Diabetes - Here’s What You Should Know And How to Avoid It
By: Get Real Help
Tags: Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Diabetes Solutions, Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes - Here’s What You Should Know And How to Avoid It

What Exactly Is Diabetes?

If you believe you may be at risk of getting diabetes, the first step is to learn about the disease. According to experts, diabetes is a chronic disease that develops in people who are unable to use glucose in their food as energy. When stored glucose remains in your bloodstream for an extended period of time, sickness occurs. This level of glucose, over time, can cause harm to the organs, including the eyes, kidneys, heart, and even the nerves.

Following a thorough understanding of the disease and how it progresses, the next step is to learn about the various types that are recognized by experts and physicians. Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes are the three most common kinds today. Understanding what they are and what distinguishes them will assist diabetics in determining where to focus efforts in managing their condition.

Type 1 Diabetes: What Is It?

A person with type 1 diabetes has a pancreas that is unable to produce enough insulin for the body to operate normally. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune illness in which the body’s cells attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, either completely killing them or causing insufficient production.

Type 1 diabetes is typically surprising to people because it is not linked to a healthy lifestyle or body weight. As of now, experts have not yet discovered the exact cause of type 2 diabetes in a person. There are risk factors that can increase a person’s chances of being diagnosed.

Juvenile diabetes is a term used to describe type 1 diabetes. Most people diagnosed with it are under the age of 25. Patients who were diagnosed with the condition at a much older age have been identified, but those are the exceptions. People who become insulin-dependent may have a genetic link, although the exact link is yet to be found.

Patients with type 1 diabetes will need insulin for the rest of their lives. Depending on their diet and weight, the amount of insulin they take may change over time. Type 1 diabetics should check their urine for ketones every morning because they are more prone to developing diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening illness. This is your body’s way of informing you that it isn’t getting enough fuel and is relying on fat cells for energy rather than the food you’re eating.

When compared to the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the amount of people with type 1 is low. Obesity trends are driving up the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes: What Is It?

Whereas type 1 diabetics don’t create enough insulin for their bodies, type 2 diabetics do, but their bodies don’t use it properly. Because a high number of people diagnosed with type 2 are overweight or obese, it has been linked to lifestyle choices. The extra weight a person gains can make it difficult for the body to effectively metabolize insulin.

A family relationship (a first or second generation family member) and race are two additional risk factors for being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Even if these risk factors are present, a person can avoid getting them by losing weight, eating healthy foods, and getting lots of exercise. More details about these steps will be discussed later.

In the past, type 2 diabetes was only diagnosed in patients over the age of 40, but in recent years, it has been found in people of all ages. A frighteningly high number of obese young children are being diagnosed with this condition.

Some of these symptoms may be present in people who have not yet been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, such as urinary tract infections (UTI) and skin disorders. Moodiness and irritability are also symptoms of diabetes, but they rarely require a visit to the doctor and are eventually explained by high or low blood sugar levels. This kind of diabetes also includes an increased need to urinate, a desire to drink more, and a feeling of lethargy or persistent exhaustion, which are similar to those of type 1.

In contrast to type 1 diabetics, who only have the option of insulin injections or an insulin pump, type 2 diabetics have a variety of treatment options based on personal preference and needs.

Gestational Diabetes: What Is It?

The American Diabetes Association estimates that 4% of pregnant women may develop gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition in which a woman who has never had diabetes before gets high blood glucose levels while pregnant, usually in her third pregnancy. In the United States, it is estimated that roughly 135,000 cases of this condition occur each year.

Women who develop this kind of diabetes are unlikely to develop type 2 later in life. This is a condition caused by the mother’s inability to utilize the insulin produced naturally in her body during pregnancy. It’s also caused by hormones released during pregnancy, which make the mother insulin-resistant. The mother gradually develops excessive blood glucose levels, sometimes known as hyperglycemia.

A woman with gestational diabetes is usually treated for the condition while she is pregnant. While there are no birth problems connected with this type of sickness, as there are with women who have had diabetes prior to being pregnant, the child need not be concerned. However, if the condition is not treated, the baby may suffer harm. Because the mother is unable to control her high blood glucose, the child receives an excessive amount of energy and fat. This frequently leads to macrosomia. Macrosomia is the medical term for a fat baby.

While some people believe that a fat baby means the baby is healthy, a child born excessively fat may have difficulty squeezing through the delivery canal. This can harm the shoulders and necessitate a cesarean delivery. Furthermore, obese newborns may develop breathing problems as they get older, and if they remain obese, they may develop Type 2 diabetes.

Fortunately, gestational diabetes can be treated. The mother is frequently given insulin shots to maintain her blood glucose levels. On the other hand, a woman who is planning to become pregnant can prevent the complication of this sort of diabetes by avoiding it. She can achieve this in a number of ways, which include losing weight if she was already overweight before pregnancy, developing a healthy exercise regimen, and adhering to particular dietary requirements. The Glycemic index is an excellent tool for pregnant women to use so they can determine which foods to avoid. The Glycemic index was created specifically for diabetics to categorize carbohydrates.

When you’re pregnant, listen to your doctor’s advice about nutrition and activity, as well as any carbohydrate diets. Discuss any concerns you may have about your weight or diabetes with your doctor before becoming pregnant, as he may give you some suggestions on how to avoid this issue.

Even if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, neither you nor your baby may develop type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes isn’t a great cause for concern. Women with this condition have a lot of options for treatment. Just make sure to follow any directions your doctor gives you.