By Guthrie “Guff” Worth
I am distressed about what seems to be an ever-increasing number of deaths attributed to complications of diabetes. In a country that frowns upon self termination, we don”t pay much attention to those millions who are slowly doing it over time simply because they don”t take care of themselves. Diabetes is a major example, but there are many other body conditions that respond favorably to care, heart, coronary disease, lungs and such.
Diabetes is a nasty ailment. The ones in greatest danger are type 1, insulin dependant, who seem also to take better care of themselves than those who contract it at a later date.
Type 2 is too often as a result of lifestyle. Type 1”s know they have to monitor their blood glucose frequently, take insulin shots frequently to offset their intake of carbohydrates and constantly be aware of such things as the effects of medications on insulin effectiveness.
They know that with a moderate lifestyle, prudent exercise, proper eating habits and close glucose level control, they can do very well.
One has to look a long time to find an overweight type 1, as well as type 1”s with eye, kidney, leg and toe problems. Because they know they have control their life situations.
Type 2”s on the other hand seem to be reluctant to face up to their problems. Too many are overweight, eat too much glucose-high foods, don”t exercise much, if at all and even worse often have no idea of the damage they are doing to their bodies by doing nothing to help themselves. Too often, type 2”s do not even consider they are diabetic.
Type 1”s simply do not produce enough natural insulin or any and will die quickly of hyperglycemia if not medicated. On the other side of the problem is that if one takes too much insulin and fails to eat the amount of carbohydrates demanded, blood glucose levels get far too low and that can lead to hypoglycemic seizures, comas and death.
Depending on the individual patient, endocrinologists feel normal for a type 1 is a range of 80 to 150 on the glucose meter. It is a bit higher than non-diabetic normal in recognition of the difficulties of close control.
Too many type 2”s haven”t seen a level of 300 or less in years even if they bother to check. Their kidneys could tell them, their eyes and when they begin to have numb feet and discolored toes they ought to have some idea something is wrong.
For type 2”s probably the best starting point is diet. Lighten up on carbohydrates in both drink and food. One does need some carbohydrates, but not nearly as much as people would like to think. That”s why fruits and vegetables were invented.
Overall calories are important for body maintenance too, but the amount the body needs is much less than one would think.
The more obese you are, the more likelihood of complications well beyond diabetes.
For type 2 diabetics, eating and weight control probably are not going to do the whole job and there are many new medications available to help what insulin your body does have function more effectively to retain glucose control.
There is even a fairly new, long-absorbing insulin that can supply a body with a low-level supply to augment other medications. In any case, exercise is the third element of care. Do not in any case try to medicate yourself if you are a type 2, it is too easy to shoot yourself in the foot.
Even so, it is the patient who is the key to the patient”s welfare and it is not easy to change your habits and lifestyle.
Probably fair to ask “why all this from you? You aren”t a health professional.”
True, I”m not, but I have 64 years of contact with a type 1. My wife was diagnosed in 1934 when insulin was still new and needles were big.
Blood glucose was measured derivatively by urine testing. She had a supportive family and she still has a supportive husband.
She has excelled as a human being. She received two degrees from UCLA with honors and was still active as an LCSW until recently.
I was told by her doctor before we married that I shouldn”t be surprised if she did not make our 10th anniversary such was the state of diabetes practice in 1952.
We have two children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She still blood-tests four times a day, takes four shots of insulin each day and has long since outlived any diabetic she knew as a child. I figure I have a certain amount of experience to write this.
Guthrie “Guff” Worth
Lakeport
