If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, you will find that you will be introduced to a new set of words. Understanding their meaning with allow you to have meaningful discussions with your health card provider. You will find that rather than being told you have a disease you can become more effective in implementing strategies to take control of your medical condition. Diabetes can be reversed in many cases, but you have to understand what is required, what the terms mean and how this knowledge can be used to your benefit.
Following are some terms that will be used frequently by your medical team and their meanings:
Type 2 Diabetes - This is the most common form of diabetes and is caused by two basic factors: 1) the body's cells are unable to absorb glucose causing the glucose to stay in the blood. 2) The pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin, may not be producing an adequate amount, and the insulin it produces may not work properly. The result is diabetes 2 or onset adult diabetes. Diabetes in turn can cause serious complications throughout the body, such as, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney and eye disease as well as nerve damage.
Glucose - Also known as blood sugar, is the body's main source of energy. This simple sugar is designed to circulate through the blood stream; however, when it accumulates in the blood, the blood becomes thicker and thus harder to flow. This deprives the body of nutrients and oxygen, prevents while blood cells from being able to fight infections, and makes it possible for the blood to clot more easily. Glucose attaches to proteins throughout the body and affects their function. Excess glucose is also converted to triglycerides.
Fasting blood glucose: The glucose or blood sugar reading after a fasting period of 10 to 12 hours. What is considered normal may vary by health care provider. Some sectors consider a normal reading to be 110 or lower. My doctor considers 100 or lower to be normal. Diabetes is diagnosed at 126 or higher. Others say 125 or higher.
Hemoglobin A1C: This test is usually evaluated by a laboratory and indicates what the average blood sugar levels have been over a period of 3 or more months. This test also measures how much glucose has become attached to the protein hemoglobin containing the red blood cells which carry oxygen through the blood stream. The results are given as a percentage from 4 to 13. Again standards differ as The American Diabetes Association recommends that A1C levels should be kept below 7, while the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends keeping it under 6.5. My doctor recommends 6 or under.
Insulin: This is a hormone produced by the pancreas and acts to unlock the body's cells so that glucose can enter. It also regulates the production of glucose by the liver. In type 2 diabetes the body demands more insulin than the pancreas can produce.
Resistance to Insulin (or Insulin Resistance): This is when the cells and thus muscles become less responsive to insulin. The hormone, insulin, is usually administered by injection to boost the cells' sensitivity to insulin so that it has a greater effect.
Pancreas: The pancreas is an organ located behind the lower part of the stomach that produces enzymes and digestive juices. It also produces and secretes insulin and glucagon.
Following are some terms that will be used frequently by your medical team and their meanings:
Type 2 Diabetes - This is the most common form of diabetes and is caused by two basic factors: 1) the body's cells are unable to absorb glucose causing the glucose to stay in the blood. 2) The pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin, may not be producing an adequate amount, and the insulin it produces may not work properly. The result is diabetes 2 or onset adult diabetes. Diabetes in turn can cause serious complications throughout the body, such as, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney and eye disease as well as nerve damage.
Glucose - Also known as blood sugar, is the body's main source of energy. This simple sugar is designed to circulate through the blood stream; however, when it accumulates in the blood, the blood becomes thicker and thus harder to flow. This deprives the body of nutrients and oxygen, prevents while blood cells from being able to fight infections, and makes it possible for the blood to clot more easily. Glucose attaches to proteins throughout the body and affects their function. Excess glucose is also converted to triglycerides.
Fasting blood glucose: The glucose or blood sugar reading after a fasting period of 10 to 12 hours. What is considered normal may vary by health care provider. Some sectors consider a normal reading to be 110 or lower. My doctor considers 100 or lower to be normal. Diabetes is diagnosed at 126 or higher. Others say 125 or higher.
Hemoglobin A1C: This test is usually evaluated by a laboratory and indicates what the average blood sugar levels have been over a period of 3 or more months. This test also measures how much glucose has become attached to the protein hemoglobin containing the red blood cells which carry oxygen through the blood stream. The results are given as a percentage from 4 to 13. Again standards differ as The American Diabetes Association recommends that A1C levels should be kept below 7, while the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends keeping it under 6.5. My doctor recommends 6 or under.
Insulin: This is a hormone produced by the pancreas and acts to unlock the body's cells so that glucose can enter. It also regulates the production of glucose by the liver. In type 2 diabetes the body demands more insulin than the pancreas can produce.
Resistance to Insulin (or Insulin Resistance): This is when the cells and thus muscles become less responsive to insulin. The hormone, insulin, is usually administered by injection to boost the cells' sensitivity to insulin so that it has a greater effect.
Pancreas: The pancreas is an organ located behind the lower part of the stomach that produces enzymes and digestive juices. It also produces and secretes insulin and glucagon.
I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes five years ago and have worked on controlling it with diet and exercise. Unfortunately I was not consistent until I discovered the Diabetes Reversal Report. This report explains in great detail not only what diabetes is but discusses factors that we may have not considered that can negatively impact our blood sugar levels and our bodies' ability to absorb insulin. I particularly like that the Report introduces different phases so that changes can be made gradually and effectively. I now have a blueprint on how to control my diabetes effectively and I invite you to experience the benefits yourself at http://www.saygoodbyetodiabetes.com.
If you are a home-based or small business owner, I also invite you to visit my website at http://www.mysuccesscircleonline.com for valuable articles and tips.
If you are a home-based or small business owner, I also invite you to visit my website at http://www.mysuccesscircleonline.com for valuable articles and tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yvonne_A_Jones
No comments:
Post a Comment