Managing Diabetes A Balancing Act
Subodh Jain
October 27, 2008
While chronically high glucose levels are the hallmark symptom of diabetes, blood sugars that dip too low are also a hazard of the disease . Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, is dangerous because the central nervous system requires glucose to function properly. The most common triggers for a "hypo" are:
An imbalance of food and insulin, such as when too much insulin is administered for the amount of carbohydrates eaten.
Exercise without sufficient carb intake.
Excess alcohol intake.
Some people also experience nighttime dips in blood glucose levels as their liver shuts down glucose production during sleep.
Controlling Blood Glucose
The ultimate goal of management of any type of diabetes mellitus is to bring blood glucose to a level that is as close to normal as possible as consistently as possible. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests people with diabetes try to achieve blood glucose levels of 80 to 120 mg/ dl (milligrams per deciliter) or 4.4 to 6.7 mmol/l (millimeters per liter) before meals, and 100 to 140 mg/ dl or 5.6 to 7.8 mmol/l at bedtime. It's important to remember, however, that each patient has unique glucose goals. Those who are particularly susceptible to episodes of hypoglycemia may have a slightly higher baseline goal than those who aren't, while women who are trying to bring their glucose levels down as part of a preconception plan for pregnancy may have a lower baseline for tighter control. Your doctor will work with you to figure out what goals are right for your medical history and lifestyle.
Essential
A normal, nonfasting blood glucose reading is between 60 and 140 mg/dl . A casual plasma glucose reading of 200 mg/dl or higher, a fasting plasma glucose reading of 126 mg/dl or higher, or an oral glucose tolerance test with a two hour postload value of 200 mg/dl or higher are high readings that may indicate diabetes.
Treatment Tools
How do you bring blood sugars down to a controlled range? Each person will have his or her own unique treatment plan, but the main tools at your disposal are diet, exercise, and medication. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy. Those with type 2 diabetes can sometimes control their disease with a combination of dietary regulation and exercise, while others may require some oral medication and! or insulin. No matter what your type of diabetes, proper nutrition and exercise should be a cornerstone of both disease management and healthy living.
An imbalance of food and insulin, such as when too much insulin is administered for the amount of carbohydrates eaten.
Exercise without sufficient carb intake.
Excess alcohol intake.
Some people also experience nighttime dips in blood glucose levels as their liver shuts down glucose production during sleep.
Controlling Blood Glucose
The ultimate goal of management of any type of diabetes mellitus is to bring blood glucose to a level that is as close to normal as possible as consistently as possible. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests people with diabetes try to achieve blood glucose levels of 80 to 120 mg/ dl (milligrams per deciliter) or 4.4 to 6.7 mmol/l (millimeters per liter) before meals, and 100 to 140 mg/ dl or 5.6 to 7.8 mmol/l at bedtime. It's important to remember, however, that each patient has unique glucose goals. Those who are particularly susceptible to episodes of hypoglycemia may have a slightly higher baseline goal than those who aren't, while women who are trying to bring their glucose levels down as part of a preconception plan for pregnancy may have a lower baseline for tighter control. Your doctor will work with you to figure out what goals are right for your medical history and lifestyle.
Essential
A normal, nonfasting blood glucose reading is between 60 and 140 mg/dl . A casual plasma glucose reading of 200 mg/dl or higher, a fasting plasma glucose reading of 126 mg/dl or higher, or an oral glucose tolerance test with a two hour postload value of 200 mg/dl or higher are high readings that may indicate diabetes.
Treatment Tools
How do you bring blood sugars down to a controlled range? Each person will have his or her own unique treatment plan, but the main tools at your disposal are diet, exercise, and medication. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy. Those with type 2 diabetes can sometimes control their disease with a combination of dietary regulation and exercise, while others may require some oral medication and! or insulin. No matter what your type of diabetes, proper nutrition and exercise should be a cornerstone of both disease management and healthy living.
For more inforamtion on Diabetes Education and Care and Diabetes Care Specialist.
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