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Diabetes

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Diabetes

What is diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.

Sometimes people call diabetes “a touch of sugar” or “borderline diabetes.” These terms suggest that someone doesn’t really have diabetes or has a less serious case, but every case of diabetes is serious.

Types of diabetes

 1.Type 1 diabetes – It is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. 

  1. Type 2 diabetes– It occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin and sugar builds up in your blood.
  2. Prediabetes–It occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
  3. Gestational diabetes– It is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

Causes of diabetes

Type1 diabetes causes

It is caused by the immune system destroying the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This causes diabetes by leaving the body without enough insulin to function normally.This is called an autoimmune reaction because the body is attacking itself. The following factors  may trigger it.. 

  • Viral or bacterial infection
  • Chemical toxins within food
  • Unidentified component causing autoimmune reaction.

 

Type 2 diabetes causes

In Type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it’s needed for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Factors which increase the chances of developing this condition include:

  • Obesity
  • Living a sedentary lifestyle
  • Increasing age
  • Bad diet

Gestational diabetes causes

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your cells more resistant to insulin.Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes your pancreas can’t keep up. When this happens, too little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in your blood, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Risk factors that increase the chances of developing this condition:

  • Family history of gestational diabetes
  • Overweight or obese
  • Suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Have had a large baby weighing over 9lb

 

Best Foods to Control Diabetes

 

Best Foods to Control Diabetes and Lower Blood Sugar

  • Non-Starchy Vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables are one of the best foods you can eat as a diabetic.
  • Leafy Greens. 
  • Fatty Fish.
  • Nuts and Eggs. 
  • Seeds.
  • Natural Fats.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar.
  • Cinnamon and Turmeric.

Food to avoid in diabetes

  • Sugar-sweetened beverages. Sugary beverages are the worst drink choice for someone with diabetes.
  • Trans fats.
  • White bread, rice, and pasta.
  • Fruit-flavored yogurt.
  • Sweetened breakfast cereals.
  • Flavored coffee drinks.
  • Honey, agave nectar, and maple syrup.
  • Dried fruit.

can also contribute to dry mouth or release chemicals that cause bad breath.

Prevention

Few changes you can make to prevent diabetes:

  • Exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week. You can also include cardio, cycling, swimming, or walking in your routine.
  • Increase your whole food intake. Eat lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain as much as you can.
  • If you’re obese, work on losing your body weight, but in a healthy manner.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. 
  • Avoid consuming trans fats, refined carbohydrates, or saturated fats.
  • Avoid tobacco use – smoking increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms

 

Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are:

  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Extreme hunger
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin)
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow-healing sores
  • Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections

Tips to Control Diabetes.

Even though diabetes cannot be cured completely, it can always be controlled by taking some imperative measures. 

Here are some ways in which you can control diabetes: 

  1. Exercise:  Working out for at least 20-30 minutes per day helps stabilize your blood sugar levels, improving the production and functioning of insulin in the body. Start slow, but be consistent.
  2. Stay Hydrated:  Drinking enough water not only helps you control your high blood sugar levels and prevent dehydration, but it also helps you flush out toxins faster from your body and control your diabetes. Try to drink copper treated water every day because of  its diabetes-controlling abilities. Fill water in a copper utensil and leave it overnight. Drink the copper-charged water first thing the next day. This traditional method can do wonders for your health.
  3. A Well-Balanced Diet:   diet plays a crucial role in controlling your diabetes. Make sure to have a healthy, fiber-rich diet and control your carb intake to reduce blood sugar levels. You should include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet while balancing it with a diet of whole-grain foods.
  4. Good-Quality Sleep: A good night’s sleep is the cure for most of the health problems. To keep your diabetes in control, make sure to get at least 8 hours of sound sleep every night. It helps you relax better and has both mental and physical health benefits.  Sleep-deprivation can worsen your problems as it can result in weight gain, poor brain functioning, insulin sensitivity, and high blood sugar levels.
  5. Control Stress: For diabetic patients, stress may result in high and uncontrollable blood sugar levels. To control your diabetes, remember to manage stress with activities like meditation, exercise, and yoga.