Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious disease that has impacted the lives of millions around the world. The mortality rate due to diabetes has risen 3% during 2000 to 2019, and is continuously on the rise, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The prevalence of diabetes is rising in low and middle income countries than in high-income countries. India is called as the ‘Diabetes capital of the world’ as it accounts for about 17% of total diabetes patients worldwide.
Diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening condition that causes problems with blood sugar levels. It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body in unable to use the insulin it produces. The insulin that is produced is helpful in maintaining normal blood glucose levels in the body that rises due to the breakdown of food.
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is a more severe form of diabetes that usually starts in childhood and can last a lifetime. Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common and severe form of diabetes that usually occurs in middle-aged to older people, but can also develop since childhood.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to major health complications such as blindness, heart disease, stroke, lower limb amputation, and renal failure.
From being unable to control your blood sugar levels to developing other diseases, diabetes can be a tough diagnosis to make. But with the right information, you can manage your condition and live an active life.
What are the types of diabetes?
There are three main types of diabetes:
Prediabetes – Prediabetes is where you have signs and symptoms of diabetes but do not yet have full-blown diabetes. This means that before you develop diabetes, you have higher than normal blood sugar levels.
Type 1 Diabetes – Also called as the juvenile diabetes is a condition where the diabetes is due to an autoimmune response to insulin. The cells of the body attacks itself by mistake, thus reducing the production of insulin. It is the most common form and usually occurs in children, teens aged 10 to 18 years old. Type 1 diabetes require regular administration of insulin via injection, called insulin shots for their survival.
Type 2 Diabetes – Diabetes Mellitus is a condition where the glucose levels in the blood, also called blood sugar, rise more than normal. Blood sugar is the primary source energy for the body which is absorbed into the cells with the help of Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas don’t make enough insulin or produces normal levels insulin hormone but is unable to use it to optimum capacity and hence is unable to keep the blood glucose levels under control. Type 2 DM is more common in adults over 70 years old.
Gestational Diabetes – Gestational Diabetes occurs during pregnancy in women who don’t have pre-existing diabetes. It occurs when the body is not able to produce enough insulin during and around pregnancy. During pregnancy, the uptake of insulin in the body is also limited that causes a condition called insulin resistance. When the body does not receive its required amount of insulin, it is unable to regulate blood sugar levels and ultimately leads to diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a rare condition that can cause type 1 or 2 Diabetes as well as other problems during pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes syptoms – The symptoms of type 1 diabetes include having low blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia), fatigue, blurry vision, frequent urination, dry mouth, crankiness, upset stomach, vomiting, fruity smell of breath, belly pain.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms – The symptoms of type 2 diabetes include having high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia), being thin, not eating well, and high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia), which can lead to problems such as fatigue, poor vision, nausea, vomiting, thirst, blurred vision, and muscle weakness; poor control over pes work or daily activities; and weight loss or changes in weight even after eating regular meals.
Other symptoms include being thirsty all the time or having trouble drinking water without becoming thirsty; feeling confused or anxious; experiencing severe joint pain; experiencing rapid heartbeat; being pale or having a blue colour around your skin; hearing voices inside your head; losing control over muscles; and developing Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.
What are the complications of diabetes?
Having type 1 or type 2 diabetes comes with health problems like:
- Becoming sicker
- Having to take medication for long periods of time
- Having trouble regulating blood sugar levels
- Developing heart disease or stroke
- Feeling exhausted after long days at work or school
- Becoming blind from diabetic blindness
- Hair loss
- Mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, early onset dementia, learning disabilities
- Cancer
- Pancreatitis (severely bad metabolic condition that infects the joints and bowel workout performance)
- Infertility, sexual dysfunction (inability to have an erection or defecation)
- Hearing loss
- Kidney stones
- Muscle spasms
- Arthritis
- Other problems that cannot be cured by medicine but can be managed with diet and exercise.
How to prevent diabetes?
There are a few things that one needs to do in order to prevent the disease and keep it under control. Managing diabetes includes taking diabetes medication in order to manage the blood sugar levels. In addition, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can help too. Finally, take health supplements to stay healthy.
One of the most important ways to prevent diabetes is by knowing what to eat. The best way to prevent diabetes is by having a diet that helps control the blood sugar levels.
To achieve this, make sure to eat foods that help control blood sugar levels, like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Eating more fibre – which helps in keeping the blood sugar in check – or aim for a daily protein intake high enough to support health without impacting the waistline. Use technology to help keep track of the blood sugar levels.
Supplementing with healthy vitamins and minerals can also help reduce the risk of developing diabetes in the future. Finally, get enough sleep to avoid major health problems later in life.
One such health supplement is AFD Shield.
AFD Pharma’s AFD Shield is the best antioxidant supplement consisting of strong antioxidant ingredients like CoQ10 that boosts immunity by reducing the inflammation caused by free radicals, viruses, and bacteria. CoQ10 plays role in promoting heart health, diabetic health, and managing hypertension.
AFD Shield also consists of a superfood, Spirulina that is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage.
Algal DHA present in AFD Shield is helpful in reducing the blood cholesterol levels, thus naturally maintaining a normal blood pressure.