Diabetes is a common health issue worldwide; it often affects seniors or overweight individuals. And yet, not everyone knows the ins and outs of diabetes. This post clarifies the symptoms and causes of diabetes; we will also cover how to prevent the disease or treat it for those who have it.
Let’s begin.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, also called diabetes, is a metabolic condition that raises blood sugar levels. When you have diabetes, your body can’t use the insulin it does make or doesn’t produce enough of it. Insulin is a hormone that transports sugar from the blood into your cells, where it can be stored or utilized as fuel.
Diabetes-related high blood sugar left untreated can harm your kidneys, nerves, eyes, and other organs.
There are several varieties of diabetes.
Diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune condition. The immune system targets and kills insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Uncertainty surrounds the attack’s origin. This kind is seen in about 10% of diabetic patients.
When your body grows resistant to insulin, and blood sugar levels rise, type 2 diabetes develops.
You have prediabetes when your blood sugar level is over average but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is elevated blood sugar only among pregnant women. This form of diabetes is brought on by substances the placenta secretes block insulin.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Diabetes’s typical signs and symptoms include:
- Increased appetite
- Heightened thirst
- Slim down
- Excessive urination
- Hazy vision
- Extreme exhaustion
- Not-healing wounds
Men with diabetes may experience diminished sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and weak muscles, in addition to the typical symptoms of diabetes. Yeast infections, dry, itchy skin, and urinary tract infections are among the signs that women with diabetes may have.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can include:
- Severe hunger
- Heightened thirst
- Unintended loss of weight
- Excessive urination
- Hazy vision
- Tiredness
It might also cause unreasonable shifts in mood.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes symptoms can include:
- Increased appetite
- Heightened thirst
- More frequent urination
- Hazy vision
- Tiredness
- Taking a long time to heal sores
Moreover, it might lead to recurrent infections. This is because high glucose levels hinder the body’s ability to mend.
Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
The majority of pregnant women with gestational diabetes show no symptoms. However, usually conducted between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation, routine oral glucose tolerance or blood sugar test frequently reveals the problem. A woman with gestational diabetes may, in infrequent circumstances, also feel increased thirst or urination.
Causes of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes has an unknown specific cause, according to doctors. The immune system wrongly targets and kills insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas for unknown reasons. Some people may be affected by their genes. Another possibility is that a pathogen triggers the immune system’s onslaught.
Type 2 Diabetes Causes
The cause of type 2 diabetes is a result of both hereditary and environmental factors. Your risk is further increased if you are overweight or obese. This is because the effects of insulin on your blood sugar are resisted by your cells more when you are overweight, especially in the abdomen. Families may become prone to this condition. Family members have genes that increase their risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Gestational Diabetes Causes
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy lead to gestational diabetes. The placenta secretes hormones that reduce the sensitivity of a pregnant woman’s cells to the effects of insulin. Pregnancy-related elevated blood sugar can result from this. Gestational diabetes is more likely to affect overweight women before becoming pregnant or who put on too much weight while pregnant.
Diabetes Prevention
Diet is the only practical means of preventing diabetes. Unfortunately, the disease may be hereditary; there’s nothing we can do on that front. If you want to avoid diabetes, you have to focus on eating healthily. The meals you eat determine whether your blood sugar level rises or lowers. Starchy or sugary foods cause a sharp spike in blood sugar levels. Increases in protein and fat happen more gradually.
Consult a dietician to assist you in creating a diabetes food plan. Maintaining a healthy protein, fat, and carbohydrate balance will help you manage your blood sugar. Here are a few practical tips to help you prevent diabetes:
- Get 150 minutes or more of cardiovascular activity each week by cycling or walking.
- Eliminate refined carbs and saturated and trans fats from your diet.
- Consume more whole grains, fruits, and veggies.
- Consume smaller amounts.
- If you are overweight or obese, try to shed 7% of your body weight.
Diabetes Treatments
The primary treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin. It takes the place of the hormone that your body cannot make. The most widely used insulin comes in four different varieties. Their differences include how quickly they begin to work and how long it takes for their effects to wear off:
- Within 15 minutes, rapid-acting insulin begins to function, and its effects last for three to four
hours.
- Insulin with a short half-life begins to operate within 30 minutes and lasts 6 to 8 hours.
- Insulin with an intermediate half-life begins to operate in 1 to 2 hours and lasts 12 to 18 hours.
- After being injected, long-acting insulin works and lasts for at least 24 hours.
Some persons with type 2 and gestational diabetes can manage it with diet and exercise. However, you’ll need to take medicine if changing your lifestyle isn’t enough to lower your blood sugar levels.
Infinite Love Homecare Fights Against Diabetes
Infinite Love Homecare offers several services that can help you fight diabetes. Our services that can help you deal with diabetes include meal preparation, medication reminders, diagnosis-specific care, hospice care, specialized care, and, of course, diabetic care.
Seniors living with diabetes need help, and Infinite Love Homecare provides that help. For a free consultation for elderly home care, contact Infinite Love Homecare by phone at (949)-529-4130. Our address is City Tower, 333 City Blvd, West Suite 1700, Orange, CA 92868.