Diabetes

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of Americans, causing metabolic changes in the body. It occurs when the body is unable to properly monitor insulin or glucagon levels, leading to either an increase, or decrease, in blood sugar levels of the body.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. However, out of these numbers, about ⅓ were undiagnosed. Over 86 million Americans over the age of 20 are diagnosed as pre-diabetic*, meaning they have higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not levels that are high enough to be considered diabetic. The most common symptoms of diabetes with high blood sugar levels includes weight loss, increased urination, and thirst.

How Does Insulin Maintain Glucose Levels?

High Glucose

The chemical insulin, along with another chemical glucagon, is produced by the pancreas. In essence, they maintain the sugar/glucose levels in the body. When blood sugar levels are too HIGH, insulin is secreted to tell the body to stop producing glucose. At the same time as insulin is secreted, glucagon is backed off. When glucose levels are too high, it is known as hyperglycemia.

Low Glucose

When glucose levels are too LOW, the opposite occurs. Insulin levels are reduced and glucagon is released to prod the liver to release stored glucose cells into the bloodstream, thus increasing the glucose levels in the body. When an individual is suffering from low blood sugar, it is called hypoglycemia.

HIGH GLUCOSE : Insulin Secreted and Glucagon not released
LOW GLUCOSE: Glucagon Secreted and Insulin not released

For those individuals whose bodies are unable to properly produce insulin or glucagon, they end up with improper levels of glucose within the bloodstream. Therefore, blood sugar levels must be monitored closely via a glucometer and/or insulin injections. Proper glucose levels are anywhere around 80 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) before a meal, but no higher than 126 mg/dL. Glucose levels higher than 200mg/dL is considered elevated**. However, time of day, meals, and type of test have a vast effect on overall levels.

Talk To Your Doctor

In order to be properly diagnose, it is important to visit your doctor for a complete and integrative set of tests. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will provide you with a maintenance plan, especially when it comes to your insulin shots. In older adults and seniors, diabetes can have a large effect on overall health and quality of life. Many times, a home health care nurse is recommended to help with the medical care and daily routine for those suffering from severe cases of diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association has a vast amount of resources for those wanting more information on diabetes, recipes, and living life to its fullest!

* http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/

** http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/how-sugar-affects-diabetes

Benefits of Home Health Care in Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a beautiful city located along the Texas coast. It is home to thousands of beach lovers, and it has thousands of new visitors each week that travel to Corpus Christi to enjoy the sun and sand.

Nearby Rockport and Port Aransas are common retirement locations for many people around South, Central, and East Texas. Because of the growth in retirement, there has been a boom for home health care in Corpus Christi over the years. No longer do patients, especially seniors, have to visit a hospital for routine visits, therapy, and care.

Corpus Christi Home Health Care

National Nursing and Rehab home health care in Corpus Christi offers alternative solutions. The qualified and certified staff of over 900 nurses and therapists use modern medicine and medical technology in the comforts of your own home.

Take Out The Stress

The days of getting into your car, driving through traffic, paying for parking, waiting in the doctor's office, waiting in the back room, then finally seeing your doctor, therapist or nurse are days long gone. No longer do you need to wait for a friend or family member to drive you to your therapy, leaving you feeling like a burden.

National Nursing and Rehab home health care in Corpus Christi comes to you. No added stress, no "feeling like a burden", and definitely no waiting for your doctor, therapist, or nurse to finally see you at their office. Take control of your life by trying home health care. The overall cost ends up less, and the benefits are exponentially better than out of home therapy and nursing.

Learn More

Whether you live in Rockport, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, or another surrounding city, contact National Nursing and Rehab for more information on their offered programs. You won't regret it!