Living with Diabetes

In America alone, 1 out of 10 people suffer from diabetes according to the report offered by the National Diabetics Statistics. This disease has become prevalent in many societies and a lot of people are at loss of how to prevent or manage it. This article is therefore crafted to discuss the vast effect of diabetes, preventive measures, and how you can manage diabetes.

Meaning of Diabetes

Diabetes is the abnormal production of glucose in the body system due to its inability to respond to or produce the hormone called insulin. The insulin turns nutrients from food into glucose and then transfers it through the blood to the cells. Little or no production of insulin or the inability of the insulin to carry out its duties (insulin resistance) leaves too much sugar in the blood. When the blood sugar levels are higher or lower than normal, diabetes could be suspected. There are two major types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes ,also known as juvenile diabetes, occurs when the pancreas is incapable of producing enough insulin. This disease can mostly be found among young children and teens, although adults suffer from it too.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, occurs when the cells resist the use of insulin or the body is unable to produce enough insulin. It is the most common form of diabetes and can be found usually among adults over the age of 45. However, recent statistics show that more young adults and even children are being diagnosed with this condition than ever before. Other forms of diabetes include gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Causes

Factors such as living an unhealthy lifestyle, ones environment, and/or genetics contribute immensely to the occurrence of this disease. Obesity and bad eating habits and lack of proper exercise are the most common factors to the development of diabetes, especially type 2.

Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, constant fatigue, extreme hunger or thirst, unusual weight loss or loss, blurred vision, etc.

Effects

In the United States, about 27.9 to 32.7 percent of the population are people over 18 years who are living with diabetes – this is over 30.2 million people. Diabetes cripples other organs in the human body and can cause complications such as stroke, vision impairment, heart disease, kidney failure, amputation of limbs and a possible path to premature death.

Prevention

There is little or nothing to be done in the prevention of diabetes caused by genetics.  However, practicing good eating habits, quitting smoking and excessive drinking, exercising regularly and monitoring your blood sugar levels may give you an edge against the disease.

Managing Diabetes

Although living with diabetes is difficult, managing it is entirely possible. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, managing it effectively is key to a long life as it would decrease the risks or side effects of low and high blood sugar. Not only that, it will significantly slow down or prevent health problems related to diabetes.

• Monitor your blood sugar as often as possible by following the recommendations of your doctor.
• Never skip your medicines. Strictly adhere to the prescriptions provided by your doctor.
• Find and eat healthy foods that will help manage the condition.
• Ask your health care professional for physical exercise routines that would be beneficial to you.
• Keep learning all you can about diabetes and how you can control it.

Our environment and lifestyle have caused many to suffer from health complications. You can’t afford to be unaware of the dangers of diabetes. Early detection is key to the prevention and management of diabetes. Visit Dr. Dharia and his team at Palm Beach Internal Medicine to see if you are at risk of this disease.