Diabetes is a long-term metabolic condition which increases the level of glucose in the blood. There is no treatment or cure for it; the only successful way to deal with diabetes is learning how to live with it.
What is diabetes? What are its symptoms?
Diabetes, medically termed diabetes mellitus, is a group of diseases wherein blood glucose levels are highly elevated. The condition occurs when the pancreas are unable to produce enough insulin, or the cells of the body don’t respond properly to the insulin produced. People who suffer from diabetes typically experience a frequent need to urinate, excessive thirst, intense hunger, slow healing of wounds, fatigue and a tingling sensation.
Also Read: 5 Natural Remedies for Preventing Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes — Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, but the exact elements are still unclear. Whereas Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, brought on by a combination of factors including a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, smoking and obesity. While there is no cure, the condition can be controlled with effective diabetes treatment and changes in diet and lifestyle.
A person’s normal sugar levels are as follows:
Normal blood glucose level 72 mg/dL
Fasting blood sugar levels 82 to 110 mg/dL
After a meal, the blood glucose level may rise temporarily up to 140 mg/dL. If your blood glucose levels exceed normal levels, you should visit your doctor.
Fast facts about diabetes
Diabetes is a growing epidemic worldwide. In the United States alone, 29.1 million people are living with this condition. Here are some eye-opening facts about the spread of this ailment:
- – Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death around the world.
- – An estimated 382 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide.
- – 1.5 million deaths occur worldwide due to diabetes.
- – Type 1 diabetes accounts 10% and Type 2 accounts 90% of all diabetes cases.
- – Gestational diabetes is another type of diabetes, which is quite common among pregnant women.
- – Almost 1,200 years before diabetes got its name, symptoms like thirst, weight-loss and excess urination were recognized as interlinked ailments.
Also Read: Be Strong Enough to deal with Diabetes
How can diabetes be managed?
There is no diabetes treatment, but you can control or manage the condition by following your doctor’s advice. Managing diabetes may require a close watch over your blood sugar levels along with a strict diet, exercise and medication regimen. You can improve your condition or minimize your rapidly-changing blood sugar levels by paying close attention to when and what you eat.
Here are some lifestyle changes that a diabetic patients must follow to lead a healthy life:
Clean diet
On being diagnosed, a change in diet is the first major step towards controlling your diabetes. You need to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day to cut your diabetes risk.
Maintaining a healthy weight
Obesity alone is the cause of many health problems and diabetes is one of them. In order to reduce the likelihood of diabetes, you need to eat healthy food and engage in daily physical activity. This may help you shed pounds and cut your risk of developing diabetes in half.
Diabetes treatment
The primary aim of diabetes treatment is to keep the blood sugar levels normal. In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s ability to produce insulin becomes nil, so it is necessary to pump insulin into the body on a regular basis by using insulin injections or pump therapy. With Type 2, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the condition.
Here are some of the common medicines prescribed for Type 2 diabetes:
Metformin Studies have shown that Metformin reduces the risk of high blood sugar levels in diabetics by 31% if accompanied by lifestyle and diet changes. Metformin reduces the amount of glucose that the liver releases into the bloodstream. It also improves the sensitivity of body tissues to insulin.
Acarbose This drug helps in delaying the digestion of carbohydrates and reduces post-meal hyperglycemia. It also improves insulin sensitivity and controls the body’s blood sugar level. Though medications are efficient in managing blood sugar levels, to ensure the drugs work effectively, diabetics need to keep a close watch on their diet and engage in physical activities.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a life-long condition and the fact is that you have to live with it. To stay healthy and manage it, make sure you always follow your doctor’s advice.
