I was lucky enough to be told that I do not have diabetes at the moment but that since I was in the high risk bracket, i.e. being overweight and having a family history of diabetes, I should have regular diabetes testing. My parents both use a diabetes monitor to keep an eye on their blood sugar and although the diabetes meter is easy to use I do not like the idea of having to test my blood so often.
There are also many diabetes products which are available to make life easier for those patients who have to live with the disease on a daily basis. Apart from the things such as monitors, testing strips and special foods and drinks there are also things such as creams, socks, sugar free medications and vitamins. These all have a place in the diabetic’s life for the reasons listed below:
- People with diabetes are vulnerable to foot problems, since the disease can restrict blood flow to the feet and damage nerves. That's why diabetics are advised to take extremely good care of their feet. Along with examining their feet daily and keeping them protected and dry, diabetics can also add creams that promote foot health to their regimen.
- Often people with diabetes come up short on key nutrients. Diabetic multivitamins may help fill these nutritional gaps with combinations of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are specially formulated for diabetic patients. Non-diabetic supplements include multivitamins, immune support, high-potency vitamin C supplements, and letter vitamin brand.
- Nobody likes having a nasty cough but for people with diabetes, treating a cough can be especially tricky, as many over-the-counter cough products contain sugar, which can raise blood sugar levels. Diabetics can explore the range of sugar-free cough products which are available these days.
- People with diabetes often have high blood sugar levels, which over time may lead to nerve damage called neuropathy. There are products which can be applied directly to the skin to help temporarily relieve the pain associated with nerve damage.
- For people with diabetes, a blood sugar level that is too low—called hypoglycaemia—can spell fatigue and possibly unconsciousness. Oral glucose products are available which can help increase blood sugar to appropriate levels.
All of these diabetes products can help people to cope with the disease a little better but the most essential part of a diabetic’s regime is to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels with regular diabetes monitoring using a diabetes meter. They also need to watch their diet and weight as these will affect the glucose levels, as will the amount of exercise that a patient gets during the day.