Everything You Need to Know About Diabetes

With this ever-changing and rapidly evolving modern world, health issues are occurring at an increased pace. Diabetes is one of the most commonly noticed diseases. It, known to very few people by its full name i.e. diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disease that results in high blood sugar. It’s a condition in which your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make. It can cause severe damage to your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other body organs.

Types of diabetes with their causes:

• Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune disease caused when the cells in the pancreas are attacked and destroyed by the immune system. A genetic disorder can be a reason too.
• Type 2 diabetes: Occurs when your body becomes insulin resistant. Can be caused by genetics, lifestyle choices, or from being overweight.
• Pre-diabetes: Occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal but it’s lower than that in type 2 diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes: It’s high blood sugar during pregnancy caused by insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta

Symptoms

Different types of diabetes have different symptoms but general symptoms associated with diabetes are:

• Increased hunger and thirst
• Loss in weight Frequent urination
• Not being able to see properly
• Extreme fatigue
• Sores that don’t heal

Symptoms in men

Apart from the general symptoms of diabetes, men who suffer from diabetes may have a decreased sex drive, face erectile dysfunction (ED), and poor muscle strength.

Symptoms in women

Women suffering from diabetes can also have similar symptoms like urinary tract infections, yeast infections, dry and itchy skin.

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes

• Extreme Hunger And Increased Thirst
• Non-wanted Weight Loss
• Frequent Urination
• Blurry VisionTiredness

Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

• Increased Hunger
• Increased Thirst
• Increased Urination
• Blurry VisionTiredness
• Sores That Are Slow To Heal

Symptoms of Gestational diabetes

This condition is detected by a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test, usually performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation. A woman with gestational diabetes will also experience increased thirst or urination but only in rare cases.

Prevention

Type 1 diabetes can hardly be prevented. However, some healthy lifestyle choices can help in the prevention of other types of diabetes. These are:  

• Eat Food Rich In Fibre: Eating foods having low fat and calories and high fibre. Emphasise fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Exercise Regularly: Get involved in physical activities through various exercises. Start with moderate exercises like a walk and increase with time.
• Stay Fit: Maintain a healthy weight as per your height. Even the small change in body weight can reduce the risks of diabetes.

Note: If you’re pregnant, don't try to lose weight. Have a word with your doctor to know about how much weight is healthy for you to gain during pregnancy. To keep yourself motivated for losing weight, remind yourself of the benefits associated with weight loss i.e. a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem.