Diabetes Education

By Author: Alexis Kenne
Total Articles: 37
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Researchers estimate that about 10 percent of Americans will develop diabetes during their lifetime and about twice that number will develop a milder form of diabetes called impaired glucose tolerance, or pre-diabetes. Diabetes and pre-diabetes often do not present any symptoms until a complication arises, making the disease difficult for patients to detect. Research has shown that people who watch more television and spend more time in front of the computer are more likely to be overweight. To be thin, you've got to act thin.

Diabetes education is important in the treatment of the person with diabetes. A diabetes self-management education program not only educates the patient and his/her family to the basics of diabetes care but also integrates diabetes care into daily life while providing coping skills to adjust to this chronic illness. Diabetes education is available in your local community. Contact your local hospital or call your local DON to find an educator near you. Diabetes education classes held at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center are led by a nurse amd dietitian who are certified diabetes educators. Group ...
... sessions, as well as one-on-one sessions, are available.

Diabetes education programs help patients increase their knowledge about dietary management of diabetes, resulting in improved glycemic control and quality of life (Schlundt, 1994). Patients who participate in education programs demonstrate increased knowledge of diabetes management and greater compliance to the difficult treatment protocol (Gagliardino, 2001; Ford, 2000).

Treatment for ketoacidosis usually takes place in the hospital. But you can help prevent ketoacidosis by learning the warning signs and checking your urine for ketones and blood sugar regularly. Treatment for type 1 diabetes centers on doing things to keep the blood sugar level as close as possible to normal levels. Controlling those levels is done through careful self-monitoring of blood glucose and controlling the variables of food, exercise, and insulin.

Patients only through diabetes education and training to acquire the knowledge and skills diabetes, and implement in their daily lives to reduce complications and to reduce the occurrence and development. Patients should also be aware that nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels can lead to a loss of sensation in the feet, with a subsequent increased risk of blistering and ulceration. Patients with progressive heart damage from high blood sugar should be warned about the risk of sudden heart failure and death.

Treatment with this antibody slows the progression of the autoimmune response and the associated destruction of the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. As with all treatments side effects have been reported and the treatment has yet to be proven as safe. Treatment should also include quitting smoking, maintaining good blood pressure readings. The most common of the early symptoms of diabetes is excessive thirst.