The effects of various stresses, both physical and emotional, are anticipated and allowed for. Occasional low sugar episodes are accepted as a price of good control, but are usually easily reversible with a light snack. Some diabetics use a portable insulin pump which injects insulin through an intravenous tube around the clock. It is felt that this is comparable to, but not necessarily superior to, a carefully applied program of standard injections of long- acting insulin with frequent blood sugar monitoring and appropriate adjustment. The pregnant woman with diabetes requires special control, since even modest blood sugar elevations are potentially harmful to the fetus.
Stricter criteria apply, and closer management is in order.
Some such patients go on to develop long-standing diabetes in later years. Page 4 Only rarely are things as smooth as the above description, but most diabetics will do very well under the guidance of a concerned team of a physician, dietician, nurses, and other professionals. Many become highly sophisticated about their disease, and groups such as the American Diabetes Association and local resources offer invaluable support. It is very difficult to generalize about the prognosis of diabetes since it is such a variable disease. It seems fair to say that the disease decreases life expectancy, and diminishes quality of life through its complications and treatment requirements.