it’s possible your blood sugar will go too high or even too low after you treat it.


4. Regularly exercise. Many studies show that diabetics who exercise experience better blood sugar control and oftentimes, the amount of insulin they need is reduced. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. The exercise you choose can range from brisk walking to aerobics.


5. Treat high and low blood sugar immediately. If you feel symptoms of high or low blood sugar, test yourself immediately. Symptoms of high blood sugar include perspiration, fatigue and frequent urination. Symptoms of low blood sugar include shakiness, perspiration and irritability. If your blood sugar is too high, treat it with a quick acting insulin and if it’s too low, drink juice or take glucose tablets immediately. Remember that keeping your blood sugar under control is the key to a healthy life.

Tags: blood sugar, your blood, your blood sugar, blood sugar under, high blood, high blood sugar