Insulin – A Wonder Drug

Most people think of diabetes when they hear the word insulin. True, because it is known that insulin is an effective treatment for diabetes. The purpose of this article is to unmask this marvelous hormone called the insulin. This article will also present some myths and facts about this wonder drug.

First of all, insulin is not really a drug but a hormone produced naturally by the pancreas. The insulin then transfers the sugar, gathered from the food we eat, from our blood to other parts of our body. The insulin plays a vital role in the distribution of minerals from the food we eat. Without the insulin, our body would not be able to absorb the sugar from our blood. That is why insulin is very essential as a treatment for diabetes.

There are various types of insulin used as treatment for diabetes. The use of insulin depends on the type of diabetes an individual has. Type 1 diabetics merely produce insulin inside their body that is why they need daily dosage of insulin. The use of insulin also depends on the individual’s needs for this hormone. There are short-acting, immediate-acting, long-acting and biphasic insulin. Consult your doctor to verify which type of insulin you should take.

The hormone insulin is used as a treatment for diabetes because this hormone helps the body control the level of glucose or sugar. The glucose or sugar we get from the food we eat is one of the primary sources of our energy. So without the help of insulin, the body will not be able to get enough energy to do tasks. That is why most diabetic people usually feel tired and thirsty aside from the many symptoms of diabetes.

Many believe that taking insulin is not an effective mean as treatment for diabetes. Wrong. Diabetes is not a “sugar problem” but rather a problem in insulin intake and utilization. Some people also believe that their life may change once they start taking insulin. This is somehow true; however, the change would be for the better rather than to the common notion that it would make one’s life miserable. The help of insulin will bring more energy and life to an individual. With enough energy, an individual could then perform activities like what non-diabetic people do.

Meal Plans and Food to Eat with Type 2 Diabetes

What you eat is very important especially if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes type 1, your goal is to balance what you eat with the right amount of insulin in order to help use up the glucose in your blood. To help you find out the amount of insulin you need, you would need the advice of a dietitian or a CDE (certified diabetes educator). If you have diabetes type 2, then oral medications help in maintaining normal blood glucose levels. Both types require a diet and exercise plan, among others. Below you will learn more about the Diabetes Type 2 diet.

One of the food groups you have to watch out for when you have diabetes is carbohydrates. Almost immediately after eating carbohydrates, your blood glucose gets affected. The key in Diabetes Type 2 diet is limiting your intake of carbohydrates.

There are three major meal plans for a Diabetes Type 2 diet, and this usually involves keeping track of your carbohydrates intake.

If you don’t want to eat the same food every day, you still have options. The exchange meal plan provides you with the choice of trading one food for another. Even though it’s a different food, it still contains more or less the same amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein and fats. For example, you can exchange half an English muffin for a ¾ cup of cold cereal. You can find an exchange food list from your dietitian, or in books and the Internet.

The next food plan entails you to count carbohydrates and adjust your insulin dosage based on the amount of carbohydrates intake. This is more flexible as you can eat almost anything, provided that you correctly count the carbohydrates and adjust your dosage based on that amount. Ask your doctor or dietitian for the unit of insulin for every gram of carbs consumed, basing on your body’s response to carbohydrates.

The constant carbohydrate food plan is also another option for Diabetes Type 2 diet. It is often the first choice for people who are starting out, as it is easy and simple to follow. Your doctor or dietitian would provide you with a constant amount of carbohydrates you should eat every day, together with insulin doses. You then eat a meal that corresponds to the constant amount.

============================================
Discover How You Can Win the Fight with Diabetes