Question

Describe the importance of checking blood sugar for a diabetic

Answer 1

It is important  to check sugar levels to prevent them rising above or below  acceptable levels which would lead to a diabetic comma in either case.

In a diabetic person, regulation of  sugar in the blood is impaired due to lack of enough insulin in the body. In some people, there is not even a little insulin being produced. This is usually due to a  defective pancreas, the organ responsible for insulin production.

Insulin is a hormone that induces a  rapid uptake of glucose into muscle and fat tissue.  In Diabetes mellitus,  lack of enough insulin or resistance to  insulin cause sugar levels in the blood to rise and once they reach in excess of 28 mmol/l the danger of going into a diabetic comma becomes a reality.

In Diabetes insipidus, lack of the hormone vasopressin leads to low sugar levels in the blood and if not checked, lapsing into a comma may occur when sugar levels sink below 2 mmol/l.

Therefore regular checks of blood sugar levels in diabetic people is critical.