What is Diabetes? Get the Facts
Diabetes is a condition wherein there are high blood sugar levels (BSL). Usually, when you eat, your body extracts glucose/sugar from food. That glucose is released into your bloodstream. The same is utilized by your body to carry out various physical activities and other processes like heartbeat, breathing, etc. The remaining/unutilized glucose gets deposited in your body in the form of glycogen. This adds to your body weight. These processes are facilitated by a hormone called Insulin.
Diabetes is a condition wherein the body does not follow the above processes. Sugar that’s released into your blood is not absorbed well by the body. Thus sugar is not utilized, though available, for carrying out regular functions. Leading to fatigue/excessive tiredness which is one of the symptoms of diabetes. Excess blood sugar in the blood stream is also not converted to glycogen (glycogen serves as the energy storage in animals). This failure results in high BSL which is typical of Diabetes.
What are the Types of Diabetes?
There are two types of Diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1
It is a rare form of Diabetes. Since it occurs more in children and teenagers, it is sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes. Here, no Insulin is produced. Hence, there is a need to inject insulin (Insulin-dependent diabetes). The cells fail to absorb glucose which is necessary to produce energy. It is found only in 5 to 10 of 100 individuals who have diabetes.
Type 2
Here, either there’s an insufficient insulin production by the body or the body is not responding well to available insulin or both. This is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes. 90 to 95 percent of individuals living with diabetes fall under this type 2 category. Unlike Type 1 diabetes which cannot be prevented, this type of diabetes can be controlled well with a healthy diet, exercise, and oral medicines.
When you exercise, your body needs glucose. If glucose is not readily available in your blood, your body uses the stored one (glycogen). The amount of sugar that’s needed by the body is released from glycogen. This process helps you shed excess pounds. Secondly, exercise also improves insulin sensitivity of your body.
14 Facts About Diabetes
1. Is diabetes a serious disease?
Diabetes is considered as a common lifestyle disease in our society which is not a consequential one. In fact, diabetes is a very serious disease. It leads to many complications and accounts to more deaths than breast cancer and HIV put together!
The number of people affected by diabetes is also increasing rapidly. Currently, 1 in 11 adults has diabetes. The good news is that a well-controlled diabetes reduces the chance of complications.
2. Is overweight a reason for diabetes?
Weight does not play a vital role in diabetes. Being overweight increases the chance of diabetes, but it’s not the whole and sole reason for diabetes. Though few overweight people get diabetes, most of the people whom diabetes affects fall in the normal weight or slightly overweight range.
3. Should you keep losing weight to control diabetes?
No. Though losing weight improves diabetes. Losing 7% of your weight brings in great improvements. However, If you are losing weight because of diabetes and want to gain weight you should contact a nutritionist.
4. Do diabetics need to follow a special diet?
No. A Healthy diet that’s good for all also applies to diabetics!
5. Is diabetes caused by eating too much sugar?
No. Most probable causes of diabetes are genetics/hereditary, racial factors, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Certain races and families are more susceptible to diabetes than others. Unhealthy diet, low physical work, and stress are some of the unhealthy habits that could cause diabetes.
6. Can diabetics eat healthy foods as much as they want?
No. A healthy diet such as fruits and vegetables also increase BSL. Calories should be counted! Follow your physician’s dietary guidelines.
7. Can diabetics eat sweets?
Yes! Diabetics can eat sweets, but it should be within the calorie count. Any high-calorie food will increase sugar levels, and not just sweets. If you can follow sweets with sufficient exercise, it won’t harm you. Sweets alone are not responsible for increasing the calorie level, excessive intake of carbohydrates too have a role in it.
8. Is physical activity safe for diabetics?
Physical activity is not only safe but also essential for diabetics. It improves your BSL and also minimizes complications. Any sorts of physical activity are necessary to burn the excess calorie which is not required for the body.
9. Is diabetes contagious?
No. Diabetes may run in a family/blood relative but it does not have contagious elements like cold or flu, which pass from one person to another. It is not a bacterial or viral disease.
10. Gestational diabetes during pregnancy, is it serious?
Yes. That is serious and needs attention! Though gestational diabetes disappears after childbirth, it puts both the mother and baby at a higher risk of developing diabetes in later life. Complications of pregnancy are seen in mothers with gestational diabetes.
11. I followed the treatment plan of diabetes strictly but was still advised to take insulin. Did I fail to take enough care?
No. Even if you are judicious with your treatment plan, your sugar levels can rise. In such cases, your doctor may advise insulin.
12. Do all diabetics sense hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia/low blood sugar levels are more dangerous than hyperglycemia/high blood sugar levels. Some diabetics don’t sense hypoglycemia and that can put them at a higher risk. Too much Insulin, hefty exercise, and lack of adequate food can lead to hypoglycemia.
13. Can diabetics get tattoos?
Yes, as long as diabetes is controlled you can get tattoos.
14. Does absence of symptoms mean sugar under control?
No. Sugar levels need to be really high for the symptoms to manifest. By the time symptoms manifest, then diabetes will have already caused complications.
The only way to know if you have diabetes is to check your BSL. If you fall in the high-risk category, remember to check your BSL regularly. Blood Sugar monitoring at regular intervals is necessary to keep the sugar proportion at an optimal level.
The cases of diabetes are perpetually increasing and it needs to be put in check. Children today are being diagnosed with diabetes, which causes their avenues to be limited. We need proper check-ups and also proper awareness as to how and why a person might be affected by diabetes.
