Diabetes is a long-term health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy.
The majority of the food you eat is converted into sugar (glucose) by your body and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar rises, your pancreas sends a signal to release insulin. Insulin functions like a key, allowing blood sugar to enter cells and be used as energy.
Diabetes occurs when your body does not produce enough insulin or does not utilize it as effectively as it should. Too much blood sugar remains in your bloodstream when there is insufficient insulin or when cells cease reacting to insulin. This can lead to major health issues such as heart disease, eyesight loss, and renal disease over time.
Types of diabetes
There are three types of diabetes
Diabetes Type 1
An autoimmune reaction is assumed to be the etiology of type 1 diabetes (the body attacks itself by mistake). This reaction prevents your body from producing insulin. Type 1 diabetes affects around 5-10% of all diabetics. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear quickly. It is most commonly diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults. To survive if you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin every day. At the moment, no one knows how to avoid type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes Type 2
With type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin well and cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes affects 90-95% of diabetics. It takes many years to develop and is usually diagnosed in adulthood (but more and more in children, teens, and young adults). Because you may not notice any symptoms, it is critical to have your blood sugar tested if you are at risk. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided or postponed by implementing healthy lifestyle changes such as:
- Losing weight.
- Eating healthy food.
- Being active.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes acquire gestational diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby may be more vulnerable to health concerns. Gestational diabetes normally disappears after the baby is born. However, it raises your chances of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Your child is more likely to be overweight as a child or adolescent and to acquire type 2 diabetes later in life.
What Supplies Does a Diabetic Needs
You will need to buy the following items depending on whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes:
- A glucose meter
- Test strips
- Lancets to pierce your finger for a blood sample
- Urine test strips to measure ketone levels (for type 1 diabetes)
- Glucose tablets
- Emergency alert bracelet
The best diabetic supplies online
Blood glucose meters, test strips, lancets, and other diabetic supplies can be purchased at your local drugstore or online. However, just as with any other purchase, it is critical to shop for savings. You may locate the greatest deals and save money by looking for diabetes product sales. For example, generic diabetic medicines can help to reduce the cost of diabetes care. This is because generics typically have lower retail prices than name-brand products.
Diabetes can damage many regions of the body and is linked to major problems such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, renal failure, and lower-limb amputation, among others.
When should you see a doctor?
If you suspect that you or your child has diabetes. Contact your doctor if you detect any probable diabetic symptoms. The sooner an illness is identified, the sooner therapy can begin.
If you have diabetes and have already been diagnosed. Following your diagnosis, you will require continuous medical monitoring until your blood sugar levels stabilize.
Diabetes is a metabolic condition that leads to high blood sugar levels. There are many types of diabetic supplies needed for preventive screening, monitoring, and managing the condition. We offer our clients a range of the latest diabetic supplies including blood glucose monitors and test strips. We also supply syringes for patient or caregiver convenience. Our Ranchland pharmacist is available to answer questions and provide training on monitors, medication, insulin and lifestyle. Make an appointment for a monitor demo or if you have any other questions or concerns about your diabetes at https://ranchlandspharmacy.com/pharmacy