Diabetes
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your cells for use as energy.
With diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use it as well as it should. When there isn't enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, this can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
What Are The Different Types Of Diabetes?
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This means that your body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood or adolescence, but it can occur at any age.
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and your pancreas can't make enough insulin to overcome the resistance. Type 2 diabetes is often preventable with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy, and being active.
- Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It's caused by the body's inability to use insulin effectively during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but it increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
8 WARNING SIGNS OF DIABETES.
The symptoms of diabetes can vary depending on the type of diabetes you have. However, some common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Increased thirst: People with diabetes often feel thirsty all the time, even if they have just had a drink. This is because their bodies are trying to get rid of excess sugar in the blood by urinating more.
- Frequent urination: People with diabetes often need to urinate more often, especially at night. This is because their bodies are trying to get rid of excess sugar in the blood by urinating more.
- Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes may lose weight even though they are eating more. This is because their bodies are not able to use glucose for energy properly.
- Extreme hunger: People with diabetes may feel extremely hungry, even if they have just eaten. This is because their bodies are trying to get the glucose they need from food.
- Blurred vision: People with diabetes may experience blurred vision, especially when they wake up in the morning. This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the eyes.
- Fatigue: People with diabetes often feel tired and fatigued, even after getting a good night's sleep. This is because their bodies are not getting the energy they need from glucose.
- Slow-healing sores: People with diabetes may have slow-healing sores, especially on their feet. This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves in the feet.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet: People with diabetes may experience numbness or tingling in their hands or feet. This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves in the hands and feet.
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor to get tested for diabetes.
How do you know if you have diabetes?
Doctors can give patients different tests to determine if they have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes.
Is Diabetes Treatable?
All of the types of diabetes are treatable, but not all are curable. Type 1 diabetes is a lifetime illness but can be controlled with regular insulin injections and well as diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetes also usually lasts a lifetime, but some people have had success using special diets and no longer need their insulin tablets.
What Should I Do To Lessen The Symptoms Of Diabetes?
If you have diabetes, there are some things you can do to keep the symptoms in check.
• Avoid Certain Foods: Avoid large portions of sugary, salty, or starchy foods. These can cause hikes in your blood sugar levels.
• Exercise: Exercising can help you maintain a healthy body weight which will lessen your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATONS OF DIABETES?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels can become too high. This can damage your blood vessels, nerves, and organs over time.
There are many different types of diabetes, but the two most common are type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes your body to attack its own insulin-producing cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use glucose for energy. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors, such as being overweight or obese, having a family history of diabetes, or being physically inactive.
If you have diabetes, you are at an increased risk for developing a number of health problems, including:
- Heart disease and stroke: Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, which can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Kidney disease: Diabetes can damage your kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure. Possibly causing such sever kidney failure the physician will treat you with dialysis.
- Eye problems: Diabetes can damage your eyes, which can lead to blindness.
- Nerve damage: Diabetes can damage your nerves, which can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling in your hands and feet. The neuropathy is a serious concern, as the pain will take away the ability to walk.
- Foot problems: Diabetes can increase your risk of foot infections and ulcers, which can lead to amputation.
- Gum disease: Diabetes can increase your risk of gum disease.
- Mental health problems: Diabetes can increase your risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
It is important to manage your diabetes well to reduce your risk of developing these health problems. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, taking medication as prescribed, and monitoring your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, it is also important to see your doctor regularly for checkups and to discuss any concerns you may have.
By following these tips, you can help to manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of developing health problems.
Ginger. Ginger has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and help to lower blood sugar levels
Gymnema sylvestre. This herb has been shown to block the absorption of sugar in the gut, which can help to lower blood sugar levels.
Licorice. Licorice has been shown to improve insulin secretion and help to lower blood sugar levels. However, it should not be used by people with high blood pressure or heart disease.
Mulberry. Mulberry has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and help to lower blood sugar levels. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 1 gram of cinnamon per day was able to lower fasting blood sugar levels by 18% in people with type 2 diabetes.
Fenugreek. Fenugreek is a herb that has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and help to lower blood sugar levels. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that fenugreek extract was able to lower fasting blood sugar levels by 11% in people with type 2 diabetes.
Bitter melon. Bitter melon is a vegetable that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat diabetes. It works by increasing insulin production and improving insulin sensitivity. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that bitter melon extract was able to lower fasting blood sugar levels by 24% in people with type 2 diabetes.
Here are some lifestyle changes that can also help to manage diabetes:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Getting regular checkups
"References"
* JDRF. "Study Reveals 23 Percent Increase In Type 1 Diabetes Among American Youth." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 13 Jun. 2012. Web.
14 Jan. 2015. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/246471.php>
** "What Is Diabetes? What Causes Diabetes?" Medical News Today. MediLexicon International. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/>.[/e
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