Beat Diabetes To Live A Better Life
Diabetes is a condition when the glucose
level in the blood is too high, body cannot make use of insulin. Body cells are
unable to use insulin properly because the pancreas is not able to produce any insulin,
or there is not enough insulin that could help glucose enter our body cells.
Glucose is the body’s main energy, lack of insulin builds up in the blood that
results in high blood sugar.
There are two main types of diabetes,
type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. A third type is also there naming
gestational diabetes, which only develops during pregnancy. The other type of
diabetes are caused by some kind of defect in pancreas or specific genes.
Diabetes-Role
of insulin and glucose
When islet cells of pancreas get
destroyed, the body stops producing insulin. Insulin is a hormone which helps
to convert glucose into energy.
·
Pancreas helps to
secrete insulin into the bloodstream.
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Insulin circulates and
enables sugar to enter our cells.
·
Insulin lowers the
sugar level in the bloodstream.
·
When the level of blood
sugar drops, secretion of insulin from pancreas also lowers.
Glucose is the main source of energy for
cells that builds up muscles and other tissues.
·
Glucose comes from two
sources food and liver.
·
Sugar absorbs into the
blood stream where it enters cells.
·
Liver stores glucose as
glycogen.
·
To keep the glucose
level within a normal range, liver converts stored glycogen into glucose.
Types
of Diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes, type 1
and type 2. Type1 diabetes is known as juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes
usually occurs in children and young adults. Healthy diet, regular activity and
four times insulin a day helps in the treatment of diabetes. Those who have no
control on their diet also develop diabetes. It can be controlled by healthy
eating and by doing regular physical activities. Type 2 diabetes can affect
people of any age, whether they are young or an adult aging over 40 years.
Young ones who are overweight and lethargic also develop type 2 diabetes.
Causes
of diabetes
·
Genetic
susceptibility-
Heredity plays an important role in determining who is going to acquire
type1 diabetes. Example: If a child’s any one of the parents or both are having
diabetes, the chances really grow for a young child to develop diabetes. The
genes gets transferred from biological parent to child. Similarly genes play a
major role in susceptibility to type2 diabetes. Getting certain genes helps to
know about person’s risk for developing diabetes type2.
·
Environmental
factors- Some of the environmental factors like
food, toxins, viruses plays a major part in the development of type1 diabetes. A virus never causes diabetes, but it is
likely possible that that a person might get type1 diabetes after viral
infection. Type 1 diabetes can catch us when viruses and infections are more
common in winters.
·
Obesity
and lack of physical activity- People who are
generally over weight or gets indulged in less of physical activities develop
type 2 diabetes. When there is an imbalance between calorie intake and physical
activities, it leads to obesity and causes insulin resistance. A person usually
fat faces not only type2 diabetes, but also heart and blood vessel diseases.
Early
detection of any problem including diabetes helps in its better treatment and
management. There are clinical signs and symptoms that helps in detection of
diabetes type. In type2 diabetes, many people do not see any symptoms at all.
Even if sign is shown it is usually ignored as part of “ being old” because it
occurs over the age of 40 years. There are some common symptoms of both type1
and type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes
·
If you experience
excessive thirst, it is not normal. There might be a possibility that you have
diabetes type1. When the thirst is continuous people usually wake up to drink
water. This results in urination. Excessive urination is not a good sign. If
you are wetting your bed during the night, then immediately consult a doctor.
Shortage of hormone regulates the water
excretion by the kidneys. This is treated with insulin or medication.
·
Weight usually reduces
in diabetes as diabetic patient urinates a lot because of rise in their blood
sugar level. Rise in sugar results in muscle breakdown causing weight loss.
·
Feeling irritated,
lethargic, tired and out of energy are the most common symptoms of diabetes.
Our energy looses, when lack of insulin affects the ability of body to get
glucose from the blood into the cells. People taking medications for diabetes
like insulin, goes out of energy because of low blood glucose level. Cause of
fatigue basically depends on the rise or fall in blood glucose level.
·
Numbness and tingling
on hands and feet are the symptoms of diabetes. Glucose should be balanced and diet
has to be maintained to control diabetes. Damage to the nerves can cause
itching too.
·
Having blur vision is
one of the symptom of diabetes. The ability to see is affected when high levels
of blood sugar pulls fluids from the tissues, including lens of an eye. New blood
vessels can be formed in the retina, damaging vessels. If this symptom remains undetected, it may lead
to vision loss and blindness of an eye.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop really fast over days, weeks or months.
Some other symptoms include cramps, infections, having cuts, headaches or
feeling dizzy. In this type, there is a possibility of heavy vomiting and deep
breathing is a sign that can occur at a later stage. Rise in glucose level
stops producing hormones that cause depression. Diabetes makes a person really
worried which results in unnecessary mood swings. In this case one should not
wait and immediately consult a doctor or visit a hospital for treatment.
In diabetes the blood glucose level can
become really low which is called hypoglycaemia. It occurs if one skips his
meal or do exercise vigorously. Drinking alcohol empty stomach is one of the
major reasons of hypoglycemia. Symptoms are as follows:
·
Irritation
·
Sweating
·
Hunger
·
Thirst
·
Lethargic
Treatment and management of diabetes
One
can keep control over the blood sugar levels, by regular checking blood glucose
level, blood pressure and cholesterol levels should be monitored regularly, insulin
should be balanced depending on your diet intake. Patients suffering from
diabetes often need medication. Medication for diabetes is never a substitute
to follow a healthy diet, but it gives relief to a patient.
Medication for diabetes lowers and
maintain apt blood glucose level. People with type 2 diabetes need medication
that includes insulin. Medicines for diabetes cannot really cure diabetes,
people suffering from this disease need to take it for lifelong. Be sure to consult your family doctor or
pharmacist before taking any medication.
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Medication for diabetes
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Insulin
analogs
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Metformin
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Metformin
Glimipride
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Pioglitazone
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Glibenclamide Metformin
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Nateglinide
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Gliclazide
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Acarbose
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These are some of the best
medications prescribed for diabetes type 2 patients. The type of medication required
depends on individual needs and situations. The medication, once prescribed
will work and control diabetes. Be sure that you know how much to take and
when- like after or before a meal. All
medicines have some side effects, check patient information leaflet about the
effects one could get. We cannot prevent type1 diabetes, there are risks if you
develop type 2 diabetes. If you are overweight, the cells become less resistant
to insulin. Excess mass stored in abdomen enhances the risk of type2 diabetes.
Are you the one- sufferer of diabetes?
According to the CDC (centers
for disease control and prevention) report of 2012, 9.3% Americans are
suffering from diabetes. If one finds symptoms of diabetes, then he must
consult a doctor because diabetes has some bad consequences and affects the
health of a person. Proper treatment is a must and lot of medications are
prescribed for diabetes. Prevention is better than cure so have healthy diet
and do regular exercise to lead a peaceful and happy life.
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