What You Should Know About Diabetes

1. Know Everything about Diabetes Diabetes is a condition that alters the body’s ability to process and utilize the glucose present in the blood. This leads to accumulation of glucose in the blood leading to other health complications. What happens in Diabetes? Glucose present in the blood is one of the main sources of energy for our body which comes from the food we eat. This glucose is made available to the body cells by a hormone “insulin” produced by the pancreas. These cells utilize glucose to produce energy. In diabetes, the body does not produce insulin or produces an insufficient amount of insulin, or the insulin is not used properly. Such a situation leads to gradual accumulation of glucose in the blood, and hence high blood sugar or diabetes. If the sugar remains for too long in the blood, some health problems start surfacing. Diabetes has no permanent cure, but it can be managed effectively to stay healthy and live a normal life.

2. Many people have borderline diabetes which means, they don’t have serious diabetes, but the condition can get worse if not taken care of. Types of Diabetes There are three major types of diabetes; Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. 1 Type 1 Diabetes: This type of diabetes is usually common among young adults and children. In this case, the cells in the pancreas are not capable enough to produce insulin. The immune system of the body attacks and destroys the cells producing the insulin in the pancreas. Patients with Type 1 diabetes need insulin every day to survive. Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes develop at any age and even children can have this. However, the condition is most common among the middle-aged and old age people. In this case, either the sufficient amount of insulin is not produced by the pancreas 2

3. or the body cells are not able to process the available insulin. It can be managed effectively to lead a normal life. Gestational Diabetes: It is a diabetic condition that develops in women during the phase of pregnancy. It needs to be managed well during the entire pregnancy to ensure a healthy developing child inside the womb. Mostly, this type of diabetes resolves once the child is born. However, such ladies have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Some other less common type of diabetes includes monogenic diabetes and cystic-fibrosis related diabetes. 3 How common is diabetes in India? More than 62 million Indians are affected with diabetes. The average age of onset of diabetes in India is 42 years of age and more than 7.1% of the adult population is diabetic. Every year 1 million Indians lose their livers due to diabetes. Symptoms of diabetes People with diabetes or others developing diabetes, start experiencing some of the below symptoms:

4. Frequent thirst Frequent urination Weight loss Increased hunger Irritability and unexplained fatigue Frequent skin, bladder and gum infection Wounds that do not heal easily Many times, people do not experience any symptom or the symptoms are so mild that they ignore them. That is why a regular health check- up is mandatory to diagnose the problem on time and initiate treatment at an early stage. • • • • • • • Risk Factors for Diabetes There are many factors that can increase your risk of developing diabetes. Some of them are listed below. • A family history of diabetes • Obesity or overweight • Age over 45 and physical inactivity • A prediabetic condition • A history of gestational diabetes • High blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and triglycerides • Depression • Polycystic ovarian syndrome Read more @ http://zoylodigihealth.blogspot.com/2018/11/how- laughter-affects-diabetes-level.html Risks associated with Diabetes Diabetes can put you at risk of many other health conditions. Some of these conditions are listed below: • heart disease • stroke • kidney disease • eye problems • dental disease • nerve damage • foot problems

5. Treatment for Diabetes Anyone with diabetes should visit a diabetologist or an endocrinologist every six months. However, if you are already under a doctor’s supervision, then plan the visits periodically as suggested. The doctor might suggest the medication or the insulin injections based on the severity of the case. Consulting a dietician, an exercise physiologist and visiting diabetic support groups are also suggested. Diabetics should also keep on consulting an ophthalmologist to detect any developing eye problem at an early stage and initiate treatment for the same. Doctors also advise diabetics to monitor blood glucose level at home and seek medical care when needed. Exercise and Diet Tips for Diabetics Doctors often recommend a number of lifestyle changes to people diagnosed with Diabetes. The main aim is to maintain a healthy weight, increase physical activity and have a nutritious diet. Some of these tips are listed below:

6. Avoid high sugar food that provides empty calories with no nutritional benefit, like, sweet desserts, fried foods, sodas, packaged food items etc. Do not consume an excessive amount of alcohol. Women can have one drink and men two drinks daily. Eat a diet rich in fresh & nutritious food like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, beans etc. Engage in physical activity every day for 30 minutes. Even if you are doing exercise 5 days a week, it would help. You can choose any activity of your choice like sports, cycling, swimming, aerobic exercise etc. Monitor yourself for any sign of low blood sugar like sweating, weakness, dizziness etc. Keep glucose powder handy with you, in such cases, to prevent an extreme condition. Set slow and healthy weight loss goals and try to attain a good BMI. Diabetes is a body condition and if addressed from an early stage, can be managed well. Do not give way to sugar in your blood that reaches a level where it gets fatal for your body parts. Keep monitoring your sugar level and adopt a healthy lifestyle to see the difference. • • • • • •