Diabetes How to Control and Treat It

Diabetes is the condition in which the body does not properly process food and take in use of energy from food supplements. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our body to use energy. The pancreas and the other organs that lay near the stomach makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well it could have been. This causes the sugar to build up in your blood. That is why diabetes is known as the ''increment in the sugar level of the body" as to understand in a simpler way.

Symptoms of diabetes

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Felling tired all the time
• Very dry skin
• More infections than usual

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and only accounts to 5% to 10% of diabetes patients. In this type, the pancreas doesn't make any insulin at all

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. It accounts for 90% to 95% of all the cases of diabetes. In this, either your bodies don't make enough of the insulin or the cells in the body ignore the insulin. So they can't utilize glucose liked they are supposed to. When your cells ignore insulin, it is often referred to insulin resistance. This type can cause problems for mother and babies and usually disappear when the pregnancy is over. Other types of diabetes resulting from specific genetic syndromes like surgery, drugs, malnutrition, and others illness factors contributing to 1% to 2 % of diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. It is believed that a combination of genetic predisposition and additional factors provoke the immune system into attacking and killing the insulin-producing cell in the pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by insulin resistance. This means no matter how much or how little insulin is made, the body can't use it in suitable quantity. As a result, glucose can't be moved from the blood into the cells. The excess sugar in the blood gradually poisons the pancreas causing it to make less insulin and making it even more difficult to keep blood glucose under control.

Side effects to other parts

Diabetes is the major cause of heart disease, one of the leading cause of death in different countries too. It is also the biggest cause of blindness and kidney failure in adults. People with diabetes are observed with high blood pressure

Diagnosis

Diabetes can be diagnosed with simple blood tests. Diabetes may be diagnosed if the level of the sugar in your blood after 8 hours of fastening is 7.00 mmol/L or higher. If your fasting blood sugar is between 6.1 mmol/L and 6.9 mmol/L then you may have a condition known as impaired fasting glucose, which may further lead to diabetes.

How to treat diabetes?

There are several things you need to do to help control your diabetes. For type 1 diabetes, healthy eating, physical activity, and insulin injection are basic therapies. The amount of insulin should be balanced with the food intake and daily activities. The monitoring is done by the blood glucose levels and must be closer to blood glucose testing.

For type 2 diabetes, healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose testing are the basic therapies. In addition, many people with type 2 diabetes require oral medication, Insulin, or both to control their blood glucose levels. The sum of all can be said as inside the cells of the blood, your blood sugar levels will drop back to normal.

Controlling diabetes by therapies

There are a lot of management measures for diabetes control. It chiefly includes nutrition therapy, exercise therapy, oral anti-glycerin agent, Insulin treatment etc. Nutritional therapy is effective among these days for diabetes control. It includes:

• Fiber rich diet
• Restrict sodium intake
• Include whole grains and pulses
• For lunch and dinner, half of the plate to be filled with non-starchy vegetables.
• Protein rich diet should be encouraged

Lastly, to come up with diabetes field, one should regularly carry out regular exercises, strict drug regime, periodic screening etc, should be done to control diabetes if monitored and maintained in a very appropriate way, it could be effectively controlled.

The Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is defined as a collection of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action. Diabetes was first recognized as an ailment connected with "sweet urine," and extreme muscle loss in the olden world. High levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose into the urine, therefore the term sweet urine.

Usually, blood glucose levels are strongly controlled by insulin, a hormone formed by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates, insulin is released from the pancreas to regularize the glucose level by promoting the uptake of glucose into body cells. In patients with diabetes, the absence of inadequate production of or lack of reaction to insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes is an unrelieved medical situation, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.

Type 1 Diabetes symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes can be associated in type one diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in children and teens, and type two diabetes, which most frequently occurs in adults. The symptoms of any of the two types are connected to high blood and urine glucose levels and include:
• frequent infections,
• nausea,
• vomiting, and
• Blurred vision.
• hunger,
• dehydration,
• weight loss or gain,
• fatigue,
• dry mouth,
• slow-healing wounds, cuts, or sores,
• itching skin, and
• increased susceptibility to infections

Type 2 Diabetes symptoms
• increased urine output
• excessive thirst
• weight loss
• hunger
• fatigue
• skin problems
• slow healing wounds
• yeast infections and
• Tingling or numbness in the feet or toes

Diabetes symptoms in women
The early symptoms of untreated diabetes are related to elevated blood sugar levels, and loss of glucose in the urine. High amounts of glucose in the urine can cause increased urine output (frequent urination) and lead to dehydration.
The dehydration also causes increased thirst and water consumption.
A relative or absolute insulin deficiency eventually leads to weight loss.
The weight loss of diabetes occurs despite an increase in appetite.

Diabetes symptoms in men
Some untreated diabetes patients also complain of fatigue.
Nausea and vomiting can also occur in patients with untreated diabetes.
Frequent infections (such as infections of the bladder, skin, and vaginal areas) are more likely to occur in people with untreated or poorly-controlled diabetes.
Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to blurred vision.
Extremely elevated glucose levels can lead to lethargy and coma

What causes diabetes?
Insufficient production of insulin (either completely or relative to the body's needs), production of faulty insulin (which is unusual), or the incapability of cells to use insulin correctly and efficiently leads to hyperglycemia and diabetes.

This latter state affects mostly the cells of muscle and fat tissues, and results in a condition known as insulin resistance. This is the chief dilemma in type 2 diabetes.

The complete lack of insulin, usually secondary to a critical procedure touching the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, is the main chaos in type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, there also is a stable reject of beta cells that adds to the procedure of elevated blood sugars. Basically, if somebody is resistant to insulin, the body can, to some quantity, boost production of insulin and conquer the level of resistance. After time, if production decreases and insulin cannot be released as dynamically, hyperglycemia develops.

Types of diabetes
There are two major types of diabetes, called type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes was also previously called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), or juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas undergoes an autoimmune assault by the body itself, and is rendered powerless of building insulin. Unusual antibodies have been found in the majority of patients with type 1 diabetes. Antibodies are proteins in the blood that are component of the body's immune structure. The patient with type 1 diabetes must rely on insulin medication for endurance.

Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes

Diabetes treatment
All types of diabetes are treatable. Diabetes type 1 lasts a lifetime, there is no known cure. Type 2 usually lasts a lifetime; however, thousands of people have managed to get rid of their symptoms without medication.

Diabetes - Some Helpful Facts

Firstly, what is Diabetes Mellitus (mostly referred to as just Diabetes)?

Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body is unable to automatically regulate blood glucose levels, resulting in excessively high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Put into simple terms, diabetes is a condition in which your body cannot handle the sugar in food.

Diabetes is something we unfortunately hear about often these days. It is no longer just a condition of the elderly as we are seeing dramatic increases in the number of young people being affected by diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored, it is a complex health problem and a national challenge. Diabetes is a life-long, chronic disease that affects as many as 16 million Americans. It is also the number one cause of acquired blindness.

Diabetes is often described as type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes. Out of these, type 2 diabetes is the most common form, accounting for around 90%-95% of all cases. This type of diabetes is strongly associated with being overweight and obesity, family history also plays a part. This type of diabetes is also referred to as adult-onset or maturity-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is typically recognized in childhood or adolescence, and is marked by a total or near-total lack of insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also often referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. Gestational diabetes is common, and is a type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy, usually between the 24th and 28th week.

 

Pre-diabetes is potentially the early stage of diabetes, where glucose (sugar) levels in the blood become disturbed, and are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.The best way to diagnose pre-diabetes is by a blood test; a fasting blood sugar (FBS), or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If pre-diabetes is not controlled, it may well progress to diabetes.

Managing Diabetes is quite straight forward, even though there is no actual cure. It is becoming growing health problem, with type 2 diabetes now being diagnosed in larger numbers of children and teenagers. People with type 2 diabetes, often completely misunderstand, or simply ignore the crucial moment when blood sugar tests reveal that diabetes is progressing. The good news is that type 2 diabetes is largely preventable, as it is often linked to obesity.

Sometimes people have symptoms but they do not suspect diabetes. The early symptoms of untreated diabetes mellitus are related to the increased blood glucose levels. However, the symptoms of diabetes may not appear until blood glucose levels are above approximately 15mmol/l or higher. Symptoms can also be so mild that you might not even notice them. The symptoms of diabetes vary from person to person, and can be subtle.

Without treatment, the main symptoms of diabetes are unusual thirst, excessive amounts of urine, tiredness, and weight loss and muscle wasting. Symptoms may come and go. Symptoms partly depend on the type of diabetes a person has and how long it has been untreated. The first step in either preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes is to recognize the risk factors, as well as signs and symptoms of diabetes. If you think you have the symptoms of diabetes it is very important to seek advice from your physician.

For further Diabetic Information please visit our informative website where you will find information on diabetic menus, diabetic recipes, diabetic symptoms and much more to help in the management of Diabetes. 

Diabetes Complications - How to Detect and Avoid it

Diabetes is a disease caused by your body's inability to create insulin. This inability hinders the natural process of turning carbohydrates into energy. Since diabetes disrupts the body's normal functions, there are many diabetes complications that can occur if the disease goes untreated or in the more sever cases of the disease. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to work closely with your physician in order to develop a plan of action that will be best for you.

You may choose medications or you may choose more natural treatments. Either way, a healthy diet and regular exercise will be an important part of your diabetes management. Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to manage the disease to minimize the chance of suffering from diabetes complications.

Diseases and Illnesses Caused by Diabetes

Diabetes can cause the onset of other illnesses and diseases. Some of the illnesses and diseases that can be caused by diabetes complications are more serious than the diabetes itself. Let's look at some of the complications that can arise from diabetes:

• Eye complications - one of the symptoms of diabetes is blurred vision caused when the body takes fluid from other tissues in order to compensate for the loss of insulin. People who have diabetes are at a higher risk of blindness.
• Heart disease - the complications of diabetes makes the risk of heart disease higher in people with diabetes.
• Stroke - the complications of diabetes also place the diabetic at a higher risk of stroke.
• Kidney disease - the symptoms of diabetes causes the kidneys to work harder than normal. This can cause the kidneys not to properly filter out waste products and could lead to kidney failure.
• Neuropathy and Nerve Damage - one of the most common complications for the diabetic is damage to the nerves connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.
• Feet - as a result of the nerve damage and poor circulation caused by diabetes, many people develop problems with their feet.
• Skin - many people with diabetes suffer from skin disorders. These disorders are often an indication that a person has diabetes. Skin disorders can be prevented and treated.
• Gastroparesis - this disease happens if the nerves to the stomach are damaged and causes the stomach to take too long to empty its contents. People who suffer from Gastroparesis often experience heartburn, nausea, feeling full at the beginning of a meal, weight loss, vomiting undigested food, bloating, loss of appetite, gastroesophageal reflux, and even spasms within the wall of the stomach.
• Depression - many illnesses and diseases can cause people to suffer from depression. The feeling of not having control over your body can often times lead people to a false sense of failure and hopelessness.

 

Diagnosis and Management in Diabetes

The diabetes complications above gives you an indication of just how important it is detect diabetes as early as possible. Early detection is the best way to learn early on how to control the symptoms of diabetes and lessen your chances of the diabetes complications leading to more serious illnesses and diseases. As soon as you are given a diagnosis of diabetes, you should begin working with your physician to formulate a plan of management for the disease. There is no cure for diabetes, but in many cases, it can be controlled and the risks of it causing more serious complications can be decreased.

Management of your diabetes is a key factor in whether the disease will lead to more serious illnesses and diseases. The best way that you can remain in control is to formulate a management plan with your physician, which should consist of a treatment plan, a healthy diet, and regular exercise. Even if you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to begin a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise so that diabetes and diabetes complications can be avoided and you can live a normal, healthy life span.