Good News! Deaths From Type 1 Diabetes Dropping
continued...
"On average, we are doing better, and that is very good news," Saudek tells WebMD. "But this also suggests we have a long way to go. This study confirms that, on the whole, people are living longer with diabetes, but it also suggests there is a large gap between those with access to good healthcare and those without access. It would be reasonable to assume that the higher mortality among minorities is related to lack of access."
The advances made during the last few decades, and those expected in the near future, should further increase the opportunities for people with type 1 diabetes to live long, healthy lives, Saudek adds.
Sonia Cooper says her son has benefited and continues to benefit from those advances. For example, when she first started testing her infant son's glucose levels 10 years ago, Cooper would often have to stick his finger as many as 6 times to get enough blood for a reading. Today's monitors need about one-tenth as much blood and are almost painless.
Her son Mathew is also one of the first children anywhere to wear a special watch-like monitor that measures glucose levels every 10 minutes. Worn on the wrist, the GlucoWatch uses a small electric current to extract fluid from under the skin. Approved by the FDA last month, the GlucoWatch, made by Cygnus Inc., measures glucose levels with special sensor pads that are replaced each day.
"It is amazingly cool," she tells WebMD. "An alarm goes off if [glucose] levels are too low or too high. When Mathew is not paying attention, it pays attention for him. It's like a mom on a wrist."
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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