Your Home Health Care

Diabetes—is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin, or does not properly respond to insulin a hormone produced in the pancreas.

Insulin enables cells to absorb glucose in order to turn it into energy. Any disturbance in this causes glucose to accumulate in the blood (hyperglycemia), leading to various complications.

TYPES OF DIABETES:

1) Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is autoimmune disease. It is result of destruction of beta cells due to aggressive nature of cells present in the body.



2) Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is also called non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. It occurs when the body produces enough insulin but cannot utilize it effectively. This type of diabetes usually develops in middle age. more common among older; obese; have a family history of diabetes; have had gestational diabetes.

3) Gestational diabetes:

It is a form of diabetes which affects pregnant women. Hormones involved in development of placenta, also blocks the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. This is called insulin resistance. During pregnancy a mother may need up to three times more insulin for glucose to leave the blood and transform to energy. When body is not able to use insulin due to insulin resistance it develops into Gestational Diabetes. Glucose builds up in the blood to high level, it is called hyperglycemia.

Causes of Diabetes

• Hereditary or Inherited Traits : It depends upon closeness of blood relationship as mother is diabetic, the risk is 2 to 3%, father is diabetic, the risk is more than the previous case and if both the parents are diabetic, the child has much greater risk for diabetes.

• Age : Increased age is a factor which gives more possibility than in younger age.

• Poor Diet (Malnutrition Related Diabetes) : low protein and fiber intake, high intake of refined products are the expected reasons for developing diabetes.

• Obesity and Fat Distribution : Being overweight means increased insulin resistance.

• Sedentary Lifestyle

• Stress : physical injury or emotional disturbance is the initial cause of the disease..

• Drug induced: Clozapine, olanzapine , risperidone , quetiapine and ziprasidone induce this lethal disease.

• Infection : strephylococci that infects pancreas.

• Sex : commonly seen in elderly especially males but, strongly in women

• Hypertension : there is direct relation between high systolic pressure and diabetes.

• Serum lipids and lipoproteins : High triglyceride and cholesterol level in the blood is related to high blood sugars.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

Diabetes Type 1:

• Primary stage : nausea and vomiting.

• Later stage : ketoacidosis, fast weight loss

• Advanced stage : Coma and death.



Diabetes Type 2:

• Increased fatigue

• Polydipsia

• Polyuria

• Polyphegia

• Weight flactuation

• Blurry vision

• Irritability

• Infections

• Poor wound healing

Complications

• Diabetic retinopathy: pain in the eyes and may even result in loss of vision.

• Diabetic nephropathy: kidney disease shows symptoms of swelling (edema) in the feet and legs. blood pressure also increases.

• Diabetic neuropathy: Tingling, burning, numbness, tightness, shooting or stabbing pain in the hands, feet or other parts of body

• Diabetic foot: Any injury leads to gangrene if neglected

• Cardiac complaints: Chest pain ,shortness of breath, dizziness ,light headache, shoulder or stomach pain, fast heartbeat, heart attack or stroke

• Others: scanty or profuse sweating, difficulty of sensing when your bladder is full, increased sexual problems, weakness.

Prevention & management:

• Control weight to normal or near-normal levels by eating a healthy low-fat, high-fiber diet.

• Regular exercise is crucial to the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

• Keep alcohol consumption low.

• Quit smoking.

• If you have high blood fat levels (such as high cholesterol) or high blood pressure, take your medication as directed

• Lifestyle modification

• If you already have diabetes, your focus should be on preventing the complications

• Tight glucose control.

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Increase physical activity levels

• Drink an adequate amount of water and avoid taking too much salt.

• The skin should be taken care of; avoid sores and cracks that can become severely infected.

• Brush and floss the teeth every day to prevent gum disease.

• The feet should be washed and examined daily, looking for small cuts, sores, or blisters that may cause

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin (Type 1), or does not properly process the insulin it is making (Type 2).



There are many differing causes for diabetes, including specific viral infections, genetic predisposition, and personal diet. In particular, Type 2 diabetes tends to manifest in patients whose diet is poorly managed. Currently there is no known cure for diabetes, meaning this is an illness that requires constant careful management.



A diabetic’s diet has a great deal to say about how the condition will continue to affect them. Proper diet can help prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes, but even in patients who have been diagnosed with either condition, a healthy diet can reduce the side effects and secondary illnesses that tend to crop up. Here are five factors to consider when managing diabetes.



1 – the Glucose Cycle



The primary element that requires management in diabetic patients is their glucose cycle. Glucose (a simple sugar) is brought into the body, then processed by way of insulin and removed. Diabetics’ bodies cannot accomplish this second task properly, which leads to glucose buildup and the development of secondary illnesses such as kidney damage. This is why many diabetic patients have to monitor their blood sugar.



A healthy diabetic diet must take sugar and glucose intake into account. High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can cause kidney damage, retina damage, or even a diabetic coma and eventually death if left untreated long enough. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is equally dangerous, leading to potential brain damage or fainting spells.



Being able to properly control glucose intake requires understanding where it comes from. Not all carbohydrates have glucose in them: while sucrose sugars have a high glucose content, crystalline fructose does not. There are many resources on the Web that list comprehensive breakdowns of glucose content, and your dietician should have a primer or guide as well.



A very important part of this is record keeping. Similar to a dietary journal for weight loss, a simple glucose journal is no more than a list of the foods and portions you had throughout the day. Kept up for a month or more and compared to your blood sugar over time, this will allow you to track the contents of what you’re eating and measure their effects.



2 – Mushrooms, Mushrooms!



As we’ve discussed, keeping your blood sugar level in check is an important part of diabetes management. Interestingly, there are certain mushrooms that are noted for their ability to lower blood sugar levels. The three most common are the reishi, maitake, and the agaricus blazei varieties. If you enjoy adding mushrooms to your recipes, consider including these with the usual shitaki or canned variety.



3 – Water, Water Everywhere



Water is always a vital nutrient to the body, and is even more critical for diabetics. Water promotes healthy bodily function, flushes out toxins and accumulated wastes, and maintains body temperature properly. When your body has the proper amount of water intake, you feel better, operate more healthily, and your system can adapt to greater strains, which include those brought on by diabetes.



The general guideline is eight to twelve cups of water per day under average conditions. If you perform greater exercise, you will of course require more water. The trick is not to flood your system at any one time, such as just drinking during meals. Drink at a rate of a cup every two hours to keep your system operating at peak condition, with more during meals. A bonus effect is that water imparts a sense of fullness, reducing the urge to snack on glucose-heavy foods.



4 – Whole Grain, No Pain



Fiber is a very important element in controlling blood sugar. The soluble fiber found in whole grain foods is particularly beneficial, since it slows digestion and allows your system more time to even out the process of managing blood sugar. This means insulin management is much more effective, making management of your entire condition much easier.



Good sources of whole grains include breads, oat based foods, and other sources. An additional benefit from the slower digestion caused by whole grains is that you gain a sense of fullness and feel full longer. This reduces the urge to snack between meals, and lets you keep meal portions to more manageable sizes. So consider replacing the afternoon snack with a whole-grain sandwich.



5 – the Doctor’s Orders



Before making any changes whatsoever to your diet, it is vitally important that you speak at length with your physician and dietician about your specific case. Diabetes is a highly individual illness, manifesting in different ways in every patient. Any changes to your diet should be checked for approval with your doctor, so you can be sure you’re going to get the best possible results. You don’t have to go it alone, so take your physician’s advice to heart.



A Final Word



Diabetes is a serious condition requiring diligent care. However, making smart changes to your diet, under your physician’s guidance, may naturally help prevent or alleviate many side-effects and promote your wellbeing.