Diabetes is a lifelong condition where either the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it does produce. Our bodies require insulin to change the sugar from food into energy. Of the two main types of diabetes, Type 1 produces little or no insulin. In Type 2, the body makes insulin, but does not use it properly.
Health Canada reports that nine out of 10 people with diabetes have Type 2, which can usually be managed with medication and/or insulin. Additionally, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices.
Diabetes care has improved with many technological advances, such as quicker and extended-acting insulin, blood glucose meters, oral diabetic medications, and insulin pumps.
Diabetes rates are rising at a rate of 40 per cent per decade. Due to this continuing increase of diabetes cases, the blood glucose monitoring market has surged because monitoring systems are critical for people with diabetes. Blood glucose monitoring gives people with diabetes a more comprehensive picture of their blood sugar control, which leads to better treatment and health outcomes.
Today’s glucose meters are more sensitive, requiring less blood, meaning less pain from finger-pricks. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a wearable device that tracks blood glucose. An Integrated CGM system utilizes a CGM, an insulin pump, and software that permits the two to communicate. These newer systems automatically adjust insulin delivery based on CGM readings.
Diabetes Canada says that CGM systems can be used to help people with diabetes stay within their target blood sugar range and prevent hypoglycemia, a dangerous complication.
Although blood sugar meters have advanced tremendously, many improvements can still be made to make meters even more useful. New methods in non-invasive and subcutaneous measuring of blood glucose are being explored.
The trend is to make blood glucose monitors communicate with more technology, including smart phones and computers. Because of the increase in diabetes cases caused by aging baby boomers, the obesity epidemic, and sedentary lifestyles, the demand will increase for blood glucose monitors with new features and technology.
Accuracy, convenience, and cost are the main points to focus on when shopping for a blood glucose meter. A certified diabetes educator can provide advice.
The treatment for Type 2 diabetes, a worldwide health threat, is limited by the availability of effective medications. New medications are released regularly and are hyped for their ability to reduce A1c levels, which indicate the average blood sugar level from the past two to three months. Elevated blood sugar levels are a characteristic of diabetes and can identify people who are at high risk for the disease. Ongoing development of drugs for treating diabetes promises to improve quality of life for those with the disease.
Recent clinical studies indicate that berberine, a powerful plant extract found in roots and bark of goldenseal, blocks blood-sugar spikes, and helps lower A1c. A study published in the Journal of Endocrinology reported that berberine lowers blood sugar levels as effectively as the diabetes drug Metformin and is more effective in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Additional research indicates that a combination of berberine and glucose lowering medications is more effective than the drugs alone.
Some research suggests that turmeric might protect the body from developing diabetes. Curcumin, the main ingredient in turmeric, can have a considerable effect on some of the symptoms and complications of diabetes due to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. A study in Diabetes Care found that including turmeric or curcumin in the diet may help people with prediabetes slow down or reverse the development of this condition.
Canada launched Diabetes 360 in 2018 as a newly developed framework created by and for the diabetes community. The goals are to educate Canadians on their risks of developing diabetes and how to prevent the disease and its complications. One preventative measure recommended focusses on diet, which plays a major role in the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers know that being overweight, a lack of exercise, and genetic predisposition all contribute to the condition. The findings of a recent study published in August 2020 in Science Daily indicates that “Body Mass Index (BMI) is a much more powerful risk factor for diabetes than genetic predisposition.”
Obesity is a major modifiable cause of Type 2 diabetes. It may also be possible to reverse diabetes or even prevent the disease by losing weight in the early phases before permanent damage occurs. Additional research confirms that people who consume mostly a plant-based diet lower their risk of developing diabetes.
Diabetes treatment varies depending on the type and severity of disease. Personal diabetes management includes communicating with one’s health-care team to determine the medications, devices, and supplies that best support personal needs.
Scientists are working to develop new diabetes treatment approaches or a cure, including stem cell therapy and an artificial pancreas. The Diabetes 360 project stresses that prevention with lifestyle changes in diet and exercise remains the best way to confront this growing health care problem.
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