Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is referred to as a metabolic disease that leads to high blood sugar levels in the body. The condition is mainly caused due to two reasons, a person is not able to use the insulin produced in the body effectively, or the body is not able to produce enough insulin. Therefore, people should know that there is no permanent cure for diabetes, and it can only be controlled with proper treatment, and lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet. In addition, early diagnosis of the condition is also important to control blood sugar levels timely as it can cause various serious complications. These include tissue or organ damage, such as heart attacks, kidney damage, strokes, nerve damage, loss of vision, cataracts, and peripheral vascular disease, like foot ulcers, and pain in legs. Therefore, people should get themselves frequently tested for diabetes and follow all the preventive measures, such as lifestyle habits to avoid its occurrence.
What Are the Various Types of Diabetes?
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Type 1 Diabetes - It is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes and can occur at any age but is most common in young adults and children. In this type of diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys its pancreatic cells that secrete insulin, and thus blood glucose levels in the body rise due to the lack of insulin.
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Type 2 Diabetes - It is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes and commonly occurs in adults, children, obese, and overweight people. This type of diabetes develops when the insulin is not effectively being used by the body cells, as they become resistant to insulin, and thus blood sugar level rises.
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Gestational Diabetes - This type of diabetes mainly develops during pregnancy due to insufficient insulin in the body or hormones of pregnant women. It is a temporary condition and usually disappears after giving birth.
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
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Weight loss.
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Increased thirst and hunger.
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Blurred vision.
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Frequent urination.
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Fatigue.
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Sores.
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Decreased sex drive in men.
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Vaginal dryness.
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Poor muscle strength in males.
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Yeast infections in females.
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Urinary tract infections in females.
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Itchy and dry skin.
What Are the Seven Things Diabetics Should Know?
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Low Blood Sugar Levels: Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar level is the most important event for every diabetic to understand. People having diabetes and especially those on treatment with oral tablets or insulin should know how to recognize when the sugar level is dropping too low in their body. A person can have various symptoms like sweating, fast heartbeat, chest tightness, and even fainting. Whenever a person encounters such symptoms, take some sweets and report the same to the doctor. A person needs to recognize this because if it is not treated at the time, this can even become fatal.
- Never Walk Barefoot: People having diabetes develop neuropathy over the years. This leads to a decreased sensation. If a person has this condition and walks barefoot or wears ill-fitting shoes, it could lead to ulcers that may slowly lead to serious infection of the foot. Therefore, people should take care of their feet. Look at them carefully every day and wash them regularly.
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Get Eyes Checked: At least once a year, go to the ophthalmologist and get the eyes checked. High blood sugar levels affect the person’s eyes and can lead to complete loss of vision if not treated on time.
- Protect Kidneys: If a person has diabetes, then beware. A person’s kidneys will have long-term effects due to those high sugar levels. The damage to the kidneys is very silent. It causes no pain, so often people do not realize it till they are damaged beyond repair and in some cases beyond control. It is not uncommon for people with diabetes to end up with kidney failure and be on dialysis for a lifetime. Get the urine checked every six months at least. If a person has diabetes, they need to consult a kidney specialist (Nephrologist), who would then advise the person more about this condition.
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Eat Small Regular Meals: It is always better to have small regular meals rather than one or two big meals. A person should think before eating and if they are on insulin, adjust the dose according to what they are eating. If a person is planning to be on a fast or eat less, then they need to have less insulin.
- Exercise Regularly: Make it a habit to exercise regularly. Light exercises every day help control sugar levels. It will help to maintain the body healthy and fit and keep the diabetes well in control. But beware again, if a person plans to do excessive exercises out of the routine on any day, they will need to modify their anti-diabetic medications. Therefore, a person should consult the doctor to guide them more on the same.
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Check Sugars: Please understand that not checking the sugars because of the fear of a prick does not mean that the blood sugar levels will remain normal. For adequate treatment, a person must check them regularly. They are the only guides to the doctor to adjust the medications for a person. Ask the doctor to give a chart to record the results. Every time a person consults the doctor, take the chart along. It is the combined effort of the patient and the doctor that will keep a person healthy. Work as a team, not as an individual. The treatment and control of diabetes is not a one-man task. It requires an entire team of people, and the captain of that team is the person themselves. The combined effort of a patient and a team of specialists will keep the person healthy and fit.
Conclusion
Diabetes can be well managed with timely diagnosis and treatment, along with changes in lifestyle habits. The treatment mainly depends on the type and cause of diabetes, however, the most important role is played by changing and managing the diet plan that can control blood sugar levels. Therefore, a person should ask the doctor to advise a diet for a diabetic condition, and one must strictly adhere to all the suggested life changes to cope with this disease.