A Day in the Life of a Diabetic
By: - Haida Tahir & Nimra Malik
Background on the biology of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.
Basic Recommendations for a Diabetic Diet
A healthy diet is a way of eating that that reduces risk for complications such as heart disease and stroke.
Healthy eating includes eating a wide variety of foods including:
- vegetables
- whole grains
- fruits
- non-fat dairy products
- beans
- lean meats
- poultry
- fish
How is the Blood Sugar monitored and adjusted in Type 1 Diabetes???
Monitoring Blood sugar is a pain for the diabetic- both figuratively and literally. Several times a day, they prick a finger to obtain a blood droplet and apply it to a plastic strip that's interested in glucometer.
Recommendations for Exercise and Lifestyle/ How does staying fit relate to controlling Diabetes?
Exercise is an absolutely vital part of type 1 diabetes treatment. Staying fit and active throughout your life has many benefits, but the biggest one for people with diabetes is this: it helps you control diabetes and prevent long-term complications.
Exercise makes it easier to control your blood glucose (blood sugar) level. Exercise benefits people with type 1 because it increases your insulin sensitivity. In other words, after exercise, your body doesn't need as much insulin to process carbohydrates.
If your child has type 1 diabetes, making sure he or she gets enough exercise is not only a great way to help manage his or her diabetes but also instill healthy habits from an early age.
3 Biomedical professionals that could assist a diabetic and what they do:
1)-Set up a meal plan.
2)-Teach you how to count carbs in your foods.
3)-Consult with your doctor, if necessary.
Endocrinologist:-
1)-Special medical care, diagnosed diseases related to glands.
Ophthalmologist:-
1)-Ophthalmologist provide preventive eye care which helps prevent those specific complications for evaluation or when a problem developed.