Over the past several decades, many changes in technology have affected diabetes management. There has been a significant change in the kinds of insulin being used, how it is administered, and how folks measure glucose. These changes in diabetic supplies have made a huge improvement in the lives of folks with diabetes. Back in 1977, folks measured glucose by testing urine with tablets and monitoring tapes. At that time dipsticks were just being introduced.
In spite of nonexistent technology, health care practitioners believed diabetes management was state of the art. There were no notable changes in the management of diabetes from 1947 to 1977. Folks monitored glucose in the urine and took one to two doses of insulin at a fixed amount. Today there are personal glucose monitors that test the blood, many different types of insulin, and a variety of options for injection. This disease requires a high level of diligence by the patient.
Checking glucose levels, calculating snacks and meals, and administering insulin, makes this disease require the individuals attention numerous times each day. Diabetics need to pay attention to identify feelings that may point to hypoglycemia. There are not many conditions that require such a high level of attention. This is something that has not changed for diabetes management.
Healthcare professionals who do not have diabetes can not understand the intense burden their patients face. Even though there have been some great improvements that have simplified glucose monitoring and insulin injections, the burden of managing diabetes has not been erased. Advancements in technology have not changed the fact that it is important for the patient to continue to be careful when managing diabetes.
Nutritional therapy has been affected by the changes as well. Today, the patient will be counseled on what types of food they should or should not be eating. The new concern is if insulin should match the foods consumed or if the food should match the insulin dosage. For decades, folks were given a diet to follow, a food exchange list, lists of carbohydrate values, and met regularly with a dietitian. The insulin dose was determined by the foods included in the diet.
With Diabetes Type I, the patient measures glucose and based on the level, adjusts the insulin dose. This takes place before the meal. Today, insulin dosage is matched to the food that is eaten. However, this does not give permission for people to consume anything they want. Contrary to traditional dosing, this method gives insulin following a meal.
Administering insulin after eating requires that folks evaluate the meal content, the type of food, and the amount. After assessing the meal, the person will decide the dosage of insulin needed following the meal. Not every person has the ability to perform food analysis. Additionally, not many have the skill to determine the insulin dosage.
In the past, people ate their meal after they took a fixed dose of insulin. Now they have the option to select foods, analyze them, taking glucose level into account, and determine the dose of insulin that is needed following a meal. This method is indicative of a shift in managing diabetes.
In spite of nonexistent technology, health care practitioners believed diabetes management was state of the art. There were no notable changes in the management of diabetes from 1947 to 1977. Folks monitored glucose in the urine and took one to two doses of insulin at a fixed amount. Today there are personal glucose monitors that test the blood, many different types of insulin, and a variety of options for injection. This disease requires a high level of diligence by the patient.
Checking glucose levels, calculating snacks and meals, and administering insulin, makes this disease require the individuals attention numerous times each day. Diabetics need to pay attention to identify feelings that may point to hypoglycemia. There are not many conditions that require such a high level of attention. This is something that has not changed for diabetes management.
Healthcare professionals who do not have diabetes can not understand the intense burden their patients face. Even though there have been some great improvements that have simplified glucose monitoring and insulin injections, the burden of managing diabetes has not been erased. Advancements in technology have not changed the fact that it is important for the patient to continue to be careful when managing diabetes.
Nutritional therapy has been affected by the changes as well. Today, the patient will be counseled on what types of food they should or should not be eating. The new concern is if insulin should match the foods consumed or if the food should match the insulin dosage. For decades, folks were given a diet to follow, a food exchange list, lists of carbohydrate values, and met regularly with a dietitian. The insulin dose was determined by the foods included in the diet.
With Diabetes Type I, the patient measures glucose and based on the level, adjusts the insulin dose. This takes place before the meal. Today, insulin dosage is matched to the food that is eaten. However, this does not give permission for people to consume anything they want. Contrary to traditional dosing, this method gives insulin following a meal.
Administering insulin after eating requires that folks evaluate the meal content, the type of food, and the amount. After assessing the meal, the person will decide the dosage of insulin needed following the meal. Not every person has the ability to perform food analysis. Additionally, not many have the skill to determine the insulin dosage.
In the past, people ate their meal after they took a fixed dose of insulin. Now they have the option to select foods, analyze them, taking glucose level into account, and determine the dose of insulin that is needed following a meal. This method is indicative of a shift in managing diabetes.
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