Diabetes Education May Help You to Avoid This Disease

Diabetes Testing Kit

Over the past 15 years, the number of people affected by diabetes has more than doubled. There are over five million people living with diabetes and many aren't even aware of the problem and how it may affect their health. It's becoming vital that Americans educate themselves to know the warning signs and how to prevent the disease.

Diabetes Explained

When the body has difficulty converting sugar and starch into energy, diabetes occurs. There are several different types of diabetes including Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. A person with diabetes has difficulty either producing or utilizing insulin.

Younger adults or children are usually diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes doesn't allow the body to produce insulin in the proper quantities needed so insulin must be taken daily. This can be accomplished either by a shot or an insulin pump.

Older adults are typically diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Recently, however, there has been a shift to Type 2 diabetes in younger people. This is because more and more younger people do not get the proper exercise and activity needed to promote a healthy body and functions. With this type of illness the body no longer recognizes how to use the insulin produced. Type 2 is the majority of cases diagnosed in the United States.

Gestational diabetes is the final form of diabetes. 4% of pregnant women will get this type of diabetes, however the good news is it usually disappears after the birth of the baby. Diabetes education is important in a situation such as this since gestational diabetes can usually be controlled with proper diet and exercise. Gestational diabetes most often occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy, therefore there isn't a higher risk of birth defects in infants. The main problem is the disease causes the baby to retain excess fat -- resulting in larger babies and an increased chance that a cesarean section will be needed.

Prevention Is The Key

Pregnancy complications are only the beginning. In addition to heart disease and strokes, diabetes is a major cause of adult blindness and kidney failure. If unchecked, diabetes may also result in the removal of lower extremities and foot ulcers. Diabetes education can help to prevent all of these issues.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form in America, can often be reversed with the simple improvement of diet and exercise. You may even prevent the disease by reducing sugar, candy, soft drinks and fruit juices and replacing them whole grains, vegetables and whole fresh fruits. Of course limiting portion control is also important to be effective. Exercising combined with the reduced sugar diet can increase the chances of preventing or eliminating Type 2 diabetes. So in addition to the likelihood that you'll lose weight, you're increasing your chances of avoiding this disease. This is true for all ethnic groups and both genders. When caught early, and modifications are implemented, people with pre-diabetes can see a large reduction in the progress of the disease.

When You're Diagnosed With Diabetes

If your doctor confirms a diagnosis of diabetes, it's wise to take a class in diabetes education. These courses are usually available through your county health department, local hospital and other health centers. Although there may be a fee involved for taking such a class, your insurance company may pay for a portion of the costs. Your doctor is another source of information and may be able to direct you. Diabetes education can often be obtained simply by talking to friends and relatives that share the disease. Since Type 2 diabetes can be helped with a controlled diet it should become part of the entire household's routine. Everyone should be aware of how their diet can impact their health. Diabetes education is for everyone!

Regardless of the type of diabetes you may encounter, it can change your life and those of your family. Keep in mind, with proper diet and exercise most people can reduce the effects or reverse the symptoms of this disease.

Jon Buschlen is a health advocate who supports Citrus Memorial Health Foundation, a group of health care providers with a hospital and offices serving Citrus County, FL and surrounding areas. The foundation focuses on preventative care, such as diabetes education, as well as all facets of health care.

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Convenient, Affordable Diabetic Testing Supplies

Diabetes Testing Kit

If you have diabetes, you know that lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and getting regular exercise are vital components for treating diabetes. Daily monitoring of glucose levels is also important, requiring the need to order diabetic testing supplies on a regular basis. For diabetics, this reality often is a costly one. Expenditures can run up to hundreds of dollars a month.

But help is available for lowering or even eliminating the cost of purchasing diabetic supplies. Medical supply companies provide assistance with ordering quality diabetic testing supplies such as meters, test strips, and lancets. Depending on the diabetic's insurance coverage, the supplies can be purchased at discount rates or even at no cost. Simple supplies such as needles, batteries, and alcohol swabs are also usually included.

Some diabetic testing supply companies also provide assistance with medical and insurance paperwork, helpful for aging and busy diabetics who have neither the time nor understanding of how to arrange for free diabetic testing supplies. Free home delivery of the supplies is another convenience that may be offered by these companies, relieving the stress of waiting in long lines and paying higher prices at pharmacies.

People with diabetes can research online to find more information about diabetic testing supplies. You may find that a simple phone call to a quality diabetes supply provider can answer all your questions, take your order, and determine if your insurance covers diabetic testing supplies. There are plenty of resources to provide for diabetic testing supplies that you should never have to overpay for them again.

A premier physician-supervised medical supplier, Total e-Medical is dedicated to providing quality products and personalized service for all of its customers. For more information about how to get your diabetic testing supplies online, please visit our website http://totalemedical.com/


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Diabetes And Free Testing Supplies

Diabetes Testing Kit

Getting help with diabetes and free testing supplies can be tough if you don’t know where to look. DiabetesMedicareInfo.com is here to help.

If you have diabetes, you may be entitled to a FREE blood glucose meter.

There are companies that offer help with diabetes and free testing supplies. Among them is Access Diabetic Supply, one of the leading mail-order diabetic supply companies in the United States providing help with diabetes and free testing supplies to thousands of diabetics nationwide. They provide a complete selection of brand name products to help with diabetes and free testing supplies including glucose meters, test strips, lancing devices, lancets, control solution, insulin, syringes, insulin pump supplies, impotence devices, respiratory medications & supplies, and more. Their highly trained staff and state of the art technology ensures fast and convenient home delivery anywhere in the country… free of charge!

They accept most major brands of insurance including Nevada Blue Cross Supplemental Medicare Insurance and Anthem of Indiana Blue Cross Medicare Supplemental Insurance to help with your diabetes and free testing supplies.

To see if you or someone you love qualifies for help with diabetes and free testing supplies, enroll today and see why thousands of diabetics turn to Access Diabetic Supply for help with diabetes and free testing supplies!

Another company that can help you with diabetes and free testing supplies is FreedoMed. They can also provide Free Medical Supplies. Currently FreedoMed is only a Medicare provider, but they should be accepting Blue Cross in a few months which means they will be accepting Nevada Blue Cross Supplemental Medicare Insurance and Anthem of Indiana Blue Cross Medicare Supplemental Insurance. However, many of the good “private” insurance companies pay out of network to help with diabetes and free testing supplies.

Having these companies help you with diabetes and free testing supplies will not only save you time but money as well. For thousands of people, having help with their diabetes and free testing supplies is a required function in order to live a healthy life.

Chris is interested in helping people deal with diabetes. He's created diabetesmediareinfo.com to help folks with diabetes get access to low cost or free testing supplies.

diabetes testing kit

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

diabetes testing kit

Some symptoms of diabetes include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling very tired much of the time
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual

Nausea, vomiting or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of type 1 diabetes.

diabetes testing kit

Diabetes

Diabetes Testing Kit

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a complex medical condition that results from either a deficiency of insulin or a decreased ability of the body to use insulin (insulin resistance). Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells and be converted to energy. Insulin is also needed to synthesize protein and store fats. In uncontrolled diabetes, glucose and lipids remain in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Diabetics are at increased risk for severe health complications affecting vital organs such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and cardiovascular system.

For example, diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, blindness and amputation, and a major cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death in the general population.

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What is type 1 diabetes?

Diabetes Testing Kit

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that starts when the pancreas stops making insulin. Insulin lets blood sugar—also called glucose—enter the body's cells to be used for energy. Without insulin, the cells can't get the sugar they need, and too much sugar builds up in the blood.

Diabetes can cause sudden or long-term problems. If the body doesn't have enough insulin and the blood sugar gets very high, a sudden and very serious problem called diabetic ketoacidosis can happen. This can be deadly. Over time, high blood sugar can damage the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually starts in children or young adults. That’s why it used to be called juvenile diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is different than type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of the illness. In type 1, the body stops making insulin. In type 2, the body does not make enough insulin, or the body can't use insulin the right way. All people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin. Some people with type 2 diabetes also need insulin, but most people can use diet, exercise, and medicine in pills to treat that illness.

There isn't a cure for type 1 diabetes. But with treatment, people can live long and healthy lives.

What causes type 1 diabetes?

The body makes insulin in beta cells, which are in a part of the pancreas called the islet (say “EYE-let”) tissue. Type 1 diabetes starts because the body destroys the beta cells. Experts don't know why this happens.

Some people have a greater chance of getting type 1 diabetes, because they have a parent, brother, or sister who has it. But most people with the illness don't have a family history of it.

Other things that increase the risk of getting type 1 diabetes are being white and having islet cell antibodies in the blood.

diabetes testing kit

Emotional Support for People with Diabetes

Diabetes Testing Kit

Finding out that you have diabetes can feel life altering. After the initial diagnosis, there is a large amount of information that is given to you in a short amount of time. It can really seem overwhelming at times.

Glucometers, medications, nutrition, exercise, and insulin, are all things you may need to learn. You most likely have to change what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat. Not only do you have to keep track of blood glucose levels, but you have to come to grips with having to prick your finger several times a day, perhaps give yourself shots, and while you're at it, keep track of everything. You may feel that diabetes has you, rather than the other way around.

• Do You Have Diabetes... Or Does Diabetes Have You?

In the rush to come up to speed on diabetes management and incorporate it into your life, it's perfectly natural to also go through some emotional upheaval. Why wouldn't you be angry? Or anxious? Or depressed? Your life, as you knew it, just made a serious left turn and you may need some time to adjust.

By Debra Manzella, R.N.

diabetes testing kit

Free Diabetic Supplies - How to Get Free Diabetes Testing Supplies Delivered to Your Home

Diabetes Testing Kit

If you have diabetes, you may be able to get free testing supplies delivered to your door. Many diabetes service companies work with health insurance carriers to provide free supplies to patients with diabetes. Contact your health insurance provider to find out if you qualify for free diabetes testing supplies. Medicare Part B covers diabetic testing supplies, but does not cover other diabetic supplies such as insulin. There are other programs available, such as Medigap, Medicaid and prescription assistance programs. If you are low-income and do not have health insurance, you can apply for financial assistance. Contact the American Diabetes Association for more information on insurance providers and programs that cover diabetic supplies.

There are a lot of online companies that will ship supplies to you free of charge. Some of the supplies included are insulin and insulin supplies, diabetic testing meters (aka glucose meter or glucometer) and testing strips, glucose control solutions, and alcohol swabs. While testing meters are not that expensive, the test strips can be. If you can get your test strips free in addition to the glucose meter, you can save a lot of money. These companies usually only offer the free meter and test strips to diabetics with health insurance. You will have to fill out an online form, giving personal information such as your mailing address, health insurance policy and physician information. Make sure the site is secure before sending your personal information over the internet.

Some diabetes supply companies handle all the insurance claims, so you can get your diabetic testing supplies quickly and without hassles. This way you do not have to wait for reimbursement from your insurance provider, and you don’t have to pay any up front costs or co-payments. Make sure that the company you are using offers free shipping. This is a very effective alternative to making trips to the pharmacy. Some companies offer additional services, such as tips for using glucose testing supplies and valuable information regarding exercise, nutrition and menu planning. Using an online diabetic supply service is a good way to get free diabetic testing supplies and information.

For More on free diabetic supplies and for information on other types of free medical supplies, visit the Free Diabetic Supply Center at http://free-diabetic-supplies.net/

diabetes testing kit

The Importance of Diabetes Testing

Diabetes Testing Kit

In a world hunted by different types of degenerative diseases, diabetes is given prime importance as trends have indicated serious cases. According to the Center of Disease Control, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions that there are actually millions of people today that do not know they might have diabetes.

Diabetes is a form of disease that grew from the unhealthy diet trends and lack of participation in physical activities of today’s generation. This dangerous practice has not only increased the number of diabetes cases, but also helped establish the link of wrong diet and unhealthy living with other conditions such as coronary heart disease and obesity. These kinds of diseases present us a ticking time bomb that might prove serious when it finally strikes. Thus, it is important to arm ourselves with the right information about diabetes and ourselves.

Diabetes and its complications gives us different reasons why testing for this disease is important. For starters, diabetes in its early stages does not present any symptoms and the only way to tell if you have pre-diabetes is when you ask your doctors for tests. You may continue your unhealthy diet while not being aware that you have the disease. Early diabetes testing will help you review the status of your health. Even if you do not believe you have the disease, you can never go wrong in knowing your blood sugar level.

For people who have developed diabetes, diabetes testing now becomes a critical activity. Despite all the advances in treatment, diabetes is not a disease that we can forget after taking a pill or insulin. Diabetes requires constant monitoring as differences in stress level, diet, exercise levels, and other factors affect your condition. Diabetes testing gives you your score for the day so that you can adjust your diet and other activities depending on your sugar level. As you take diabetes tests regularly, the more you will learn how the disease affects you.

Regular diabetes testing will help you control and prevent any further complications of the disease. As a patient, diabetes test done at recommended times allow you to control your own body sugar since you can review what you have eaten for the day and adjust your diet according to what works for you. Having diabetes test tells you what food to avoid, when you need to exercise, when you need to relax to cope with stress, and when to take more medication to cope with the disease. Diabetes testing is a barometer not only of your health, but also how you deal with the disease.

The prospect of taking regular diabetes testing might be frightening and stressful for us. However, we have to remember that these tests are our guide to succeed in living with diabetes. Without diabetes testing, we will not know how well we are doing in controlling the disease. Diabetes testing is actually our friend that tells us what’s up before the disease strikes. Diabetes testing helps us have a broader perspective in dealing with diabetes.

This Article is written by Lena Butler, the author of Diabetes Information Resources, a longer version of this article is located at The Importance of Diabetes Testing, and resources from other home health and wellness testing articles are used such as A1c Diabetes At Home Test.

diabetes testing kit