lood flow means poor circulation. Poor circulation compounded with neuropathy, nerve damage caused by diabetes can cause a cut to become infected before it is even noticed. If circulation is cut off from any part of the body too long, or if an infection is left to fester, the part becomes gangrenous and must be amputated. Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. The risk of leg amputations is 27.7 times greater for a person with diabetes. Each year, 54,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes. Diabetes is not only a very tragic disease health wise but is also very costly. Health care and related costs for treatment, as well as the cost of lost productivity, run nearly $92 billion annually. Many major advancements have been made in therapy for diabetics since its earlier days that make the disease easier to live with. To control diabetes you must control blood sugar levels, keeping them as close too normal as possible. Normal blood sugar levels are between 80 and 120 mg/dl. One advancement is the Self Blood Glucose Monitor, which allows you to check the amount of blood sugar level with just one drop of blood. This replaced Urine sugar testing because it is easier and more accurate. Blood glucose testing eliminates the confusion caused by varying kidney threshold levels. Different people spill sugar into their urine at different blood sugar levels. A person with a 300-mg/dl blood sugar level could have the same reading on the test strip as someone with a 120-mg/dl blood sugar. Sometimes how you feel is a good indication of what your blood sugar level is. If you have a stomachache or difficulty breathing your sugar is very high, over 400. If you have no energy, feel groggy and tired your blood sugar is most likely between 200-400. From 80-200 you should be fine and have no abnormal feelings. When you experience extreme hunger, sweating or shakiness you probably have a low blood sugar,...
