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Monday, 20 July 2009 11:47 |
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A person who is careful about managing their condition will live a fairly normal life, though they will have some restrictions on their lifestyle.
People with diabetes must continually monitor their own glucose levels through blood testing (urine testing is available but is not as reliable). The person takes a pin-prick droplet of blood from a finger using a small plastic device and applies it to a test strip, which is then inserted into a machine that reads the blood glucose level.
The idea is to keep a record of blood glucose levels, and from this, the doctor can tell whether the treatment is keeping blood glucose levels within reasonable levels or whether the medication needs to be changed. Diabetes is a lifelong condition and is best managed with the support of a diabetes team including a doctor, diabetes educator, dietitian and podiatrist. It's a good idea to wear or carry an identification card, bracelet or neck tag in case of unconsciousness due to hypoglycaemia (too little glucose in the blood). They can then be recognised in an emergency and treated with an injection of glucose.
A person with diabetes needs to take special care to avoid foot infections and they should have an annual eye check up.
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 July 2009 11:51 |
Diabetes Management 
