What is the diabetes? Important facts about diabetes
Diabetes is a topic that is talked about a lot these days. It is believed to be one of the fastest growing diseases in the world to the point that the World Health Organization (WHO) recently described it as an epidemic. But what exactly is diabetes? This article will explain what the disease does to the body and the various types of diabetes.
Diabetics are characterized by having a high blood sugar level. They cannot lower this sugar level, which can lead to further health complications if left untreated. Sugar enters the bloodstream when we break down food. It is used by the cells of the body as energy. Without the energy, the cells would starve.
It is often thought that eating too much sugar or sugary foods will give you diabetes. This is not true. Eating sugary foods won’t give you diabetes, but it could lead to weight gain if you don’t get enough exercise to accompany your food intake.
If a high-sugar diet is followed for a long period of time, without exercise, there is a good chance that the person will become overweight and eventually obese. And one link that most people with type 2 diabetes have is that they are overweight or obese. The assumption is that a person who is overweight has a higher chance of developing the disease.
Also, a diet rich in sugary foods is not a balanced diet and will lead to a deficiency of vital nutrients and vitamins that could cause further health problems.
Another aspect of diabetes is that many people who have it don’t know they have it. This is because there are often no symptoms, or the symptoms can be attributed to another illness, such as the flu, stress, or simply being overworked.
These are some of the most common symptoms:
Excessive thirst (polydipsia).
Frequent need to urinate (polyuria).
Have a big appetite without gaining weight.
Always tired.
Nausea or a general feeling of being unwell.
blurred vision.
Fungal infections.
Male impotence.
If you have noticed any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.
It may be that your body has stopped making insulin. Insulin is the hormone that lowers the level of sugar in the blood. This is called type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.
The other alternative is that the pancreas continues to produce insulin but the body has become resistant to it, negating the sugar-lowering effect it has on the blood. This is called type 2 diabetes. A similar condition happens to pregnant women. This is known as gestational diabetes and it will start during pregnancy and stop after birth.
There is still no cure for diabetes. Therefore, lifelong treatment is the way to deal with the disease.
Treatment includes establishing a diabetic diet plan. This is effectively a well-balanced meal plan consisting of servings of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Exercise is also an important part of treatment. Diabetics are encouraged to exercise as much as they can and keep their weight down.
Type 1 diabetics will also inject insulin every time they are about to eat or if they have a high reading. People with type 2 diabetes may also take medications to make the body respond to naturally created insulin.