The key to any diabetes treatment plan is to keep a careful eye on your diabetes blood sugar level.

Your diabetes blood sugar level (or more accurately – glucose level) provides an important indication of whether or not treatment, whether for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, is working.

There are two different tests which are carried out to measure your blood glucose.

The A1C test is normally carried out at least twice a year by your doctor or a nurse on your health care team.

The SMBG (self-monitoring of blood glucose) test which you carry out yourself at home, often several times each day.

The A1C test, which is a simple laboratory test, is the best way to monitor your treatment over time and to tell your doctor whether or not your treatment plan is working. The test measures your average blood glucose levels over the past three months and will indicate whether or not your diabetes blood sugar levels have been close to normal or too high.

The A1C test will produce a test score and your goal is to try to keep this score below 7. In other words, a score of 6 or less is considered to be normal and 7 or above is too high.

When it comes to testing your own diabetes blood sugar level at home using the SMBG test it is a simple matter of taking a tiny sample of blood using a special needle (or lancet) and popping this onto a test strip and then into a meter to produce a reading.

Most modern home testing kits produce results in terms of plasma glucose and it is common to monitor these level by taking readings before and after meals and at bedtime.

You will of course need to discuss your goals with your healthcare team but, as a general guide a normal reading before meals or at bedtime would be between 90 and 130 and this should not rise above 180 within about two hours of eating.

By monitoring your own diabetes blood sugar level at home you can keep your diabetes under control by adjusting such things as your diet and exercise plan and quickly and easily monitor the results of changes to both as you do along.

Technorati Tags: diabetes blood sugar level, diabetes treatment, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes has been known, although not fully understood, for centuries and takes its name from a Greek word which means “passing through” in reference to one of the condition’s major symptoms – that of excessive urine production. The word Mellitus was then added many years later during the fifteenth century from the Latin for “honey” in reference to the fact that patients with diabetes were found to have high levels of sugar in both their blood and urine.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder which specifically affects the metabolism of carbohydrates and which requires medical treatment and, invariably, a range of lifestyle changes.

The human body requires a source of energy in order to function and takes it energy from the food that we eat. This food is composed of a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins and fats with carbohydrates accounting for between 55% and 75% of this mix in a normal balanced diet. High carbohydrate foods include such things as beans, bran, bread, cereals, pasta and rice.

As food passes through the digestive system it is broken down into a variety of organic compounds and one of these, which the body uses as a prime source of energy, is glucose. Glucose is carried to various parts of the body through the bloodstream and is extracted by the cells of the body to fuel cell repair and growth.

One essential element in the transfer of glucose from the blood to the body’s cells is insulin, which is produced by specialized cells known as beta-cells which are located in an area of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans.

People with diabetes fall into two broad categories – those with type 1 diabetes (which used to be known as “childhood” or “juvenile” diabetes) and those with type 2 (adult) diabetes. There is also often said to be a third form of diabetes known as type 3 or gestational diabetes but, although there are some differences, this is essentially nothing more than type 2 diabetes which happens to occur during, and as a result of, pregnancy.

In the case of type 1 diabetes patients develop a problem with the insulin producing beta-cells in the pancreas and the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin to move glucose from the blood into the body’s cells. As a result it is necessary to very closely monitor the levels of glucose in the blood and then to administer insulin (often by regular injection) so that glucose can be moved into the body’s cells and the level of glucose in the blood brought back down to normal.

In type 2 diabetes the body often continues to produce insulin normally but the cells of the body develop a resistant to it and insulin levels in the blood start to increase. In the early stages of type 2 diabetes this can often be counteracted by lowering the intake of glucose producing carbohydrates, increasing physical activity and losing weight, especially where weight loss is aimed at trimming fat from the area of the abdomen. If the condition worsens then it can normally be controlled through the use of medication.

At present there is no cure for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes and, although the symptoms of both can often be reduced very considerably, most patients will require ongoing treatment throughout life.

Technorati Tags: cause of diabetes, diabetes blood sugar level, Diabetes Test, diabetes treatment, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

As is the case with most diseases there is a wealth of misinformation surrounding diabetes and here are 7 commonly heard myths when it comes to this particular disease:

1. Diabetes sufferers cannot eat candy or chocolate. There is no reason at all why people with diabetes should not eat candy and chocolate, or indeed such things as cakes and sweet desserts, as long as these are eaten in moderation and form just one part of a normal healthy diet plan.

2. Eating too much sugar can actually cause diabetes. Although the causes of diabetes are not fully understood, excessive consumption of sugar is certainly not one of them. In general it is believed that diabetes is genetic in origin and is triggered by a combination of environmental and lifestyle factors.

Eating too much sugar could of course lead to an individual gaining weight and excessive weight is certainly one factor that can increase the risk of developing type II diabetes. It is however the excess weight that you are carrying and not the sugar that can trigger diabetes.

3. Diabetes is contagious. It is sometimes said that you can catch diabetes in much the same way as you would catch a cold or flu. There is no truth in this at all. It is believed however that diabetes sufferers are genetically predisposed to the disease and that it is triggered by environmental factors which will include both viruses and drugs, including antibiotics. It is possible therefore that catching a common illness, or treating that illness with antibiotics, may lead to the onset of diabetes.

4. Diabetes sufferers are required to eat a special diabetic diet. So called “Diabetic” or “Diatetic” versions of some foods which are commonly sold in health food stores are nothing more than a marketing ploy. Diabetics, like everyone else, should eat a normal balanced diet which is low in fat and which contains moderate levels of both salt and sugar. The addition of whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit is also beneficial.

5. Diabetic suffers should only eat very small amounts of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates, from which the body gets much of the glucose required for energy, are found in a range of foods including beans, bread, cereals, pasta and rice and normally account for about half to three-quarters of our dietary intake. Diabetics can and should include carbohydrates in their diet, especially as they also contain essential fiber, and the secret here is to simply ensure that they are balanced with other foods and that portion sizes are reasonable.

6. Diabetes sufferers are prone to catching colds and flu. There is no evidence to show that people with diabetes are any more or less likely than anybody else to catch a cold or flu. Because, however, illnesses of this nature can often interfere with levels of blood sugar, and thus make the management of diabetes more difficult, diabetes sufferers are encouraged to try to avoid catching such illnesses and, in particular, to have an annual flu shot.

7. Taking insulin can lead to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. In early tests there was some suggestion that insulin might play a role in triggering processes associated with the development of hardened arteries but time has shown that there is no evidence that insulin causes either high blood pressure or hardening of the arteries.

There are of course many other myths surrounding diabetes, including the fact that insulin can cause obesity and that diabetes sufferers should eat copious quantities of fruit, but the 7 which we have listed here are probably the most often heard myths.

Technorati Tags: cause of diabetes, diabetes blood sugar level, Diabetes Test, diabetes treatment, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

The cause of diabetes will depend upon whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The cause of diabetes in the case of type 1 diabetes is the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas.

This destruction is the result of an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system, normally responsible for fighting off disease, turns against part of the body – in this case the cells which are responsible for producing insulin within an area of the pancreas known as the Islets of Langerhans.

In healthy individuals the body digests the food that is eaten and converts part of this into glucose which is then carried throughout the body within the bloodstream to act as fuel for the cells of the body.

In order for the body to make use of this fuel however it is necessary to have a mechanism for transferring glucose from the blood into the cells and an essential element of this mechanism is the presence of insulin in the blood.

If the body is unable to produce insulin (or unable to produce it in sufficient quantity) then glucose will remain and build up in the bloodstream causing diabetes.

Exactly why the immune system turns on itself in this case is a mystery at present, although it is clear that there is some genetic reason for this which, when combined with the right set of environmental factors, will trigger the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, which accounts for the vast majority of all cases of the disease, the cause of diabetes is an inability on the part of the body to use the insulin which is produced. In other words, the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin and, once again, the transfer of glucose from the blood into the cells of the body is affected and glucose levels build up.

As with type 1 diabetes the cause of insulin resistance remains very much a mystery.

Technorati Tags: cause of diabetes, diabetes blood sugar level, Diabetes Test, diabetes treatment, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

Take this simple diabetes test to see whether or not you are at risk from this condition.

Before you take this diabetes test it should be understood that this test does not indicate whether or not you are suffering from diabetes – This can only be determined by your doctor.

This diabetes test is simply designed to indicate whether or not you fall into one of those groups of individuals who are more likely to suffer from diabetes than the population at large.

Below you will find 7 diabetes test questions each of which requires a simple “yes” or “no” answer. To the right of each question there is a score which depends upon your answer.

For example, if you are 45 years of age then your answer to the third question will be “no” and you will score “0″ points.

Once you have answered all of the questions simply add up your score and then take a look at the evaluation at the bottom of the page.

If your total score is 10 or greater then you are at a reasonably high risk (compared to the general population) of suffering from diabetes and should talk to your doctor on your next routine visit to the surgery.

If your score is between 3 and 9 then your risk of contracting diabetes (compared to the general population) is relatively low. You should however remember that your level of risk is likely to change in the future and so, while you can put diabetes to the back of your mind for the moment, you should not forget about it altogether and should take a further diabetes test at a later date.

Technorati Tags: cause of diabetes, diabetes blood sugar level, Diabetes Test, diabetes treatment, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes