Diabetes - Managing and Preventing

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Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing problem throughout the US and around the world that currently affects 246 million people. It is a chronic disease meaning that it is long lasting and often stays with someone their entire life. There is currently no cure, however many methods have been found to manage and suppress its effects.
Diabetes can be a hereditary or self-induced disease that affects the metabolism resulting in a heightened blood sugar level. This can consequently affect the entire body in a number of different ways. The body can normally fight high blood sugar or high blood glucose levels by producing insulin. However, sufferers of diabetes experience either a diminished production of insulin or their body becomes resistant to its effects; known as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 can be treated by insulin supplementation, and type 2 can be managed through diet, exercise and a number of medications.

Cause

Diabetes has been proven to be largely genetically inherited and is developed more commonly by older people. It can also be caused by self-induced unhealthy habits such as bad dieting and lack of exercise. When people become overweight, particularly around their abdominal area, they are at a greater risk of developing the disease. Less commonly, diabetes can be triggered by infection, stress or exposure to particular drugs and chemicals. The genetic element exists in a person's susceptibility to these triggers.

Symptoms

Diabetes can be recognized by a number of common symptoms such as mental fatigue, feeling lethargic, frequent urination, increased appetite, increased thirst and consequent increased fluid intake. When diabetes occurs, the blood system has too much glucose for the body to handle. This can eventually lead to a number of problems throughout the body. The high blood sugar level increases the amount of urine and increased fluid loss which can consequently result in kidney problems. When a high amount of glucose is absorbed, it can cause blurred vision and retinal damage which can in turn lead to blindness. Another common sign of diabetes is nausea, vomiting and abnormal abdominal pain.

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    Dec 4, 2010 @ 9:20 pm | delete
    My grandpa died of heart failure a year ago. He was diabetic and already sick but he was taking that drug Avandia, that I'm pretty sure played a role in his heart's deterioration.

    DON'T TAKE AVANDIA!

Type 2 Diabetes

This is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all sufferers. Caused when the body becomes resistant or insensitive to insulin, this type of diabetes can prove difficult to manage. When this resistance develops, the body is unable to control blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, which can lead to a number of other problems such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage and retinal damage. Type 2 can be recognized by an abnormal increased insulin level and is most commonly associated with obesity. As there is no current medical cure for diabetes, patients are forced to inherit diet habits that may have to be implemented for the remainder of their lives. An important remedy is a type of medication that reduces glucose levels in the blood which will diminish the effects of hypoglycemia; making patients more energetic. Patients are also advised to decrease carbohydrate intake and increase physical activity in order to lose weight.

Managing and Preventing

The most that diabetes patients can do is suppress the disease and managed it through a number of lifestyle changes. It is advised to eat healthy and exercise regularly in order to maintain a healthy weight. Patients are also required to monitor and maintain blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. There are a number of medicinal remedies available that will lower both blood sugar and cholesterol levels to a healthy state, reduces all the effects that diabetes inflicts on the body.

Useful website

The following link will take you to a website devoted to controlling blood sugar levels.
How To Control Blood Sugar
This website has helped many diabetics.

Some Useful Information and Products

Armed with information and good quality products will help you Manage

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Chanetsa

My interest is learning about Diabetes and ways to control blood sugar levels.

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