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Soon after eating a meal, the digestion process begins to turn
part of the foods we have eaten (the carbohydrates) into fuel for
the body. This fuel is called glucose, which is a sugar. Glucose
provides energy which is absorbed into the red and white blood cells.
The red blood cells supply oxygen to the brain as well as provide
energy for everything we do in life (even turning over during sleep). White blood cells are used by the immune system to attack pathogens
(germs) and destroy them. When the body has developed diabetes melitus
(which means "excessive sweet urine", it simply means
the body either:
1. Does not make ENOUGH insulin for
the blood cells, or:
2. The body is unable to properly
use the insulin it does make. |
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If you have this type of diabetes, it was caused by genetics (genes
you inherited), problems with your immune system (the ability of
your body to locate, attack, and destroy germs), and your environment
(where you live and how you live your life).
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| The pancreas is the organ in the
body which produces insulin. Insulin is produced by specific cells
in the pancreas called "beta" cells. When a person has Type
1 Diabetes, the body destroys these cells. If you have Type 1 Diabetes, you have no beta
cells in your pancreas because your immune system has made a mistake
and destroyed
them. When you don't have beta cells, your pancreas cannot make
insulin. Without insulin, sugar cannot enter your
blood cells, so it builds up in the bloodstream because it doesn't
have anywhere to go. The result is you get diabetes.
Finding out you have diabetes can feel like a scary thing. Diabetes
is a serious disease it's true, but you can still lead a happy healthy
life. Sure, you do have to do some special things, and you have
to take special care of yourself, but you can still do most everything
you want to do.
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| The most important thing you will
need to do every day is check your blood sugar level. You will do
this by pricking your finger, putting a drop of blood on a special
strip and placing that strip in
a glucose meter which measures the amount of sugar. Your health care
provider will explain what he or she wants you to do to keep your
blood sugar level. The instructions may include giving yourself insulin.
You need to follow your physicians instructions carefully, and you will
need to do it every single day. |
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Home
Treatment:
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 Believe
in yourself. You can control your diabetes. It's true you
need to make lifelong changes, but take it one step at a time.
Focus your energy into making one change at a time. Then move
on to the next.
Learn
to love physical activity! In addition to regular aerobic
exercise, take your family on walks in the park. Have a scavenger
hunt. Make snow angels in the winter. Take every opportunity
to move your body.
Pay
special attention to your diet. Eat healthy foods.
You may wish to keep track of what you eat by keeping a food
diary.
Take
extra good care of your feet. Diabetes causes some nerve problems
and blood flow to your feet. Make sure you always wear comfortable
shoes and socks. If you do hurt your feet, be sure to
treat any injuries, even if they seem to be too small to worry
about.
Be
sure to check your blood sugar as advised by your doctor.
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