The best things to do During Diabetes and gain some knowledge about it.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body can’t make the exact use of Insulin it produces. In other section, Diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is the main source of energy, which comes from food. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes the body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in the blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

Types of Diabetes: -

The most common types of diabetes are type – 1, type-2, and gestational diabetes.

Type – 1Diabetes (Diabetes Insipidus):-

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body’s defense system attacks the cells that produce insulin. As a result, the body produces very little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to stay alive.

Type -2Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus):-

It is generally characterized by insulin resistance, where the body does not fully respond to insulin. Because insulin cannot work properly, blood glucose levels keep rising, releasing more insulin. For some people with type 2 diabetes can eventually exhaust the pancreas, resulting in the body producing less and less insulin, causing even higher blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). However, this type of diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes (GDM):-

 Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant. Most of the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a severe and neglected threat to maternal and child health. Many women with GDM experience pregnancy-related complications including high blood pressure, large birth weight babies, and obstructed labor. Approximately half of women with a history of GDM go on to develop type 2 diabetes within five to ten years after delivery.

Other types of diabetes:-

monogenic diabetes, which is an inherited form of diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes etc.

Symptoms of diabetes:-

The general symptoms of diabetes include:

·         increased thirst and urination

·         increased hunger

·         fatigue

·         blurred vision

·         numbness or tingling in the feet or hands

·         sores that do not heal

·         unexplained weight loss

§  Type 1 diabetes

·         Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:

1. extreme hunger
2. increased thirst
3. unintentional weight loss

·         Type 2 diabetes

·         Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• blurry vision
• tiredness

 

 

·         Gestational diabetes

·         Most women with gestational diabetes don’t have any symptoms. The condition is often detected during a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test that is usually performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation.

Cause of diabetes:-

Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes. Such as –

What causes type 1diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes occurs when your immune system, the body’s system for fighting infection, attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genes and environmental factors, such as viruses, that might trigger the diseases.

What causes type 2diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight or obese increases your risk too. Carrying extra weight, especially in your belly, makes your cells more resistant to the effects of insulin on your blood sugar.

What causes Gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This can cause high blood sugar during pregnancy.

Diabetes complications:-

High blood sugar damages organs and tissues throughout your body. The higher your blood sugar is and the longer you live with it, the greater your risk for complications.

Complications associated with diabetes include:

• heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
• neuropathy
• nephropathy
• retinopathy and vision loss
• hearing loss
• foot damage such as infections and sores that don’t heal
• skin conditions such as bacterial and fungal infections

Gestational diabetes:-

• premature birth
• higher-than-normal weight at birth
• increased the risk for type 2 diabetes later in life
• low blood sugar

Diabetes prevention:-

At present, type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented because it caused by a problem with the immune system. The environmental triggers that generate the process that results in the destruction of the body’s insulin producing cells (Investigation of it is still under process.)

 

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by lifestyle changes and medication. These include consumption of unhealthy foods and inactive lifestyle with sedentary behavior. Lifestyle modification with physical activity or healthy diet can prevent the onset action of type 2 diabetes. A person can help prevent or delay type 2diabetes by losing a modest amount of weight by following a reduced-calorie eating plan and being physically active most days of the week.

Treatment for Diabetes:-

The medicine is taken will vary by the type of diabetes and how well the medicine controls the blood glucose levels, also called blood sugar. Other factors, such as other health conditions, medication costs, and daily schedules may play a role in what diabetes medicine is taken.

 

Type 1 diabetes:-

If one has type-1 diabetes, he/she must take insulin because his/her body no longer makes this hormone. So he/she will need to take insulin several times during the day, including meals.

Type 2 diabetes:-

Some people who have type 2 diabetes can achieve their target blood sugar levels with diet and exercise, but many also need diabetes medications or insulin therapy.  The decision about which medications are best depends on many factors, including the blood sugar level and any other health problems of the body. A doctor might combine drugs from different classes to help to control the blood sugar in different ways.

Some medicines are mentioned as follows:

Metformin, Sulfonylureas, Meglitinides, Thiazolidinediones and Insulin etc.

Gestational diabetes:-

If one has gestational diabetes, she should first try to control her blood glucose level by making healthy food choices and getting regular physical activity. If she can’t reach her blood glucose target, the health the care team will talk with her about diabetes medicines, such as insulin or the diabetes pill metformin, which may be safe for her to take during pregnancy.

Some Food list to control Diabetes:-

1.      Fatty Fish: - Fatty fish is one of the healthiest foods on Earth.

2.      Leafy Green: - Leafy green vegetables are extremely nutritious and low in calories.

3.      Cinnamon: - Cinnamon is a delicious spice with potent antioxidant activity.

4.      Eggs: - Eggs provide amazing health benefits.

5.      Chia seeds: - Chia seeds are a wonderful food for diabetic patients.

6.      Turmeric: - Turmeric is a spice with powerful health benefits.

7.      Greek Yogurt: - Greek yogurt is a great dairy choice for diabetic patients.

8.      Nuts: - Nuts are delicious and nutritious.

Some problems can be preventable by controlling Diabetes: -

·        Heart Disease and Stroke: - Diabetes can damage blood vessels and lead to heart disease and stroke. One can do a lot to prevent heart disease and stroke by managing blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol level.

·        Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia): - Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose drops too low. It can be preventable by following meal plans and balancing physical activity, food, and medicine.

·        Diabetic Neuropathy: - Diabetic Neuropathy is nerve damage that can result from diabetes. Different types of nerve damage affect different parts of the body. Managing diabetes can help to prevent nerve damage that affects feet and limbs and organs such as the heart.

·        Eye disease: -Diabetes can damage eyes and lead to low vision and blindness. The best way to prevent eye disease is to manage blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

·        Sexual and Bladder Problems: - Sexual and bladder problems are more common in people with diabetes. Problems like erectile dysfunction, loss of interest in sex, bladder leaks, and retained urine can happen if diabetes damages blood vessels and nerves. 

 

References: -

[1] American Diabetes Association. Foundations of care and comprehensive medical evaluation. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(suppl 1): S26 (Table 3.3).

[4] Yardley JE, Sigal RJ. Exercise strategies for hypoglycemia prevention in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum. 2015;28(1):32–38.

[5] Colberg SR, Sigal RJ, Yardley JE, et al. Physical activity/exercise and diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(11):2065–2079.