Diabetes is a lifestyle disease that affects nearly 7.8% of the American population. Unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle is causing an alarming rise in the number of people suffering from diabetes. It has become a matter of utmost importance that we gather sufficient information in our fight against this killer disease.
Human beings require energy for every day tasks like walking, talking, sleeping or thinking. We get our energy from the food we eat. Our cells absorb the glucose produced from food and the hormone insulin enables our cells to absorb this glucose from the bloodstream. Diabetes occurs when our body either does not produce the required levels of insulin or if it is incapable of utilizing the insulin produced.
Diabetes can be divided into two categories:
Type I diabetes
Type I Diabetes is seen more in children and youngsters though adults too can be afflicted from it. Beta cells that produce insulin are destroyed in type I diabetes and hence no insulin is produced by the body.
Type II diabetes
In Type II Diabetes the body creates sufficient amounts of insulin but is incapable of using it efficiently. It usually affects people who have a family history of diabetes; people who are obese and lead sedentary lives.
The general causes of diabetes are heredity, a poor diet, an unhealthy lifestyle, age and stress.
The most common symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst, frequent urination, increase in hunger, loss of weight, tingling in the hands or feet, weakness, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing of wounds, increase in infections and irritability.
Treatment Of Diabetes
The aim of all diabetes treatments is to help a diabetic live as normal a life as possible. Managing diabetes involves controlling your blood sugar levels.
Diet
It is important to have small and nutritional meals at regular intervals. Follow a diet which that is low in carbohydrates and fat and is high in vitamins and minerals. Eat complex carbohydrates and fibre rich foods like whole grains, oats, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Eat also the skin of the fruit and avoid juices as these contain high levels of sugar.
Use skimmed milk instead of whole milk. Eat de-skinned chicken and avoid red meat as much as possible.
Lessen the use of fat and oil in your diet.
Exercise
Regular exercise helps keep your weight in check. It also encourages the cells in the body to accept glucose.
If diabetes is not identified and treated well in time, it can lead to the weakening of the immune system, blindness, failure of the kidneys, diseases of the blood vessel, stroke and heart attack, nerve damage, and amputations.
Diabetes can be controlled by taking the essential medications, regular exercise, reducing your fat intake and increasing the amount of fibre in one’s diet. Get regular tests done of your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These steps will help prevent the occurrence of diabetes.