Diabetes affects three to five per cent of Western populations, including one million Canadians. In those with diabetes, the body's cells cannot absorb and use glucose adequately for lack of, or resistance to, the hormone insulin. In severe, untreated diabetes the body's cells are starved of fuel for energy, sugar can't enter the cells and its level in blood may rise. The immediate dangers of diabetes are hyperglycemia - high blood sugar - and ketoacidosis, a build-up of ketone bodies in the blood which can lead to diabetic coma, even death.



The long term complications of the disease include growth failure in children, damage to the blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves, hypertension (high blood pressure), elevated blood cholesterol, heart disease and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) disorders, especially in the feet. Management of the disease requires careful attention to diet, exercise and, when needed, medications to keep blood sugar as close as possible to the normal range. Diabetes is often described as a syndrome that affects the blood sugar of the people with this disorder. There are three basic forms of this disease which are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Of the three types of diabetes, gestational diabetes is uniquely for women who are pregnant. The other two types of diabetes are the results of either low levels of insulin or the resistance of the body to the hormone insulin.

Diabetes care is needed to monitor and make sure that the individual is doing his part in taking care of himself. There are many ways to keep your diabetes in check especially if you are still in the pre diabetic stage, not the full blown one. One of the things that you will need to be aware of is your family history. If there is diabetes in most or some of your family members who are directly related to you then you must be vigilant regarding your diet and lifestyle in order not to trigger diabetes. Diabetes care can be a tiring thing to keep up so, do not start it if you can avoid it. Part of diabetes care is also to have regular general annual check ups in order to keep a close eye on the progression of your disease. Visit your doctor in order to keep abreast of what you diabetic state is and the dosage of your maintenance medication. Diabetes care means that you must be vigilant for any changes in your levels of blood sugar and to be careful of your diet.

An eye exam is another diabetes care regimen that you need to do yearly. Since diabetes affects the eyes, and our eyes are an essential part f our daily lives, we need to practice proper diabetes care by keeping our diets in check and maintaining our blood sugar levels. Avoiding smoking is part of diabetes care. Smoking increases the risk of narrowing of heart disease and stroke. It also increases the risk of kidney disease and nerve damage. These diseases are dangerous for people who have diabetes. Above all, learn to manage stress. Stress is a large factor in the production of hormones that could block insulin and its effects. Diabetes care is a continuous process in which you have to be vigilant in monitoring your health. Once you start diabetes care, you must keep in mind that this is a good way of maintaining your well being and keeping you from risk of death.