Diabetes is a severe disease in which the body of human
beings becomes unable to process blood sugar or blood glucose. This results in
a higher level of blood glucose, which is basically due to the inability to
make or utilize the insulin present in the body. Insulin is a really important
hormone that the pancreas produces. It makes sure that the glucose, present in
the food we eat, reaches the cells in our body. This is how our bodies remain
healthy and energized as glucose is a major source of energy. Due to the
deficiency of insulin in the body, blood sugar does not get into our cells,
resulting in much greater levels of glucose with diabetes.
The presence of excessive amounts of glucose in the
blood can cause several health-related problems, especially for older people.
No proper cure could have been found for this particular desase known as
diabetes, but it can be managed and controlled using several ways.
We often hear people saying that some person has ’borderline diabetes' or he has a touch of sugar or diabetes. These terms refer to a less intense case
of diabetes, but no matter what you call it, all sorts of diabetes are serious
and require proper care.
Types
Below are explained some of the most common types of diabetes.
The body of the people who are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes has stopped producing insulin at all. Their immune system damages the
cells present in their pancreas that is responsible for making insulin. This
type of diabetes is usually found in younger adults or even children. However,
the age factor is not associated with Type 1 diabetes, and it can be diagnosed in
people of all ages. It can also be inherited from genes, i.e. people having
parents or siblings with Type 1 diabetes are most likely to develop Type 1 diabetes. Another factor that hugely contributes to this health problem is the
environment. Different viruses present in our atmosphere trigger this diabetes.
- How Can Type 1 Diabetes be managed?
It is mandatory for the people having Type 1 diabetes to intake insulin daily to survive. Along with insulin, there are other
health-care routines as well that can help people manage this diabetes. There
are proper diets available for people with this diabetes. These diets should
be strictly followed, and glucose levels should be often checked. It is
important to live a healthy and active life. Physical activities also help
manage this diabetes.
- Symptoms and Further Complications Type 1 Diabetes
The most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes are increased
hunger and thirst, fatigue, more urination, blurred vision, and fast weight
loss. This diabetes can further lead to some really serious problems if not
properly taken care of. These health problems include heart disease, kidney
disease, nerve damage, strokes, dental diseases, depression, eye problems, and
sleep apnea. These problems can only be prevented or delayed by following a
proper plan recommended by your doctors during Type 1 diabetes.
It can be said that the most common types of all kinds
of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes. It appears the most in people who belong to
older age groups. However, it is not necessary, and it can be diagnosed in
people as young as children as well. Type 2 diabetes is caused when the human body stops
producing or making effective use of the insulin present in the blood. Thus,
the levels of sugar increase in the blood and this diabetes slowly develops.
- Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity and weight loss are the two major factors that
results in Type 2 diabetes. A person has more chances of developing this diabetes of
this particular type if his family has a history of diabetes. Little or no
physical activity contributes to the development of this diabetes. Also, people
with high blood pressure are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, as well. Women with gestational diabetes are more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes.
- Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include increased
thirst and hunger, excessive urination, and feeling tired all the time, fast
weight loss, blurred vision, sores, and numbness. These symptoms usually
develop such slowly that they are usually not even recognized and are easily
ignored. There have been cases when no symptoms of Type 2 diabetes as this diabetes were
experienced by the people until they got into serious diabetes-related health
problems such as heart or kidney disease.
- How Can Type 2 Diabetes be managed?
It is important to adopt a healthy routine to manage
your Type 2 diabetes. This includes controlling your blood pressure, glucose
levels as well as cholesterol levels through different techniques. Living an
active life can help a lot in achieving this goal. Thus, physical activities
are a major part of such plans. Also, eating fresh and healthy is another
technique. Losing weight if you are obese is another thing that is important.
Most people have to reduce their calorie intake and opt for healthier options
only. If a person with diabetes smokes, it can be really dangerous.
Hence, quitting smoking is another essential thing to do. These are all some
very general techniques. You can ask your doctor to make a proper health-care
routine that particularly suits you and follow it regularly to manage your diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes cannot be managed through only healthy
routines, but it also requires the patient to take some pills and medicines.
You may have to take insulin and some other medicines regularly. The number of
medicines to manage diabetes increases as you grow older or in special
circumstances such as pregnancy. Other medicines to control your cholesterol
levels and blood pressure may also be required to manage diabetes. Also,
checking your glucose levels regularly is important to avoid getting into further
complications of Type 2.
- Further Diseases A Patients Can Develop
Type 2 diabetes can further lead to other
health-care problems as well, and some of them are very serious. These problems
include heart disease, nerve damage, liver disease, heart stroke, and few types
of cancer, kidney disease, eye disease, dental problems such as gum disease,
foot problems, depression, bladder problems, and sexual issues as well. Thus,
it is really important for Type 2 diabetes patients to strictly abide by a
health-care plan recommended by their doctors.
- Prevention From of Type 2 Diabetes
However, researchers say that the chances of getting type 2 diabetes can be reduced to some extent by adopting certain techniques in
your daily life. Physical activity can surely help a lot as it is really
important for people who are overweight to shed at least five percent of their
current weight to delay or avoid the development of Type 2 diabetes. Your
doctor can suggest physical activities that are best for you. Try slowly
getting a grip over them. The workout has to be made a part of your daily life.
Also, eating healthy and fresh is another technique. Junk food and anything
with extra calories should be completely avoided. These techniques may protect
you against diabetes or at least delay it.
Gestational diabetes is diagnosed in pregnant women.
It usually goes away along with the pregnancy majority of the time. The
researchers say that women who are diagnosed with Gestational diabetes in their
pregnancies have a much higher chance of getting Type 2 diabetes anytime later
in life.
- Symptoms and Causes Gestational Diabetes
This diabetes has almost no or very mild symptoms. You
may have some bladder problems or feel thirstier. The cause of Gestational
diabetes is pregnancy itself as the hormonal changes prevent your body from
making effective use of insulin. Gestational diabetes can also be inherited through
genes and obesity is another factor which may also become a reason.
- How can Gestational Diabetes be managed?
Managing Gestational diabetes again includes a lot of
physical activity and a healthy diet plan. Lack of physical activity or
unhealthy meals can result in high glucose levels in your blood. Pregnant women
are tested for glucose challenge between periods of the 24th week to the 28th
week. If high blood sugar is found, they are further sent for an OGTT test
–oral glucose tolerant test, to check for gestational diabetes.
- Techniques For Prevention From Gestational Diabetes
This diabetes can be prevented by losing any extra
weight that you have before getting pregnant. Physical activities before and
during the period of pregnancy can also help prevent this diabetes. This is
important as not only women with tdiabetes of this type have
a much higher chances of developing Type 2 diabetes, but their baby is also
vulnerable to diabetes and is likely to become obese.
Conclusion
diabetes is a very serious and harmful condition that changes
one's life. Although it can be managed by taking care of your blood sugar
levels on a regular basis, but it can still lead to life-threatening problems.
People with diabetes have to follow a very healthy lifestyle to prevent getting
into more problems. They have to opt for healthy food all their life and make
exercise a part of their daily life. If you feel that you or any of your family
member has symptoms of some types diabetes, consult a doctor as soon as
possible.
