diabetes II
...aying that drinking lots of fluids would cause this. True, but it’s the increased nightly trips to urinate are what people have to look out for. Increased appetite can also be a symptom of type II diabetes. Although in most cases people are already overweight, the increase in appetite accompanied by weight loss is a sign that a person may have type II diabetes. Fatigue (or increased fatigue) can also be a precursor to having the disease. In many cases the most serious symptom that could lead a person to believe that they may have the disease is blurred vision. All these symptoms are pretty vague and general; the problem is that people with type II diabetes usually show no symptoms at all. This is because the disease develops very slowly through time. In order for a person to be truly aware of his/her physical condition, it is best to see a doctor if any one of these symptoms occur. Type II diabetes is diagnosed when a fasting glucose level is above 126 milligrams per deciliter on two or more occasions, random glucose level is above 200 milligrams per deciliter with the classic symptoms of increased thirst, urination, and fatigue (American Journal pg.47). Once a person has been diagnosed with type II diabetes, the goal is to try and treat the disease by eliminating the symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood pressure), stabilize blood glucose, and restore normal body weight. One of the most important steps that a person should take once they have been diagnosed with type II diabetes is educating themselves more about the disease. Diabetes educators and health care providers can teach essential skills needed for living and maintaining control of the disease. Education teaches a person appropriate diabetes management skills that could be used to reduce the need for medical treatment. Some of the skills that healthcare provider teach people with diabetes are: how to test and record blood glucose (self-testing), how to eat and when, when to take medications, how to recognize and treat high and low blood sugar, how to deal with the days you are sick. One of the most difficult things that a person with diabetes faces is changing their daily lifestyle. Healthcare providers help people deal and provide alternatives that help them cope with the new changes. The person must have it in their mind that these changes are going to take time and they must also have the will power to persevere. Education can also inform the person about the intermediate and long-term complications associated with the disease and how to minimize them. Another important treatment for the disease is to maintain a healthy diet. Again, education provides the diabetic with the types of unhealthy foods that a person with diabetes should avoid. Meal planning is an essential tool that healthcare providers teach to those diagnosed with the disease. Choosing healthy foods, eating right and eating meals at the right times are all skills that are taught in order to help fight and maintain the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) currently recommends that 50% to 60% of a persons diet should come from carbohydrates, 10% to 20% from lean sources of protein, and less than 30% from fats. The exact breakdown of these percentages is different for each individual. The ADA no longer recommends a diet of 1,800 to 2,000 calories a day for all patients (American Journal pg 49). Weight control is another tool that can be used in the fight to maintain and control type II diabetes. Obesity and non-activity is the number one cause for acquiring the disease. A person that is overweight and not active is more susceptible to getting the disease than a person that leads a healthy and active lifestyle. Most people do not realize that once they have lost weight through physical activity the chances of discontinuing medication are greatly increased although the diabetes is still present. The hardest step for an overweight person to take is developing and continuing an exercise routine. Regular exercise is important for everyone, but es...