Important Things To Know About Diabetes
By mdssite | November 18, 2009
In its 2005 report, the ADA or the American Diabetes Association reveals that about 21 million people in the US have diabetes. More than this, the cases of diabetes are expected to increase worldwide as 54 million people were found to have a pre-diabetes condition.
Although there is no cure for diabetes, this condition can definitely be controlled and managed. What important facts about diabetes do you need to know?
Pre-diabetes and You
What is a pre-diabetes condition? If you are diagnosed as a pre-diabetic, your blood sugar or blood glucose levels are higher than what is normal to a person. Although it is not high enough to be considered as diabetes, there is a greater risk that you would develop diabetes if you don’t make some changes in your lifestyle.
What are the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes? The most common symptoms are frequent urination, slow healing wounds, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, blurred vision, numbness of limbs, fatigue, and unexplainable weight loss.
In some cases, symptoms may not be present for Type 2 Diabetes patients. To be sure, a medical check up and blood examination is necessary.
If you have diabetes, what can you do about it? People with Type 1 diabetes need insulin injection to survive but complications of Type 2 Diabetes is often controlled through proper diet, right amount of physical activity, positive outlook and consistent monitoring of their blood sugar level.
Information You Should Be Aware Of
First, you should know that diet plays a big role in avoiding and controlling diabetes. While Type 1 Diabetes is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin, Type 2 Diabetes can be developed as a result of unhealthy eating habits. To understand more, let’s talk about the role of insulin.
Our pancreas produces insulin, an enzyme that helps control glucose or sugar in our blood. Obviously, the amount of glucose absorbed in our blood is affected by the food we eat. Remember, starches and calories that are not burned as energy are stored as glucose in the blood.
Consequently, a very high level of glucose blocks blood cells from absorbing insulin and other good enzymes that our body needs. It is no wonder why obesity is a major cause of diabetes among adults and children.
Clearly, the kinds of food that we feed our body from when we were young until our adult years make a big difference. But what if you already have diabetes? Of course, being a diabetic requires you to watch your eating habits more closely. Aside from proper medication, healthy eating and lifestyle can help to prevent serious complications later on.
Possible complications include high blood pressure, gum diseases, sexual dysfunction, kidney disease, blindness, heart disease and stroke. Thus, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is crucial to watch your lifestyle and do the necessary steps to protect yourself from developing these complications.
