What is the treatment for diabetes mellitus?
Proper diet and exercise are important first steps in the treatment of diabetes. A dietician in cooperation with the advice of your physicians can aid in making proper food choices. This requires a lifetime, life-style commitment of the patient.
Blood sugar can be controlled by injections, which include several types of insulin, or oral medications. Diabetes is a very complicated disease. Patients who have diabetes need to take responsibility for their part in managing their disease and work closely with their physicians, nurses and dieticians.
Proper diet and exercise are important first steps in the treatment of diabetes. A dietician in cooperation with the advice of your physicians can aid in making proper food choices. This requires a lifetime, life-style commitment of the patient.
Blood sugar can be controlled by injections, which include several types of insulin, or oral medications. Diabetes is a very complicated disease. Patients who have diabetes need to take responsibility for their part in managing their disease and work closely with their physicians, nurses and dieticians.
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes Mellitus, the most common endocrine disease, is characterized by abnormally high blood sugar or glucose. Diabetes can result in many complications.
There are two types of diabetes: Type I and Type II.
Type I diabetics have a deficiency of insulin, a hormone which regulates blood sugar. These patients generally require insulin.
Type II diabetics make insulin but do not use it well. These patients may be treated with diet, exercise and medication.
Why do we need to pay attention to diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease, blindness, renal failure and loss of limb (amputation). Diabetes alone can cause coma or death.
Diabetes Mellitus, the most common endocrine disease, is characterized by abnormally high blood sugar or glucose. Diabetes can result in many complications.
There are two types of diabetes: Type I and Type II.
Type I diabetics have a deficiency of insulin, a hormone which regulates blood sugar. These patients generally require insulin.
Type II diabetics make insulin but do not use it well. These patients may be treated with diet, exercise and medication.
Why do we need to pay attention to diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease, blindness, renal failure and loss of limb (amputation). Diabetes alone can cause coma or death.
How can it effect my heart?
Diabetes causes atherosclerosis or the
progressive dysfunction of the blood
vessels of the entire body, including the
heart. The blood vessels become obstructed,
thereby reducing the blood flow to the
heart muscle. This can lead to heart
attacks, angina (chest pain) and congestive
heart failure. By treating diabetes and
keeping blood glucose in a normal range,
the devastating complications on the blood
vessels can be delayed or
avoided.
Click to veiw
Heart Attach Video.
How can it effect my eyes?
Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of
the eyes (diabetic retinopathy). This can
occur in the eye even before the diagnosis
of diabetes is made. Regular eye
examinations of diabetic patients are
required to assist in the diagnosis or
treatment of this problem
How can if effect my kidneys?
Kidney disease is often a complication of
diabetes (diabetic nephropathy). This
disease results from damage to the small
blood vessels of the kidneys. This damage
can be recognized by abnormal amounts of
protein in the urine. If a patient’s
diabetes is not controlled, damage to the
kidneys can increase and lead to kidney
failure.
How can it effect my legs and arms?
Pain or numbness in the extremities
(peripheral neuropathy) can lead to
discomfort or failure to recognize injuries
which can lead to infection or
amputation.
DIABETES
MELLITUS By G. Stephen Cleves, MD
How is Diabetes Mellitus
diagnosed?
Normal fasting blood sugar should be ≤100 mg/dl. Fasting values above this may indicate diabetes. A glucose tolerance test may be performed to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.
A clinical diagnosis can often be made with the symptoms of unexplained weight loss, an increase in urination, an increase in appetite, and an increase in thirst. At this stage, sugar is usually present in the urine and can be found with a simple clinical test.
Normal fasting blood sugar should be ≤100 mg/dl. Fasting values above this may indicate diabetes. A glucose tolerance test may be performed to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.
A clinical diagnosis can often be made with the symptoms of unexplained weight loss, an increase in urination, an increase in appetite, and an increase in thirst. At this stage, sugar is usually present in the urine and can be found with a simple clinical test.