Diabetes

Diabetes Information

-Diabetes Facts
-History of Diabetes
-Causes of Diabetes
-Diabetes Complications
-Diabetes Education
-Diabetes Research

Diabetes Mellitus

-Diabetes Mellitus Symptoms
-Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
-Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
-Diabetes Mellitus Treatment

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes
-Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
-Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
-Type 1 Diabetes Diet
-Type 1 Diabetes Cure

Type 2 Diabetes
-Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
-Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
-Type 2 Diabetes Causes
-Type 2 Diabetes Diet
-Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
-Type 2 Diabetes Medications

Gestational Diabetes
-Gestational Diabetes Test
-Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
-Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan
-Gestational Diabetes Treatment

Juvenile Diabetes
-Juvenile Diabetes Symptoms
-Juvenile Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes Insipidus
-Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
-Treatment for Diabetes Insipidus

Feline Diabetes

Diabetes Symptoms
-Signs of Diabetes 
Also: Diabetes Sign Symptoms 
-Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Also: Type II Diabetes Symptoms
-Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
-Symptoms, Juvenile Diabetes
Also: Diabetes Symptoms in Child

Glucose  
(see also Blood Glucose)
-Glucose Level
Also: Blood Glucose Level
-Glucose Meter
Also: Blood Glucose Meter
-Glucose Monitor
Also: Blood Glucose Monitor
-Glucose Test
Also: Glucose Tolerance Test
-Glucose Intolerance

Diabetes Diet
-Diabetes Food
-Diabetes Nutrition
-Diabetes Diet Plan
-Type 2 Diabetes Diet

Diabetes Supply
-Diabetes Testing Supply

Diabetes Treatment
-Diabetes Medications
-Alternative Treatment for Diabetes

Insulin
-Insulin Resistance
-Insulin Pump
-Lantus Insulin

Diabetes Care
-Diabetes Management
-Diabetes Associations
-Diabetes Prevention
-Diabetes Cure

Diabetes is the No. 6 leading causes of deaths in the United States, according to 2001 data  from the United States National Center for Health Statistics.

Keeping your blood sugar level as close to the normal range (about 70 to 115 mg/dL) as possible is important in minimizing the complications that can result after years of diabetes. An insulin pump is a useful device for achieving this control, especially in patients who have a drop in blood sugar during the night, an erratic work schedule requiring flexible therapy, or inadequate control with other methods.


What equipment is involved?

Just a pump unit and an infusion set. The pump unit is a plastic case that's about the size of a deck of cards. It contains a reservoir or cartridge holding several days' worth of insulin, a tiny battery-operated pump, and a computer chip regulating how much insulin is pumped. The infusion set is a thin plastic tube with a fine needle at the end. It carries the insulin from the pump to the site of infusion beneath your skin.

How does an insulin pump work?

It delivers insulin in two ways: continuously at a low dose and rapidly in a larger dose. The low dose is delivered every few minutes 24 hours a day to maintain a "basal" level of insulin, as the pancreas does in people without diabetes. Maintaining a low level of insulin cuts down on bouts of low blood sugar occurring in the morning and with unexpected exercise or stress. The larger, or "bolus," doses are given before meals. With the press of a button, you program how much additional insulin the pump is to release, depending on results of blood sugar monitoring and the amount of food you intend to eat. Your body's rhythms and requirements are unique, so you must work very closely with your physician to get the doses just right for you.

Isn't wearing a pump all the time a bother?

Most people quickly adapt to wearing a pump. When the infusion set is properly inserted and the skin at the site is not irritated, you should not be aware of the device. The most common infusion site is the abdomen, and tubing comes in lengths long enough to allow you to put the pump in your pocket or clip it on your belt. The pump can be put in waterproof coverings during showering and swimming and protective cases during sports. Some pumps have a quick-release device for temporary detachment. Most patients feel that the adjustments they have to make are minor and that having their diabetes well controlled makes the effort worthwhile.

This information is not a substitute for medical treatment.

(From www.postgradmed.com)

See also

Insulin
 

Note:

This diabetes health education project is supported by Chong's Health Care at http://www.cljhealth.com, one of the leading companies in the discovery of alternative medicines for diabetes.