Diabetes - MalluWorld.org

**asha** · 06-02-2009

Diabetes is a disease that can affect people of any age. You have to live with diabetes and there is no cure for it. Diabetes is directly related to the insulin level in the body. Depending on the secretion and absorption of insulin, the level and effect of diabetes will differ. It is a chronic disease and the reasons may be anything from hereditary to consumption of unbalanced diet. Around 171 million people in the world are found to be diabetic.

Sugar is an essential factor in the blood that gives energy for the body. This sugar is obtained from the food that we eat. Insulin secreted in the pancreas gland is responsible for absorption of blood glucose by the body cells. When the production of insulin is insufficient, then more sugar will stay in the blood and the cells will starve of fuel. If insulin is produced more, the blood glucose will be consumed more and again cells will get tired wanting fuel for further activities. If any of these occurs, then the person is said to be diabetic.

Types of diabetes
There are 3 main types of diabetes. To treat diabetes, you must first know what type of diabetes has affected you.

Gestational diabetes â€“ this starts in the pregnancy and the level of glucose in the blood will be higher. After delivering the baby, this type of diabetes will go away. But even after delivery the mother has to be monitored.

Type 1 diabetes â€“ This is diagnosed in children and young adults. In this type, sufficient insulin will not be produced by the pancreas. Those who suffer from type1 diabetes have to take insulin for the entire life. Nowadays, insulin injections are common and after taking insulin the person can be very normal.

Type 2 diabetes â€“ this is diagnosed in people at the later ages. Due to insufficient nutrition, the insulin is not secreted upto the required level or the cells donâ€™t absorb insulin. As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood and lead to diabetes.

Symptoms

The symptoms of diabetes are similar for both men and women. There are some cases where people are found to be diabetic even if they donâ€™t have any of these symptoms. Diabetes will show symptoms after the depletion of 80% of insulin producing cells. The typical symptoms include

Sudden weight loss
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Excessive hunger
Lethargy
Wounds in the feet

Many people in the world test for diabetes only when they find wounds that are not healed for a long time in their foot.

Care for men and women
Since diabetes affects people of all ages and races, we must take proper care so that we burn up extra sugar in the blood. In certain cases, the blood sugar was under control just by controlling the diet. You must take balanced diet that contains carbohydrates, necessary fat, proteins and minerals. Avoid all fried items and all oils. Exercises are a must to avoid diabetes. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always good for health. Generally women are found to be less aware of diabetes. It is now a myth that women live longer than men.

When a person is affected by diabetes, he/she is prone to many diseases as their immune system becomes weakened. If diabetes is not treated properly, it may lead to heart diseases and kidney failures. Many people also suffer from eye sight problems and nervous problems. Diabetes is a silent killer but if you know how to fight against it, you can conquer the disease and lead a normal life.

What to Eat and What to Avoid

When a person has diabetes, their body does not produce enough insulin to manage the blood sugar levels within the body. This means that a person will have to resort to other measures for controlling their blood sugar levels by following a diabetic diet accompanied with regular exercise.

Other ways to ease the complications of diabetes is to take medication, such as daily injections of insulin or taking a pill, such as glucophage.

The people who are most likely to become diabetic are individuals who are overweight, as well as inactive.

In addition, many develop diabetes because people in their family are susceptible to it due to heredity. It is also the lifestyle of a person that contributes to this occurrence.

Avoiding exercise, eating lots of fats and sugar within your diet, as well as being overweight or obese, are some of the factors surrounding diabetes. It can occur at anytime with signs including frequent urination and excessive thirst.

When someone is diabetic, they are unable to produce or correctly use insulin throughout their body, which is the hormone that is responsible for changing sugar, starches and other food into energy.

One of the ways to follow a diabetic diet is to eat foods from all of the four basic food groups, as well as decrease the consumption of alcohol, fat, and sweets.

You can incorporate a wide variety of nutritious foods into a diabetic diet.

A diabeticâ€™s diet must follow this lifestyle change wherever they may be.

When eating out at a restaurant, there are a few tips to follow when deciphering the types of food items and meals you should look out for or avoid.

When choosing something that will adhere to your diabetic diet, you should avoid foods that are described as being "creamed," "fried" or "sautÃ©ed." These foods are most likely to contain loads of fat.

Foods that contain a lot of cheese, butter, oil or mayonnaises should be avoided on diabetic diets. If you must taste these foods during your meal, you should order them to arrive as a side item.

Other foods that can stray from diabetic diets include those that are prepared with sweet and sour sauce, as well as teriyaki and barbeque. They contain high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates that should be avoided while on a diabetic diet.

Diabetic diets should count the number of calories from fat as being 30% less than the total number of calories eaten throughout one day.

Diabetic diets should include foods that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol, such as skinless poultry, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

When on a diabetic diet, you should stay away from red meats, eggs, as well as whole-milk dairy products.

Diabetic diets work better when the dairy in your life comes from low-fat or fat-free selections.

10-20% of your daily calories on a diabetic diet should come from proteins in foods, such as lean meat, fish, and low-fat dairy products. The rest of a diabetic diet should consist of carbohydrates coming from whole grains, beans, as well as fresh vegetables and fruit.

Overall, there is no official diabetic diet to follow and it really depends on the individual diabetic.

If you are able to work closely with a dietician, doctor, or nutritionist, you will be able to find a balance within your diabetic diet and exercise routine.

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