Glucose control remains one of the cornerstones of diabetes management. Not only does good control optimize immediate health, but also long-term health.
People without diabetes maintain a blood glucose within narrow non-fluctuating range. For the most part, this is because functioning beta cells in the pancreas are producing the right amount of insulin at every moment in other words, a continuous adjustment to changes. Diabetic persons have either one or another malfunction associated with this key process in regulating blood glucose concentration.
The pancreas may produce no insulin due to the destruction of beta cells in Type 1 diabetes, while generally, in the case of Type 2 diabetes, there is insufficient production of insulin or ineffective action. Although there is a difference in the management strategies between these two types of diabetes, both generally require that individuals take active steps toward regulating their blood glucose.
The dynamics of blood glucose control is a lot like trying to lasso a wild animal. A person’s blood glucose is related and continuously changing according to the interplay of several factors, such as food consumed and portion sizes, timing of medication or insulin, emotions, physical illnesses, body weight, and personal insulin sensitivity. Some of the factors are fairly stable from one day to the next, while other factors can vary wildly, making glucose management a complex activity. Therefore, it is not easy to attain a stable level of blood glucose.
People with diabetes need to know what factors raise blood glucose and what factors lower it, so that they can balance some of these variables on an hourly basis. Management of diabetes, in a sense, is coordinated on a daily—hourly—basis balancing medicine, food, and exercise, and taking into consideration other things that might disrupt the balance: stress, illness, or changes in daily routines.
The aim is to avoid wild swings and to maintain a blood glucose as near normal as possible. Regular monitoring using finger-prick blood glucose testing is considered essential. Results of such tests are useful markers which can help to guide appropriate adjustments aiming at a balance between factors raising glucose levels and those lowering it. Once an individual has managed to optimize his blood glucose level, further monitoring and adjustment are still very important.
Management of blood sugar is a commitment constant and lifelong. An overwhelming responsibility it might be, but it will eventually become a habit with those suffering from diabetes.
Blood glucose levels for people with no diabetes are usually between 4 and 8 mmol/L for most of the time. Targets should generally be within the range of 4 to 10 mmol/L for most people with diabetes. However, for some groups, tighter control-for example, in pregnant women-will be required, while others, such as young children, elderly people, or those who are at risk of severe hypoglycemia, will need targets to ensure slightly higher levels.
Consultation with a diabetes care team is useful for providing personalized advice about suitable targets for blood glucose, taking the circumstances into account.
In the short term, stability of blood glucose is important to avoid emergencies resulting from very high or very low levels of glucose. Both conditions carry a number of risks to health and cause significant discomfort; hence neither should be experienced.
In the case of Type 1 diabetes, insulin deficiency may result in high levels of blood glucose, which could give rise to a serious condition referred to as diabetic ketoacidosis. If left untreated, DKA can become lethal.
Conclusion: Blood sugar management effectively calls for an all-rounded approach, involving education on diabetes, regular monitoring, effective management of medication, and a proper diet. Individuals with diabetes should be involved with their health care professional and also be utilizing support services to work out an individualized management plan that meets their life style and health goals. Equally, in return, individuals will experience a remarkably enhanced quality of life while minimizing risks associated with diabetes by adopting a proactive attitude towards blood glucose management.
