The Top 6 Sources Of Help For People With Diabetes

Diabetes is a potentially fatal disease, and almost four hundred million people around the world suffer from it. Diabetes is a leading cause of amputations, blindness, kidney failure, stroke, and heart failure. When people have diabetes, their body’s ability to respond to or produce insulin is impaired. The hormone insulin is released by the pancreas and is essential in helping the body use glucose, which prevents blood sugar levels from rising too high. There is currently no cure for diabetes, but the disease is treatable. Some diabetics have managed to reverse their type 2 diabetes symptoms using a combination of diet, exercise, and weight control. Here are the top six sources of help for people with diabetes:

A Dietary Expert

Certified dietitians can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar under control in an appealing way. They can explain how the foods people eat relate to their exercise routines and the medications they take. They can also educate people on proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and the glycemic index of different foods (how fast blood sugar rises when people eat certain foods). A dietitian can help people set up a healthy and tasty meal plan that is customized to their needs so that living with diabetes feels manageable. A dietitian is also a good support system and will relay the message that people are not struggling with their disease alone.

An Endocrinologist

An endocrinologist can diagnose and treat hormonal imbalances. Hormones are substances that assist in controlling various functions of the body and affect metabolism, food absorption and use, growth, and development. Because diabetes involves problems with the hormone insulin, it is one of the most common diseases that endocrinologists manage. When insulin is inadequately excreted by the pancreas, the resulting high blood sugar levels can eventually damage various organs in the body. The endocrinologist’s goal in treating diabetes is to help manage the condition over the long term to prevent or delay the onset of complications, including kidney problems, cardiovascular disease, eye problems, nerve damage, foot damage, skin conditions, hearing problems, and Alzheimer’s disease.

An Ophthalmologist

The elevated blood sugar levels that diabetics experience over time can damage blood vessels in the eyes. Diabetic eye diseases can cause vision loss and blindness. Early stages of diabetic eye disease usually have no symptoms, but the disease is brought to attention when the vision begins to be affected. Floating spots can sometimes occur due to bleeding from abnormal retinal blood vessels. These floating spots sometimes clear up on their own but still require immediate attention because with recurring bleeding, the risk of permanent vision loss increases. An ophthalmologist will conduct a comprehensive dilated eye exam to detect if people have diabetic eye disease. Because early detection and treatment help reduce the risk of blindness, diabetics should have an annual check-up once a year.

Diabetes Educators

Certified diabetes educators, usually also registered dietitians, can be found at most hospitals. Certified diabetes educators have comprehensive knowledge of and experience with all aspects of diabetes, including prediabetes, diabetes prevention, and diabetes management. Diabetes education is essential because managing the disease to reduce the risk of complications requires a day-to-day understanding of nutrition, monitoring, medication, and exercise. A diabetes educator teaches people what they need to know, helps develop a plan to keep them healthy, and offers the tools and support people need to stick to the plan. Although diabetes does not have a cure, people can learn to control it and enjoy life to the fullest.

Diabetes Support Groups

There are many diabetes support groups available across the country. Support groups usually have a facilitator and guest speakers who address a variety of topics, including self-management, managing stress and burnout from diabetes, lifestyle changes to diet and exercise, and preventing and managing complications. Groups may also be formed based on specific issues, such as the type of treatment its participants require; diabetics may use oral medications, injections of insulin, or insulin pumps to treat their disease. There are also groups for caregivers of diabetics or family members, including parents and children, to help all involved cope with the reality of living with diabetes and the serious complications that may occur if the disease is not managed properly.

Family Members

Close family members need to be involved in the treatment and management of a person's diabetes. When family members understand the disease and its serious risks, they can offer the support and encouragement people need to manage the disease. Diabetes education classes often allow family members to attend so family members can also learn about the disease, diet, exercise, medication, and other treatments. It is also helpful for family members to learn about the disease because diabetes tends to run in families. The risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes increases for family members. Children of diabetics have a one in seven chance of developing type 2 diabetes if diabetes was diagnosed before the age of fifty. If the diagnosis occurred after the age of fifty, the chance is one in thirteen. The risk may increase if either the mother or both parents have type 2 diabetes.