After recently being diagnosed as having diabetes, I want to take it upon
myself to share about what diabetes does to people. Many people who enjoy
good health often take it for granted until... It hits you. It happened like
a bomb for me. Many of us may know someone who is diabetic or perhaps they
may be diabetic themselves, but for those of you who have never had it, you
may find yourselves trying to relate to it but have no point of reference to
base your own opinions on. Well, I want to share about it here. Diabetes is
a disease, it is not like aids which is contagious and communicable. What
diabetes does is it makes it so the a person's blood sugar becomes unstable
and it can cause blood sugar levels to go up and down like an elevator. Many
people don't realize this as there are many people who have diabetes and don't
even know it. I was one of them until, I was just feeling so unusual that I
had to have it checked.
CALORIES ARE NOT ALL THAT MATTERS!
When you go to eat, it is important to plan out your meals and not be an
impulsive eater. A see food diet, meaning "you see food, you eat it" really
doesn't benefit you and your eyes are often larger than your stomach anyway.
The food that you select in a "See Food Diet" are often filled with lots of
sodium (salt) fat, and carbohydrates in addition to the calories. The whit
nutrition labels on the back of all of the food products that you buy should
be read carefully. What does the "Sugars" line say?
What does the "carbohydrates" line say? What does "Calories" say? What is
the percentage that makes up the food that you are about to eat? Does the
food have a high saturated fat content? How many of the calories are "Fat
Calories?" The nutrition label tells you, it is all there.
WHAT IS INSULIN?
Insulin is a chemical that is produced by the pancreas that aids in the
digestion of the food that you eat. It bonds with the food and acts like a
key to unlock the cells that will be absorbing the food that you just ate.
Some people who have had pancreatic surgery will have diabetes because their
bodies can no longer make the insulin that is needed to absorb their food.
Others, have a pancreas that is not working properly. They need injections to
stabilize their blood sugars. Not everyone needs an injection. Some people
can take pills, some people can even control their diabetes by what they eat,
but know, when you are with a diabetic what insulin is and learn how it is
administered. "I don't like needles!" some people get all faint and would
want to pass out too. But when the diabetic passes out, call the ambulance
don't ask questions. There are several types of insulin, type R which is
regular, fast acting and clear, Type NPH, which works over a long period of
time and is cloudy. There is also Lente and combination mixes. These types
of insulin are the most common. Some people have to take a mixed dose and
they have to mix it themselves in a syringe.
HYPERGLYCEMIA
The average person most likely has not heard of this word before, but it is
associated with diabetes as it means High Blood Glucose. Glucose is blood
sugar. This hyperglycemia is a condition that has the symptoms of extreme
thirst, frequent need to go to the bathroom, dry skin, hunger, blurred vision,
drowsiness and nausea.
This happens when there is too much food, too little insulin, sickness and/or
stress.
The onset of this can lead into a diabetic coma.
HYPOGLYCEMIA
As certain as up is the opposite of down, Hypoglycemia is the down side,
meaning Low Blood Glucose. Too little food, too much insulin or diabetic
medicine or extra exercise can cause this condition. In this case get the
subject something to eat, perhaps a piece of candy or a few sips of regular
soda, something with a little bit of sugar in it. This would help the
diabetic to come around quickly. Diagnosed diabetics know to have some
glucose tablets or some type of glucose on them to take if they should fall
due to hypoglycemia. The symptoms of Hypoglycemia are shaking, rapid
heartbeat, sweating, anxiousness, dizziness, hunger, impaired vision,
weakness/fatigue, headache and being irritable. The onset is sudden, and can
progress into insulin shock.
SEEK THE HELP OF A DOCTOR!
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or think that you are or someone
you might be having these symptoms GET HELP!
MEDIC ALERT ID
Many, but not all who would have a condition such as diabetes or some other
kind of health related condition would have a bracelet or a necklace that
tells about the condition that the subject is experiencing, If the subject is
having a problem, check for these and notify the Emergency Medical Services
immediately. Life is too fragile to second guess and it is better safe than
sorry.
Commanders/Sponsors.....
I encourage you to read up on this topic in addition to taking just standard
First Aid/CPR. The life you save could be a child's or even your own. I'm
sharing this from my heart as I believe that knowledge about diabetes and how
it functions is extremely important.
May God Bless all of you!
Commander Mike Burke
Acting Sectional Commander for
Capital Section/Potomac District
Royal Rangers.
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