Diabetes is when you have a high blood glucose level for a long period of time. Don’t know if this is a coincidence or what, but Danger and diabetes, both initiate from the letter D. This is such a dangerous disease that it can damage your lungs, kidneys, heart, and eyes. It is so common that any of your relatives, family members, or friends would definitely be suffering from diabetes.
Depending on its causes, diabetes is of several types but the rise in the level of blood glucose remains common in all. Usually, there are three main types of diabetes considered- Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own body and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. It usually happens in children or young adults. In Type 2 diabetes, either the body is resistant to insulin or not enough insulin is being produced by the pancreas, due to which glucose levels in the blood get high. Prediabetes is a type of diabetes that can turn into type 2 diabetes later. In this, the glucose level is high but not that high to be counted as Type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes happens in women during pregnancy. Certain hormones that are released by the placenta make the body resistant to insulin. It usually goes away after pregnancy; however, these women have the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in their lives. Out of all these types, type 2 diabetes is the most common. Type 1 diabetes is also seen often.
Symptoms of Diabetes
- Increased thirst.
- Tiredness and Weakness.
- Blurred vision.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
- Slow-healing sores or cuts.
- Unplanned weight loss.
- Frequent urination.
- Frequent unexplained infections.
- Dry mouth.
- In women- yeast or urinary tract infections may occur.
- In men- Erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and muscular strength may occur.
In case of
Type 1 Diabetes- The symptoms may develop quickly when you are a child or a young adult. In addition, one may suffer vomiting, nausea, and stomach ache.
Type 2 Diabetes or Prediabetes- In this, the symptoms may not be noticeable as they develop over a long period, but you may see symptoms in middle age. This type of diabetes can happen in all ages so one must go for a regular health check-up if have a family history of prediabetes or Type-2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes- No such symptoms are being noticed. Your doctor will check for gestational diabetes during 24-25 weeks of your pregnancy period.
There is no permanent solution to cure diabetes but it is very important to manage its system and take care of your health. Therefore, you must know how to manage it, what to do and what not.
Management of Diabetes
Management of Diabetes is very important if you want to lead a happy and disease-free life, otherwise, it can lead to many severe complications or death! To manage your blood glucose level, make changes in your day-to-day life and control your risk factors, this includes-
- Keep your blood glucose level in check and don’t consume food products having sugar or starch like sugar, rice, sweet fruits like banana, mango, etc, sweets and candies, potatoes, etc.
- Maintain your cholesterol level (HDL and LDL levels) and triglyceride levels in the normal range possible. Avoid fried food as much as possible.
- Control your blood pressure, and avoid high salt-containing food.
Following are the other factors that you make work on to keep your glucose level in control. These not only will help you lead a healthy life but will also keep you safe from catching other possible diseases as well.
- Healthy Diet- Your diet must contain green vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, protein products, and low sugar. The right amount of right nutrients is necessary if you need to control your diabetes. Also, do not consume any kinds of products containing sugar and starch, like potatoes, sweets, candies, fruits like bananas, mangoes, litchees, rice, etc.
- Exercising Regularly- Do exercise for at least an hour daily. If you are old or have undergone some surgeries, then you can go for a morning, or an evening walk instead. Being physically active is a solution to many of your problems.
- Lose Weight- Maintain your body weight. Being obese will never land you in a safe place, instead, it will lead to serious health problems down the lane.
- Keep a check on your blood pressure and avoid taking excess amounts of salt.
- Don’t forget to take medications and insulin dosage as prescribed by your doctor. Your body doesn’t produce insulin and so you need to take your medicines regularly.
- Do check your glucose level at least once a month or two.
- Quit smoking and drinking, this is not safe for you.
- Break your meals into a large number of times instead of having 2 or 3 full-fledged meals.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes. However, the same lifestyle changes that were required to manage Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes can help in preventing them too-
- Eating healthy food- Having a balanced diet will always help you in preventing diabetes and many other diseases. Avoid sugar and unhealthy fats as much as you can and you will be safe.
- Lose weight- Don’t be obese. Avoid sitting for long hours and this will have a positive effect on your body.
- Exercise- Exercising is as important as having food daily. Don’t forget to do 1-2 hours of physical activity. Either go to the gym or play but don’t sit in your home all the time. For middle or old-aged people, do go for a walk daily. It is very important for your body, mind, and your overall health.
Don’t try to lose weight if you are pregnant, and don’t exercise if you have gone through severe surgeries and are older. Talk to your doctor before doing any such activities.
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