It's Diabetes week

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal resistance to insulin's effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate.

The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred vision; these symptoms are likely absent if the blood sugar is only mildly elevated.

2.

There are three main forms of diabetes mellitus.type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), which have similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but different causes and population distributions. While, ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia.

Type 1 diabetes is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in target tissues, this causes a need for abnormally high amounts of insulin and diabetes develops when the beta cells cannot meet this demand.

Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.

3.

Central obesity (fat concentrated around the waist in relation to abdominal organs, but not subcutaneous fat) is known to predispose individuals for insulin resistance. Abdominal fat is especially active hormonally, secreting a group of hormones called adipokines(cell-to-cell signalling proteins), that may possibly impair glucose tolerance. Obesity is found in approximately 55% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

In the last decade, type 2 diabetes has increasingly begun to affect children and adolescents, likely in connection with the increased prevalence of childhood obesity.

4.

When type 2 diabetes goes unnoticed complications can result such as renal failure due to diabetic nephropathy, vascular disease (including coronary artery disease), vision damage due to diabetic retinopathy(which could eventually lead to blindness), loss of sensation or pain due to diabetes neuropathy, and liver damage from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis( fatty inflammation of the liver).

5.

Type 1diabetics may vary in the manifestation and intensity their symptoms.

It should be noted that there is no known preventive measure that can be taken against type 1 diabetes. Diet and exercise cannot reverse or prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 treatment must be continued indefinitely. Treatment does not impair normal activities, if sufficient awareness, appropriate care, and discipline in testing and medication is taken.

6.

Ask about the condition. Everyone is different and no 2 clients are alike even if they have they both have type 1 diabetes.

Most people affected by type 1 diabetes are otherwise healthy and of a healthy weight. Do not become complacent because of this. Find out what you need to do in the event that your client manifests symptoms.

Find out what those symptoms look like. Have a safe word defined so the client can tell you when they are feeling unwell and not just fatigue from the work out.

Urge the client to always come prepared with what they need in an emergency to deal with their type 1 diabetes.

7.

Blood glucose Hits:

Sultanas, Glucose Tablets, Jelly beans, Low fat milk, Honey, OJ

8.

When Hypoglycaemia occurs administer 15 grams of a fast actin carbohydrate.

9.

Blood glucose can drop rapidly and sharply and a person can lose consciousness in only a matter of minutes. They will then need to be injected with glycogen.

• Give glycogen if:

the person is unconscious

the person is unable to eat sugar or a sugar-sweetened product
the person is having a seizure or convulsions, or
repeated administration of sugar or a sugar-sweetened product such as a regular soft drink or fruit juice does not improve the patent's condition.

Glycogen will only work when injected under the skin into muscle or into fatty tissue.