Diabetes has its roots dating back to the first century. It was discovered when a prominent Egyptian physician started complaining of frequent urination and noticed changes in his health. Fast forward to today, more than 422 million people are currently suffering from the devastating disease. To get an overview of the disease, here’s a quick walk through into the details of diabetes, its symptoms and treatments.
1. What is Diabetes?
Also known as ‘The Sweet Disease’, diabetes is a serious medical condition in which body experiences complications in blood sugar levels. Though it is incurable as for now, a diabetic can absolutely enjoy a normal life by understanding how to manage it. However, if not brought under control, diabetes can be fatal. In other words, it is indeed a sweet disease that kills the body slowly.
2. Types of Diabetes
• Type-1 Diabetes
It occurs when immune system starts dis-functioning and kills the pancreatic beta cells that are responsible for producing insulin. Due to this lack of insulin, blood sugar starts accumulating in the bloodstream and becomes a reason to various cardiovascular diseases.
• Type-2 Diabetes
Also known as insulin resistance, Type-2 diabetes builds up when cells starts developing resistance against insulin released by the pancreas. Due to this, the glucose doesn’t get absorbed in the blood hence, leading to clogging the bloodstream over time.
• Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women usually in the 24th or 25th week of the month. However, it goes away after the baby is born, sometimes soon after.
3. Who’s At Risk?
Overweight, excessive urination, sweet smelling urine, high cholesterol; there’s no fixed criteria who is at the risk of diabetes.
4. Early Signs & Symptoms
Sometimes, there’s not even a symptom before the onset of disease. While sometimes, it is absolutely clear. It all depends from case to case. Following are a few symptoms common in diagnosis of diabetes.
• Hunger without Energy
Due to lack of insulin or insulin resistance, since glucose is not absorbed by the cells properly, the body feels more hunger without actually getting any energy from the food it eats.
• Thirst & Urination
While getting absorbed by the kidneys, high blood sugar results in repetitive cycle of urination ultimately leading to more and more thirst.
• Dryness
When all the moisture comes out in form of urine, there remains lesser water for nourishment of skin and other body tissues. This results in a dry skin.
• Blurring Eyesight
Due to lack of ample fluids, the lenses of eyes start swelling up leading to blurriness in vision.
5. Causes
While there are no fixed causes of any type of diabetes, following factors might be responsible in most of the cases.
• Obesity
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Decreasing ability of immune system to fight toxins in various foods
• Genetic or hereditary factors
6. Food & Lifestyle
When it comes to the do’s and don’ts of controlling or preventing diabetes, diet comes first. Indulge in a regular exercise routine, eat natural foods and cut off processed or packaged foods from your diet. Plus take ample sleep and no mental stress.