What You Need To Know About Diabetes

There are many myths about diabetes that have seriously confused facts and assumptions . Since the enemy, even such an insidious one, must be known face to face, let's try to figure out how to overcome a dangerous disease , and at the same time get rid of popular misconceptions.

Diabetes is a serious hormonal disorder that leads to complications if you ignore the symptoms of the disease and do not worry about prevention, being in the risk group. Any type of diabetes can significantly affect the quality of life and its duration.

To realize how serious everything is, let's determine what the essence of diabetes is . For the harmonious functioning of the body, it is necessary to convert the glucose obtained with food into energy. This vital process is ensured by the pancreas, which produces insulin. This hormone regulates the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, helping it enter cells and be converted into energy.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas produces insufficient or no insulin, or when the body cannot use it effectively. An elevated blood sugar level, or in medical terminology - hyperglycemia, threatens serious damage to the body, especially nerves and blood vessels, which over time can lead to kidney failure, heart attacks, depression, partial or complete loss of vision, strokes and other major problems.

The most common are type 1 and type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes . Other forms are much less common. Each type of disease has its own cause and different methods of treatment.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease . That is, the body suddenly decides to direct immunity against itself, in this case destroying the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. About one in 20 diabetics is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and such people need to receive a dose of insulin every day to keep the body functioning normally. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of all cases of the disease , and this figure, unfortunately, is growing every year.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or the body cannot use it properly. This form of the disease can be controlled with diet and exercise, medication or, if necessary, insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85% of all cases of the disease , and this indicator also tends to increase. The risk group for type 2 diabetes includes people who are obese and overweight. Genes, including ethnic genes, also play a role, which can be seen in the incidence rates among the population of China, South Asia, India, and Pacific Islanders.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Women who have been given such a diagnosis have problems with insulin metabolism, which usually disappear if they follow the recommendations of doctors and after the birth of a child. The bad news is that women with gestational diabetes are at risk for type 2 diabetes , as they must carefully monitor their diet and exercise regularly.

As mentioned above, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease , the causes of which are still unknown. Unfortunately, it cannot be prevented or cured, but there are effective methods of supportive therapy.

There is no single cause of type 2 diabetes either, but objective risk factors have been documented by doctors. For those who, due to their lifestyle and according to the results of tests, demonstrate a high risk of the disease , there is a preliminary diagnosis - prediabetes. Doctors make this conclusion when the level of sugar in the blood is higher than normal, although not as much as in diabetes . With timely diagnosis, all those who want to have a good chance to delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by taking care of their health. Proper nutrition, control over your own weight, regular fitness, giving up bad habits - nothing secret or unrealistic.

Far from all overweight people are faced with the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes , when the disease can develop even in owners of flawless figures. At the same time, the appearance of type 1 diabetes is not affected by body weight, lack of physical exercise or any household habits.

It wasn't long ago that type 1 diabetes was thought to develop before the age of 30, but new research shows that almost half of the cases are diagnosed in those over 30. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adults over 45, but the disease is becoming more common in young age groups, including children and adolescents.

Since diabetes affects the level of glucose in the blood, advocates of cardinal solutions exclude from the menu products that contain even a hint of sugar. However, if you know the measure and follow a healthy diet, desserts are not completely forbidden for people with diabetes .

With type 1 diabetes , symptoms often appear suddenly and can be life-threatening, as quick diagnosis is crucial. With the development of type 2 diabetes, the body may not give unusual signals or they may seem age-related - as a result, complications may appear before the appearance of obvious signs.

Common symptoms to consider and get tested include: constant thirst and hunger, frequent urges to urinate, chronic fatigue and lethargy, slow healing of wounds and cuts, itching, skin infections, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss ( type 1 diabetes ), or constant weight gain (with type 2 diabetes ), mood swings, frequent headaches, dizziness, leg cramps.

Indeed, the quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes depends on daily replacement therapy. They need to check their blood glucose levels several times a day and make timely insulin injections. The problem with type 2 diabetes is that the disease is progressive. A weakened pancreas produces less and less insulin over the years. At the same time, a healthy lifestyle and systematic use of medicines help postpone the need for injections and reduce the likelihood of complications in the long term.