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Diabetes

by Alivia Nyhan

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body regulates blood sugar. Diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can damage your kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke, and other problems.

Diabetes types

1 and 2 are characterized by high blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t properly use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body’s cells use glucose for energy.

There are a number of different treatments for diabetes, including insulin therapy, oral medications, and lifestyle changes. Insulin therapy is the most common treatment for type 1 diabetes, and it involves injecting insulin into the body on a regular basis.

Symptoms of diabetes

Symptoms can be very mild and go unnoticed. However, if left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor right away:

• frequent urination
• extreme thirst
• unexplained weight loss
• fatigue
• blurred vision
• cuts or bruises that heal slowly
• tingling or numbness in your hands or feet

If you have diabetes, you can lower your risk of serious health complications by managing your blood sugar levels and taking other measures to stay healthy.

Causes of diabetes

Causes of diabetes can be due to genetic and environmental factors. Type 1 diabetes, usually diagnosed in childhood, is caused by the body’s inability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the more common form of the disease, is caused by a combination of insulin resistance and a relative insulin deficiency. gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. There are many different diabetes diets for type 2 diabetes, and each person may have different eating patterns that work for them. It’s important to work with a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator to create an individualized diabetes diet plan.

Some studies seem to suggest that there is a genetic component to diabetes, while other studies are not so conclusive. The bottom line is that more research is needed in this area before a definitive answer can be given.

Some issues you may see while having diabetes:

Dry mouth from diabetes: Dry mouth from diabetes can be a serious problem. When you don’t have enough saliva, it can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Plus, it’s just plain uncomfortable.

Acute and chronic complications: Acute and chronic complications are common in diabetes. They can result in hospitalization and even death. The most common complications include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, and blindness.

Glycosylated hemoglobin: This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. It measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

Prediabetes: Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. If you have prediabetes, you are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, as well as other serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

Diet for prediabetes: Diet for prediabetes focuses on eating healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Healthy fats like olive oil and fish are also part of the diet.

Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.

Foods for diabetics

Recommended foods for diabetics include complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and whole wheat bread, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods high in fiber help regulate blood sugar levels, while protein and healthy fats help maintain a feeling of fullness.

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