As per stats, type 2 diabetes affects 88 million American adults. Moreover, National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020 reveals that 34.2 million people in the United States have diabetes. This makes about one-third of the country. Due to this alarming increase, healthcare professionals are really concerned about this increasing harmful American health trend.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it. The food you intake is broken down into sugar (glucose) and used by the body. Insulin helps the cell to use this blood sugar for energy.
When the required insulin is not produced, the blood’s sugar levels increase significantly, and this condition is known as diabetes. With time, diabetes can cause heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
Types of diabetes?
There are three main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes (during pregnancy)
Pre-diabetes is a condition when the blood sugar levels are more than the normal value but not high enough as in diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age but most commonly in children and adults. Type 2 diabetes is more common and can develop in any age group, but it is more common in those older than 40 years.
Symptoms of Diabetes
You should go for a diabetes test if you have the following symptoms:
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Frequent urination
- Sudden weight loss
- Fatigue
- Vision issues
- Ketones in urine
Causes of Diabetes
All three types of diabetes are caused due to different causes.
Type 1 diabetes causes
The exact cause of this type is not known. It is believed that the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells and destroys them. Due to the absence or less amount of insulin, the person develops diabetes.
Genetic and environmental factors are responsible for this type. Obesity is not a factor for Type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 and pre-diabetes causes
Pre-diabetes leads to Type 2 diabetes. In this type, the body cells develop resistance against insulin. The cells can’t utilize insulin, and excessive sugar starts accumulating in the bloodstream.
It is believed that environmental and genetic factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a significant factor for this type but not individuals having diabetes type 2 are obese.
Gestational diabetes causes
The hormones produced during pregnancy build resistance in your cells against insulin. Mostly, the pancreas produces enough insulin to overcome this resistance. But when the amount is less, diabetes can occur.
Prevent the complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes at home
Testing your blood sugar levels at home is vital as your diabetic care plan. You can prevent many complications by early diagnosis of diabetes. For checking sugar levels regularly at home, you can use a blood sugar meter (also known as a glucometer) or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). It requires only a small amount of blood sample that you can take from your fingertip.
You can check your sugar levels at home at the following times:
- When you wake up
- Before eating anything
- After eating
- Before sleeping
Go for medical testing for more accurate results
If your self-testing gives your abnormal sugar values, then consult your doctor immediately. Get the medical test to confirm your diabetes status. Your doctor will recommend your A1C test. This simple blood test measures your blood sugar levels from the last 2-3 months.
After diagnosis, your doctor can suggest medication depending upon your age, health conditions, and other medications that you’re using.
Ways to prevent diabetes naturally
In 2017 report of CDC, diabetes was one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is also reported that the costs of diabetes treatment have increased from 2012 to 2017.
To prevent complications and financial costs, you must acknowledge the importance of prevention. Following are some of the natural ways you can prevent diabetes:
- Reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates in your diet
- Exercise regularly for maintaining an ideal weight
- Avoid smoking
- Eat fiber-rich foods
- Reduce the number of processed foods in your diet
- Make an active lifestyle routine.
