Diabetes

Tips for dealing with diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as just diabetes, is a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to remove sugar from the bloodstream. Type I diabetes typically occurs in children and young people, which has lead to its name of juvenile onset diabetes. The pancreas simply halts insulin production. It’s believed to be an autoimmune disorder, caused by the immune system attacking insulin-producing cells and destroying them. Those who develop Type I diabetes will need to follow a diabetes diet and require insulin injections for their lifetime to manage the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is highly preventable and usually occurs in adults; those over 50 are at a greater risk because of the cumulative effects of aging, poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity. Typically, the pancreas has been forced to produce such large amounts of insulin to counteract the high sugar content of a poor diet, that it can no longer keep up with the body’s need. A diabetes diet low in sugar and starch but rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes lean dairy and lean meat is the best way to prevent diabetes, as is exercise and maintaining a healthy weight – also made easier by that good, nutritious diet.

Diabetes Symptoms

The chief diabetes symptoms to watch for are increased thirst, frequent urination (more than is called for by how much you’re drinking, usually) and increased appetite. This comes on quickly in cases of juvenile diabetes, though the symptoms usually appear gradually over a prolonged period of time for those with type 2 diabetes. Weight loss and fatigue are also often signs of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Care

When diagnosed with diabetes, the first thing you should do is re-evaluate your diet. The same healthy diabetes diet that can prevent diabetes is excellent for managing the disease. You’ll want to apply diabetes care tips to your skin care regime, making sure that your hands and feet, especially, don’t develop ulcers or sores. Treat any small cuts or cracks in the skin right away to prevent them from becoming problems. Diabetes care stresses the skin, because people with diabetes don’t heal quickly and the skin tends to break down faster.

Whether you’re borderline diabetic and on oral medication or on insulin injection, use good diabetes care techniques and check your blood sugar often to make sure your diet is working to manage the disease.