Table of Contents
Diabetes Definitions
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels, which over time leads to severe damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin.
Type 1 once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Over the last three decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in countries of all income levels. For people living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical to their survival.
Approximately 62 million people in the Americas (422 million people worldwide) have diabetes. The majority live in low- and middle-income countries, and 244,084 deaths (1.5 million worldwide) are directly attributed to diabetes every year. The number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have increased steadily over the last few decades.
Basics of Diabetes
Understanding the basics of diabetes is the first step to taking control of your health. Let’s look at what causes diabetes, some of the most common symptoms, the benefits of living a healthy life, and what to do if you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes.
Is it common to have Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease. Blood glucose levels control by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. When you eat, the food processed by the body and enters the bloodstream. Insulin takes glucose from the bloodstream and allows it to enter cells, where it is processed and used for energy. If you have diabetes, you either don’t make enough insulin or the insulin you do make doesn’t take glucose from the bloodstream so it can get into your cells. This is how blood glucose levels rise more than they should (hyperglycemia.
Types of Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin.
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the insulin does not work correctly.
Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition and occurs when a woman’s insulin is less effective during pregnancy.
Secondary diabetes due to pancreatic injury, endocrine disease, and glucocorticoid administration.
Common Symptoms of Diabetes
The onset of type 1 usually happens quickly, and symptoms can be severe. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are typically mild (or not at all) and appear over time. Symptoms of both types include: 2
- Frequent urine production
- Excessive thirst
- increased appetite
- Weightloss
- Tiredness
- Lack of interest and concentration
- Tingling sensation or numbness in the hands and feet
- Blurry vision
- frequent infections
- wounds that are slow to heal
Vomiting and stomach pain are often mistaken for the flu (however, it is prevalent to get the flu before you diagnose with diabetes, as is an autoimmune disease)
If you have not diagnose with and have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
ALSO READ: ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
How do Low Blood Glucose Levels Occur?
Low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) usually occur when blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/l). There is too much insulin or medicine in the body. When you need to eat, exercise too much, or drink too much alcohol. Everyone reacts differently to hypoglycemia, but common symptoms include:
- Tremors, weakness, or chills
- Irritability or confusion
- dizziness or nausea
- Blurred vision or headaches
- Seizures or loss of consciousness
If you have low blood glucose levels, treat them according to the instructions provided by your doctor. However, try to eat 15 grams of glucose or carbohydrates. If recheck your blood glucose levels after 15 minutes, repeat the procedure if they are still low.
Have you just been diagnosed with Diabetes?
It is not easy to diagnose diabetes. You may ask, “why is this happening?” and be afraid of the unknown. It’s common to blame yourself and worry about what others will think of you. What matters most is that you acknowledge all your emotions as they come and go, decide to control them, and understand that you are not alone. The first step is gaining control of your health after diagnosis seeing your primary care physician (or endocrinologist, nurse, etc.) and learning about diabetes. Illness. To start with, you should find out:
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- How to control your blood glucose levels
- Its to use a blood glucose meter
- How to understand the results of the controls
- How to treat
- What type of exercise is right for you
- What changes should you make to your diet?
- Other health problems you have that affect treatment
- Who else can you go to for information
- Set up a treatment plan with your doctor and have a follow-up visit.
Eat and Drink
Being mindful of what you eat and making choices to live a healthier life is the best thing you can do to control your blood sugar levels. Counting carbohydrates, eating healthy foods high in fat (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated or omega 3), and getting enough protein and fibre into the body are critical aspects of a healthy diet for diabetes. Don’t forget to consider what you drink when monitoring your blood glucose levels. Water, unsweetened coffee or tea, or low-calorie beverages are the best choices. Avoid fruit juices or sugary sodas (unless you treat a hypoglycemic episode). Do not drink more than one alcoholic drink per day. If you are a woman and two if you are a man.
Why you need to Monitor your Blood Glucose Levels yourself
Blood glucose results show how food, exercise, and other factors like stress affect your blood glucose levels. If you monitor them often, you’ll begin to see patterns (highs and lows) and be able to make changes to your routine, which will improve your health over time.
Conclusion
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels. The glucose that circulates in the blood is called glycemia.
They elevate blood glucose resulting from insulin secretion defects, insulin action, or both. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows cells to use blood glucose for energy.
A failure of insulin production, insulin action, or both results increase blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). If not properly controlled, in the long term, the continuous presence of high blood glucose. It can cause alterations in the function of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.
Also Read: What is Rose Water? – Benefits and How to Use in the Skin