Insulin management:
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which allows your body, more exactly your cells, to use the sugar or glucose that comes from the foods you eat daily, in this way the cells receive the energy necessary to function. When insulin production is affected by type 1 diabetes, it needs to be replaced to control glucose or sugar levels in your blood. Thus, the insulin you inject will help your body to have controlled glucose levels and make your cells use the energy you need.
Sites for the application of insulin
In your body there are 4 areas that can be used to apply insulin: thighs, arms, abdomen and buttocks. In these areas the tissue that is under the skin or subcutaneous is adequate to perform the injection. I
What happens when I make a wrong insulin dose or when I don't eat on time?
If you exceed the insulin dose, hypoglycemia may occur. Hypoglycemia is the low level of sugar or glucose in your blood, which can generate symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, among others. If you have any of the symptoms described for hypoglycemia, first check that it is indeed a low level of glucose in your blood. Symptoms usually present with a glucose measurement less than 60 mg / dl, and there is a risk of hypoglycemia if the glucose measurement is less than or equal to 70 mg / dl. Many people can have low blood glucose levels without having any symptoms.
A good solution is to eat or take foods rich in glucose. If you are in the middle of a class or doing a job, it is important that your classmates or close people know about the situation you are in, so they can help you find the food or attention you need. Or you can use a glucagon injection, pill, or drink.
If you feel that hypoglycemic episodes are not isolated events, but they occur frequently, it is important that you review the management of your diabetes with health personnel.
What is glucagon?
Glucagon, another hormone also produced by the pancreas, unlike insulin, allows you to increase the level of glucose or sugar in your blood when it decreases, so that your cells can have the energy they need.
Medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Sometimes diet and exercise are not enough to control blood sugar or glucose levels, so the addition of oral medications or insulin may be considered important by the health professional for the management of type 2 diabetes. Medicines are useful for treatment and it is common for the prescription to contain more than one of these medicines:
• Alpha-glucosidase (acarbose) inhibitors.
• Biguanides (metformin).
• Meglitinides (which include repaglinide and nateglinide).
• Sulfonylureas (such as glimepiride, glyburide,).
• Thiazolidinediones (such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone). Rosiglitazone may increase the risk of heart problems, so see your doctor.
Nutrition
It is important to consult with your group of health professionals about your tastes, needs and requirements to find the best food option. It is also relevant to know how many carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, bananas) and
sugars pills (desserts, sweets, gas), foods that provide energy, you consume at each meal. This will help you determine the dose of insulin you should use, to maintain adequate control of your blood glucose.
There are two other important components of food that you eat daily: protein and fat. These two types of nutrients can also change glucose levels in your blood, although the effect is not as immediate as that of sugars and carbohydrates.
Physical activity
Exercise is an important part of managing diabetes. Before starting to practice sports, do a to know if it is necessary to eat a food or not before exercising.
If you are someone who is not in the habit of exercising, think of smart ways how to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle. For example, you can start with 10 minutes of exercise a day, like a brisk walk, three times a week and increase it until you do 15-minute sessions, twice a day, daily. One strategy you can implement is to make activities of daily living count as exercise. For example, you can walk short distances from your university to your home or work, not use the elevator, if not the stairs, exercise while watching television, choose video games that have some type of physical activity among others.
Do you need a medical team?
After the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, it is recommended that you have a support network made up of specialized medical personnel. With this you will be able to know how often you need to visit the doctor, the type of insulin suitable for you and the care you need to have to have a healthy and happy life.