Diabetes is a disease that affects the
lives of more than eighteen million people in America alone.
However,
nearly a third of these people aren't aware that they have the
disease.
Here's what you need to know: diabetes is a lack
of insulin or the body's inability to produce insulin, which turns
food into essential energy. As you can imagine, this lack of
insulin is dangerous and requires treatment.
Diabetes is categorized in two ways, as Type 1 and Type 2. The
types have some similarities, but they
are different in terms of cause and treatment.
How do we recognise these two different
types?
Type 1 diabetes is genetic in nature and results from a
failure of the pancreas to create insulin. It often affects
children or young adults. In these people, the immune system
actually works against the body, killing
off beta cells that produce insulin. This causes glucose to stay
in the blood rather than getting turned into the
essential fuel our body needs. Treatment is required in order to
prevent diabetic coma, which is when the levels
of glucose in the blood get dangerously high. Treatment generally
consists of regular insulin injections.
By contrast Type 2 diabetes is
developed later in life. Most people who have diabetes will
have this type. Although .it is still not known what causes
Type 2 diabetes, like Type 1 it can also be genetic, and
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ethnic groups are more predisposed than others. However other things such as a sedentary lifestyle, being
very
overweight, and simply getting older, also play a part.
Rather than attacking and destroying the beta cells, this type of
diabetes makes it difficult for body to take up the insulin that
is created. However, the good thing about this type of diabetes is
that it can be prevented by a more healthy lifestyle such as a
balanced diet, taking regular exercise and controlling body
weight.
Exercise is key because it lowers the level of glucose in the
blood and increases the body's ability to take up
naturally produced glucose. Exercise is also good for keeping
stress levels low and helping with cholesterol and
circulation problems. It is such a good treatment, in fact, that
sometimes diet and exercise can negate the
necessity of medication in Type 2 diabetes patients.
While fruits, vegetables and whole grains are generally considered
healthy and can be of benefit to those with
diabetes, you should keep in mind that certain foods can have
unhealthily high glucose levels (such as oranges). Take a look at
the glycemic index, or GI index, or more about this.
Added fiber, recommended for most diets, is helpful to those with
diabetes in that fiber keeps glucose levels down. And while
certain oils are essential, saturated fats (such as that in red
meat) should be avoided as they can raise cholesterol levels.
Rather, choose olive oil and fish oils, which are far healthier.
They also help stave
off the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is increased for
those with diabetes.
-
Hana
Jacovado
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