Type I diabetes commonly appears in children, teens, and young adults, the effects of the disease will carry through life and cause problems for senior citizens.  There is no cure for Type I diabetes, but improvements are being made each year in treatments, blood sugar checking, and insulin delivery.  People with Type I diabetes usually don’t have the same life expectancy as someone without the disease, but they are living longer and the risk of complications has also been reduced.

Symptoms found in children, teens, or young adults are often frightening for parents who are trying to cope with their child being ill.  They may have first noticed an increase in urination, and an increased thirst.  They may be going through extreme hunger, and even though they are hungry, they are still losing weight.  Sometimes this weight loss is rapid.  The sugar intake is being pulled into the kidneys and passing through the body.  This deprives the body’s cells of glucose and that in turn gives us energy.  Without energy, cells die before they can divide and replace themselves.  Fat stores, muscle tissues shrink, and the body steadily loses weight.

Fatigue goes with the weight loss.  Because your cells are deprived of the needed energy, you become tired and irritable.  In addition, the decrease in fluid from your tissues may cause blurred vision.  Fluid is drained from the body including the lenses of your eyes, and you lose your ability to focus.

A normal pancreas produces insulin constantly.  It raises its output in direct response to the blood sugar that happens after you eat.  This insulin allows your cells to open so more sugar can be taken in and your energy is kept at a normal level.  Your liver also plays a role in keeping your blood sugar level even. 

If you have more glucose than your body needs, it stores the extra in the liver until a time when your body is reduced from glucose; it releases the stored glucose into your system.  When your pancreas and liver is working correctly, your blood glucose will change in response to exercise, food, infections, stress, and other reasons.  Your hormones play a complex part in keeping your blood sugar levels within the right limits. 

Blood sugar monitoring is an important part of managing Type I diabetes.  It helps you to manage your disease.  It’s important because keeping your glucose level within the correct range will be what keeps your body healthy.  Insulin dosages will vary with the blood sugar that is in your system.  It could mean that you will need to give yourself single dose injections, multiple doses, or if you need to use an insulin pump.  Testing could be done as many as four times a day to insure blood sugar stability. 

Food your raises blood sugar level, and is the highest after a meal.  Timing of your meals, what you eat, and how much your portions are will affect your blood sugar levels.

Exercise and physical activity can help lower your blood sugar level.  Normal physical activity moves the sugar from your bloodstream into your cells.  Brisk walking, jogging, or biking is great aerobic exercises for reducing blood sugar.  Your doctor will help you decide adjustments to your insulin dose before you exercise.  This will ensure your blood sugar levels don’t fall too low. 

The physical stress of your body fighting off an illness or infection can produce hormones that raise the level of blood sugar.  Normally the added sugar helps to fight infections and promote healing.  If you are ill, it’s especially important to watch your blood sugar level and see if an adjustment needs to be made of your insulin dose.

Alcohol will lower your sugar levels, even a small amount such as two ounces.  Drinking should only be done in moderation if at all.  You must check your blood sugar level closely if you are drinking any alcohol.  Alcohol also counts as carbohydrate calories in your diet. 

The hormone estrogen will make your cells more receptive to insulin and progesterone makes them resistant.  Because of hormonal rise and fall, a woman should adjust her amount of insulin, increase her exercise, and watch your blood sugar level closely.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 at 7:12 am and is filed under Aging / anti-aging, Diabetes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.