Symptoms of diabetes insipidus include an increase in urination and in increase in thirst, as well as bed-wetting, irritability, listlessness, vomiting and diarrhea. Discover why dry hands and dehydration may be signs of diabetes insipidus with help from a licensed RN in this free video on diabetes insipidus.
Expert: Kayti Brosnan
Bio: Kayti Brosnan has been a licensed RN in the state of Texas since 2003.
Filmmaker: Todd Green
Contributed by India Herbs (http://www.india-herbs.com):
The term diabetes is derived from the Greek word diabaínein that literally means “passing through,” or “siphon”, a reference to one of diabetes’ major symptoms—excessive urine production.
Because insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of glucose into most cells from the blood (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells), deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus.
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
Major Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women – about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.
Diabetes Symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly.
Type 1 diabetes is usually recognized in childhood or early adolescence, often in association with an illness (such as a virus) or injury.
The extra stress can cause diabetic ketoacidosis.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea and vomiting. Dehydration and often-serious disturbances in blood levels of potassium follow.
Without treatment, ketoacidosis can lead to coma and death.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often subtle and may be attributed to aging or obesity.
A person may have type 2 diabetes for many years without knowing it.
People with type 2 diabetes can develop hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome.
Type 2 diabetes can be precipitated by steroids and stress.
If not properly treated, type 2 diabetes can lead to complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage.
Common symptoms of both major types of diabetes
Fatigue: In diabetes, the body is inefficient and sometimes unable to use glucose for fuel. The body switches over to metabolizing fat, partially or completely, as a fuel source. This process requires the body to use more energy. The end result is feeling fatigued or constantly tired.
Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes are unable to process many of the calories in the foods they eat. Thus, they may lose weight even though they eat an apparently appropriate or even excessive amount of food. Losing sugar and water in the urine and the accompanying dehydration also contributes to weight loss.
Excessive thirst (polydipsia): A person with diabetes develops high blood sugar levels. The body tries to counteract this by sending a signal to the brain to dilute the blood, which translates into thirst. The body encourages more water consumption to dilute the high blood sugar back to normal levels and to compensate for the water lost by excessive urination.
Excessive urination (polyuria): Another way the body tries to get rid of the extra sugar in the blood is to excrete it in the urine. This can also lead to dehydration because excreting the sugar carries a large amount of water out of the body along with it.
http://www.PreOp.com
Monitoring and tightly controlling your blood sugar level can significantly reduce the risk of complications due to diabetes and provide you with a higher quality of life.
Knowledge of your blood sugar levels at different times of the day is an essential input into your diabetes care plan and allows you and your medical team to work out and modify your plan for medication, diet and exercise.
The heart of the system to monitor your blood sugar is the blood glucose meter and the automatic lancing device used to obtain your blood sample.
There are many types of glucose meters with varying degrees of sophistication and abilities to store test results. Your doctor or nurse will recommend the type best for you.
You will need to be familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions for each unit. This program will provide you with general guidelines that apply to all units. The equipment you will need to assemble includes:
* the glucose testing meter,
* a packet of test strips,
* an automatic lancing device,
* and facial tissue.
The meter will have a display with blood sugar readings are shown, an on/off power button and a slot into which the Test Strips are inserted. In the back of the meter will be a compartment for batteries.
The Automatic Lancing Device has three components: the body with a release button, lancet holder and cocking device, the removable end cap and a separate short lancet.
The first step is to code the meter to match or calibrate the meter to the reactivity of the Test Strip.
This is done by following the manufacturer’s instructions and matching a number on the meter’s display to a number on the Code Strip or on the test strip package.
Coding is done:
* whenever a new package of Test Strips is opened
* and daily to ensure the meter is coded correctly.
In addition, a control test can be run:
* if you need to check that the whole system of the meter and the test strip is working correctly
* and to practice your good meter techniques.
* Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which usually involves testing a control solution of sugar that is provided with the meter.
Wash your hands vigorously with soap and warm water. Rinse and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
Remove the Test Strip from its individual package.
With the meter off, insert the correct end of the test strip into the test slot of the meter, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually turns the meter on.
Remove the end-cap from the lancing device.
Insert a short lancet into the lancet holder according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Twist off the protective cap and save it for the disposal of the used lancet.
Replace the end-cap. The depth of the puncture depends on the end-cap used.
Re-cock the lancing device.
Choose your puncture site. The sides of the end segment of the finger are the best sites. Stroke down the finger to push blood toward the puncture site.
Place the end-cap firmly against the chosen puncture site on the side of the fingertip. The more pressure you use, the deeper the puncture. Push the lancet release button without moving your finger or the device.
After the puncture, remove the lancing device. If a drop of blood does not form on its own, stroke down the finger toward the puncture site without going as far as the site itself.
Hold the tip of the test strip in the drop of blood until the meter tells you the test strip is filled, usually by beeping. Remove the test strip from the blood. Put the device and the strip aside until the reading is complete.
Wipe the puncture site with a clean, dry facial tissue and use the tissue to hold pressure on the puncture site until the bleeding stops.
Remove the end-cap from the lancing device and remove the used lancet.
Replace the used lancet back into the protective cap by pushing it into the open end of the cap which is placed on a firm, flat surface like a counter top.
Once the blood sugar reading on the meter is complete, use the tissue to grasp the test strip and pull it out of the meter. This usually turns the meter off.
Discard the lancet in its protective cover and the used strip into a glass or puncture-proof container with a screw top or a “Sharps” Container purchased from your local pharmacy. Replace the cap on the container. When the container is full, cap it and discard it into the trash.
* Clean the lancing device weekly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
* Only use a lancet once.
* Do not use the same end-cap on another person.
* Teach another person to use the whole system so that you have a backup when you need assistance.
http://www.PreOp.com
Diabetes Patient Education
Monitoring and tightly controlling your blood sugar level
can significantly reduce the risk of complications due to diabetes and provide you with a higher quality of life.
Knowledge of your blood sugar levels at different times of the day is an essential input into your diabetes care plan and allows you and your medical team to work out and modify your plan for medication, diet and exercise.
The heart of the system to monitor your blood sugar is the blood glucose meter and the automatic lancing device used to obtain your blood sample.
There are many types of glucose meters with varying degrees of sophistication and abilities to store test results. Your doctor or nurse will recommend the type best for you.
You will need to be familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions for each unit. This program will provide you with general guidelines that apply to all units. The equipment you will need to assemble includes:
* the glucose testing meter,
* a packet of test strips,
* an automatic lancing device,
* and facial tissue.
Diabetes Patient Education
The meter will have a display with blood sugar readings are shown, an on/off power button and a slot into which the Test Strips are inserted. In the back of the meter will be a compartment for batteries.
The Automatic Lancing Device has three components: the body with a release button, lancet holder and cocking device, the removable end cap and a separate short lancet.
The first step is to code the meter to match or calibrate the meter to the reactivity of the Test Strip.
This is done by following the manufacturer’s instructions and matching a number on the meter’s display to a number on the Code Strip or on the test strip package.
Coding is done:
* whenever a new package of Test Strips is opened
* and daily to ensure the meter is coded correctly.
Diabetes Patient Education
In addition, a control test can be run:
* if you need to check that the whole system of the meter and the test strip is working correctly
* and to practice your good meter techniques.
* Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which usually involves testing a control solution of sugar that is provided with the meter.
Wash your hands vigorously with soap and warm water. Rinse and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
Remove the Test Strip from its individual package.
With the meter off, insert the correct end of the test strip into the test slot of the meter, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually turns the meter on.
Remove the end-cap from the lancing device.
Insert a short lancet into the lancet holder according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Twist off the protective cap and save it for the disposal of the used lancet.
Replace the end-cap. The depth of the puncture depends on the end-cap used.
Re-cock the lancing device.
Choose your puncture site. The sides of the end segment of the finger are the best sites. Stroke down the finger to push blood toward the puncture site.
Place the end-cap firmly against the chosen puncture site on the side of the fingertip. The more pressure you use, the deeper the puncture. Push the lancet release button without moving your finger or the device.Diabetes Patient Education
After the puncture, remove the lancing device. If a drop of blood does not form on its own, stroke down the finger toward the puncture site without going as far as the site itself.
Hold the tip of the test strip in the drop of blood until the meter tells you the test strip is filled, usually by beeping. Remove the test strip from the blood. Put the device and the strip aside until the reading is complete.
Wipe the puncture site with a clean, dry facial tissue and use the tissue to hold pressure on the puncture site until the bleeding stops.
Remove the end-cap from the lancing device and remove the used lancet.
Replace the used lancet back into the protective cap by pushing it into the open end of the cap which is placed on a firm, flat surface like a counter top.
Once the blood sugar reading on the meter is complete, use the tissue to grasp the test strip and pull it out of the meter. This usually turns the meter off.
Discard the lancet in its protective cover and the used strip into a glass or puncture-proof container with a screw top or a “Sharps” Container purchased from your local pharmacy. Replace the cap on the container. When the container is full, cap it and discard it into the trash.
* Clean the lancing device weekly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
* Only use a lancet once.
* Do not use the same end-cap on another person.
* Teach another person to use the whole system so that you have a backup when you need assistance.
One-third of diabetics don’t know that they have the condition. How can you avoid being one of them? Check out this video!Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: http://www.healthguru.com/?YT
Symptoms of diabetes insipidus include an increase in urination and in increase in thirst, as well as bed-wetting, irritability, listlessness, vomiting and diarrhea. Discover why dry hands and dehydration may be signs of diabetes insipidus with help from a licensed RN in this free video on diabetes insipidus.
Contributed by India Herbs (http://www.india-herbs.com):
http://www.PreOp.com
http://www.PreOp.com
One-third of diabetics don’t know that they have the condition. How can you avoid being one of them? Check out this video!Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: http://www.healthguru.com/?YT