Over the past several decades, many changes in technology have affected diabetes management. There has been a significant change in the kinds of insulin being used, how it is administered, and how folks measure glucose. These changes in diabetic supplies have made a huge improvement in the lives of folks with diabetes. Back in 1977, folks measured glucose by testing urine with tablets and monitoring tapes. At that time dipsticks were just being introduced.
Even though medical professionals believed they were practicing modern diabetes management, technology was actually nonexistent. Between 1947 and 1977 there were no significant changes in diabetes management. Management consisted of one or two fixed doses of insulin and monitoring urine. Today folks have home glucose monitors, a variety of insulin types, and various injection options. Unfortunately, diabetes requires the patient to maintain a higher level of diligence than any other disease.
Because of the nature of the disease, it necessitates attention several times during the day. The patient must calculate meals and snacks, administer insulin, and check glucose. In addition, the need to pay close attention to how they feel to identify hypoglycemia. This condition requires a higher level of attention than most. Unfortunately, over the years, this fact has not changed.
Professionals who do not have the disease do not fully understand the huge burden their patients have. Regardless of the improvements that have changed the way people take insulin and monitor glucose, the day to day burden of managing the disease has not changed. Although the advances have made testing and insulin administering simpler, the individual will still need to be diligent with the attention this condition requires.
Nutritional therapy has been affected by the changes as well. Today, the patient will be counseled on what types of food they should or should not be eating. The new concern is if insulin should match the foods consumed or if the food should match the insulin dosage. For decades, folks were given a diet to follow, a food exchange list, lists of carbohydrate values, and met regularly with a dietitian. The insulin dose was determined by the foods included in the diet.
In the case of type 1 diabetes, folks have to measure glucose and adjust the insulin based of the glucose level. This method is done prior to a meal. Today, there is insulin that matches the foods that are eaten. This does not mean, however, that folks can eat whatever they want. In this type of situation, the insulin is given after a meal.
Administering insulin after eating requires that folks evaluate the meal content, the type of food, and the amount. After assessing the meal, the person will decide the dosage of insulin needed following the meal. Not every person has the ability to perform food analysis. Additionally, not many have the skill to determine the insulin dosage.
In past decades, folks would take their insulin and then eat their meal. Today they choose their foods and after the meal they add up the foods eaten, accounting for glucose level before the meal, and calculate the insulin dosage needed. Matching insulin to food consumed is a shift in diabetes management.
Even though medical professionals believed they were practicing modern diabetes management, technology was actually nonexistent. Between 1947 and 1977 there were no significant changes in diabetes management. Management consisted of one or two fixed doses of insulin and monitoring urine. Today folks have home glucose monitors, a variety of insulin types, and various injection options. Unfortunately, diabetes requires the patient to maintain a higher level of diligence than any other disease.
Because of the nature of the disease, it necessitates attention several times during the day. The patient must calculate meals and snacks, administer insulin, and check glucose. In addition, the need to pay close attention to how they feel to identify hypoglycemia. This condition requires a higher level of attention than most. Unfortunately, over the years, this fact has not changed.
Professionals who do not have the disease do not fully understand the huge burden their patients have. Regardless of the improvements that have changed the way people take insulin and monitor glucose, the day to day burden of managing the disease has not changed. Although the advances have made testing and insulin administering simpler, the individual will still need to be diligent with the attention this condition requires.
Nutritional therapy has been affected by the changes as well. Today, the patient will be counseled on what types of food they should or should not be eating. The new concern is if insulin should match the foods consumed or if the food should match the insulin dosage. For decades, folks were given a diet to follow, a food exchange list, lists of carbohydrate values, and met regularly with a dietitian. The insulin dose was determined by the foods included in the diet.
In the case of type 1 diabetes, folks have to measure glucose and adjust the insulin based of the glucose level. This method is done prior to a meal. Today, there is insulin that matches the foods that are eaten. This does not mean, however, that folks can eat whatever they want. In this type of situation, the insulin is given after a meal.
Administering insulin after eating requires that folks evaluate the meal content, the type of food, and the amount. After assessing the meal, the person will decide the dosage of insulin needed following the meal. Not every person has the ability to perform food analysis. Additionally, not many have the skill to determine the insulin dosage.
In past decades, folks would take their insulin and then eat their meal. Today they choose their foods and after the meal they add up the foods eaten, accounting for glucose level before the meal, and calculate the insulin dosage needed. Matching insulin to food consumed is a shift in diabetes management.
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