Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose or blood sugar levels are so high that your body can't use it. Normally, the pancreas release insulin to help your body store and use sugar and fat from the food we eat. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas produce no insulin or very little insulin, or when the body does not respond appropriately to insulin. Diabetes is a metabolism disorder that cannot be cured as it is a life-long condition. It is entirely dependent on the way our body uses digested food for growth and energy. It is a long-term condition in which along with blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels should be monitored regularly, as those with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
Three types of Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2
Type 1: This is a situation where the pancreas does not produce any insulin.
Type 2: The most common type, now found both in adults and children, this is the kind where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body. Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled with a healthy and active lifestyle - by managing your weight, eating nutritious food and exercising regularly.
Some common symptoms of diabetes are hunger pangs, fatigue, frequent urination, weight gain and itchy skin. If diabetes is not managed, it can lead to eye complications like glaucoma and cataracts, hypertension, gum diseases, erectile dysfunction in males, infections and also wounds that take longer to heal.
While these are the most common causes, there are two main factors that lead to diabetes. One is when pancreas produces insufficient insulin or do not produce insulin at all and second one is the inability of the body to use insulin properly. As we mentioned earlier, there are three types of diabetes so the causes for all three of them vary.
Diabetes causes:
Causes of Type 1 diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is caused when your immune system destroys the cells that are produced in pancreas to make insulin. This leads to insulin insufficiency, needed by the body to function normally. This reason is called as autoimmune reaction, as the body attacks itself.
Some triggers that may be involved in this are:
1. Chemical toxins in foods items.
2 . Infection (viral or bacterial).
3. Unidentified component causing autoimmune reaction.
Causes of Type 2 diabetes:
The reason behind type 2 diabetes is mostly family history. Though there are a variety of other factors causing type 2 diabetes, some of them are:
1. Ageing
2. Obesity
3. Sedentary lifestyle
4. Bad diet
Some other reasons
1 . Insulin resistance
2. Cushing's syndrome: This syndrome increases cortisol hormones which lead to increased blood sugar levels. So, an abundance of cortisol hormone can cause diabetes.
3 . Steroid diabetes: It's a rare form of diabetes which occurs due to prolonged use of glucocorticoid therapy.
Diabetes symptoms:
Sometimes Diabetes can develop without any warnings signs. In fact, about a third of all people who have Diabetes don't know they have it; most of them have Type 2 Diabetes. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor about your risk for Diabetes and determine if you should be tested, even if you have none of the warning signs.
1. FatigueAs your cells are deprived of sugar you may feel tired.
2. Frequent infections and slow healing soresType 2 diabetes decreases your ability to heal and resist infections.
3. Increased thirstThe extra sugar build up in your body causes fluids to be pulled out from tissues. This may make you feel thirsty frequently.
4. Frequent urinationAs a result of having more water, you will urinate more.
5. Hunger pangsYour body is not able to convert food into energy due to lack of insulin, which carries sugar to the cells and produces energy. When we are low on energy we feel hungry more often.
6. Blurred visionJust like in the case of other cells when the blood sugar level is high then fluid may be pulled out from lenses of your eyes, leading to blurry vision.
7. Unexplained weight lossDespite eating more than usual, you may experience unexplained weight loss. Being unable to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscles and fat leading to weight loss. Calories are depleted as extra glucose go out with the urine.
8. Darkened skin areasPeople with type 2 diabetes sometimes have velvety dark patches on their skin, usually on neck and armpits. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans and may be a sign of insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes may also include symptoms like leg pain and dry mouth
Common symptoms of diabetes in women:
1. Yeast infection
2. Vaginal infection
3. PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
4. Depression
Diabetes Prevention:
Here are few essential guidelines for Diabetics.
1. Eating at regular intervals helps keep the sugar levels consistent and avoids hypoglycemia.
2. Replacing simple carbohydrates such as ( rice, white bread, white pasta, maida) with complex carbohydrates such as oats, bajra, jowar, ragi and wheat would help avoid rise in the sugar levels.
3. Opt for a low-carb meal consisting of roti, vegetable, salad, egg whites or skim paneer instead of a full meal which includes roti, rice, dal, vegetable and salad at one time.
4. It is advisable to eat either one portion of protein (skim milk products, chicken, fish, egg whites) and a portion of fibre (vegetables, fruits, salads) or Omega 3 fats (fish, flaxseeds, walnuts) in each meal to help accelerate metabolism and promote fat loss and thereby effective sugar control.
5. It is important to incorporate exercise into daily lifestyle (5 days of walking for 45 minutes) to maintain sugar levels and induce fat loss and maintain levels.
6. 1 tsp methi seeds, soaked okra water, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 glass dudhi karela juice are few home remedies which are known to control Diabetes.
7. Chromium Picolinate is a mineral known to help maintain and over a long period of time; lower sugar levels in diabetics when consumed 15 mins before a carbohydrate loaded meal.
8. Regular checks on the glucometer are most effective way to monitor the daily food intake and its effect on the sugar levels to determine the right food options for diabetics and the options to be restricted or minimised due to their effect on the sugar levels.
9. Controlling or losing weight is the most effective and guaranteed way to manage Diabetes.
10. It is essential to maintain a low binge eating or food cheating record to 1- 2 times a week; be it rice, maida, potatoes.
Being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and consumption of high calorie, sugary and fatty foods are the reasons that give rise to this lifestyle ailment.
Follow these simple tips:
Regular exercise
Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which also decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Avoid unhealthy food like fat food and junk food
Junk food is the type of food which has no nutritional value and is high in calories and also poses health hazards. The good taste of junk food comes from hydrogenated fats. These fats lead to obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases. Consumption of junk food increases the risk of diabetes to a great extent and should be avoided to the maximum.
Management of stress/change in lifestyle
Stress management has become extremely relevant in today's times as it the catalyst for many diseases specially diabetes. Managing stress levels among adults is extremely important and regular exercise and yoga can be the best way to do it. Life style changes such as continuous travel and irregular work hours can affect the normal functioning of the body leading to lifestyle diseases, diabetes being one of them. If diagnosed with diabetes, inspect your feet daily and seek early care if you get a foot injury.
Maintain weight as per your height
If all the aforementioned steps are taken care of maintain correct weight should not be a problem. Obesity and diabetes go hand in hand, hence, maintaining weight is a key part of preventing the onset of diabetes.
Three types of Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2
Type 1: This is a situation where the pancreas does not produce any insulin.
Type 2: The most common type, now found both in adults and children, this is the kind where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body. Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled with a healthy and active lifestyle - by managing your weight, eating nutritious food and exercising regularly.
Some common symptoms of diabetes are hunger pangs, fatigue, frequent urination, weight gain and itchy skin. If diabetes is not managed, it can lead to eye complications like glaucoma and cataracts, hypertension, gum diseases, erectile dysfunction in males, infections and also wounds that take longer to heal.
While these are the most common causes, there are two main factors that lead to diabetes. One is when pancreas produces insufficient insulin or do not produce insulin at all and second one is the inability of the body to use insulin properly. As we mentioned earlier, there are three types of diabetes so the causes for all three of them vary.
Diabetes causes:
Causes of Type 1 diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is caused when your immune system destroys the cells that are produced in pancreas to make insulin. This leads to insulin insufficiency, needed by the body to function normally. This reason is called as autoimmune reaction, as the body attacks itself.
Some triggers that may be involved in this are:
1. Chemical toxins in foods items.
2 . Infection (viral or bacterial).
3. Unidentified component causing autoimmune reaction.
Causes of Type 2 diabetes:
The reason behind type 2 diabetes is mostly family history. Though there are a variety of other factors causing type 2 diabetes, some of them are:
1. Ageing
2. Obesity
3. Sedentary lifestyle
4. Bad diet
Some other reasons
1 . Insulin resistance
2. Cushing's syndrome: This syndrome increases cortisol hormones which lead to increased blood sugar levels. So, an abundance of cortisol hormone can cause diabetes.
3 . Steroid diabetes: It's a rare form of diabetes which occurs due to prolonged use of glucocorticoid therapy.
Diabetes symptoms:
Sometimes Diabetes can develop without any warnings signs. In fact, about a third of all people who have Diabetes don't know they have it; most of them have Type 2 Diabetes. That's why it's important to talk to your doctor about your risk for Diabetes and determine if you should be tested, even if you have none of the warning signs.
1. FatigueAs your cells are deprived of sugar you may feel tired.
2. Frequent infections and slow healing soresType 2 diabetes decreases your ability to heal and resist infections.
3. Increased thirstThe extra sugar build up in your body causes fluids to be pulled out from tissues. This may make you feel thirsty frequently.
4. Frequent urinationAs a result of having more water, you will urinate more.
5. Hunger pangsYour body is not able to convert food into energy due to lack of insulin, which carries sugar to the cells and produces energy. When we are low on energy we feel hungry more often.
6. Blurred visionJust like in the case of other cells when the blood sugar level is high then fluid may be pulled out from lenses of your eyes, leading to blurry vision.
7. Unexplained weight lossDespite eating more than usual, you may experience unexplained weight loss. Being unable to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscles and fat leading to weight loss. Calories are depleted as extra glucose go out with the urine.
8. Darkened skin areasPeople with type 2 diabetes sometimes have velvety dark patches on their skin, usually on neck and armpits. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans and may be a sign of insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes may also include symptoms like leg pain and dry mouth
Common symptoms of diabetes in women:
1. Yeast infection
2. Vaginal infection
3. PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
4. Depression
Diabetes Prevention:
Here are few essential guidelines for Diabetics.
1. Eating at regular intervals helps keep the sugar levels consistent and avoids hypoglycemia.
2. Replacing simple carbohydrates such as ( rice, white bread, white pasta, maida) with complex carbohydrates such as oats, bajra, jowar, ragi and wheat would help avoid rise in the sugar levels.
3. Opt for a low-carb meal consisting of roti, vegetable, salad, egg whites or skim paneer instead of a full meal which includes roti, rice, dal, vegetable and salad at one time.
4. It is advisable to eat either one portion of protein (skim milk products, chicken, fish, egg whites) and a portion of fibre (vegetables, fruits, salads) or Omega 3 fats (fish, flaxseeds, walnuts) in each meal to help accelerate metabolism and promote fat loss and thereby effective sugar control.
5. It is important to incorporate exercise into daily lifestyle (5 days of walking for 45 minutes) to maintain sugar levels and induce fat loss and maintain levels.
6. 1 tsp methi seeds, soaked okra water, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 glass dudhi karela juice are few home remedies which are known to control Diabetes.
7. Chromium Picolinate is a mineral known to help maintain and over a long period of time; lower sugar levels in diabetics when consumed 15 mins before a carbohydrate loaded meal.
8. Regular checks on the glucometer are most effective way to monitor the daily food intake and its effect on the sugar levels to determine the right food options for diabetics and the options to be restricted or minimised due to their effect on the sugar levels.
9. Controlling or losing weight is the most effective and guaranteed way to manage Diabetes.
10. It is essential to maintain a low binge eating or food cheating record to 1- 2 times a week; be it rice, maida, potatoes.
Being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and consumption of high calorie, sugary and fatty foods are the reasons that give rise to this lifestyle ailment.
Follow these simple tips:
Regular exercise
Regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which also decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Avoid unhealthy food like fat food and junk food
Junk food is the type of food which has no nutritional value and is high in calories and also poses health hazards. The good taste of junk food comes from hydrogenated fats. These fats lead to obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases. Consumption of junk food increases the risk of diabetes to a great extent and should be avoided to the maximum.
Management of stress/change in lifestyle
Stress management has become extremely relevant in today's times as it the catalyst for many diseases specially diabetes. Managing stress levels among adults is extremely important and regular exercise and yoga can be the best way to do it. Life style changes such as continuous travel and irregular work hours can affect the normal functioning of the body leading to lifestyle diseases, diabetes being one of them. If diagnosed with diabetes, inspect your feet daily and seek early care if you get a foot injury.
Maintain weight as per your height
If all the aforementioned steps are taken care of maintain correct weight should not be a problem. Obesity and diabetes go hand in hand, hence, maintaining weight is a key part of preventing the onset of diabetes.
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