How to Control Blood Sugar Levels To Fight Diabetes

It’s very hard to avoid sugar intake. Sugar boosts our energy temporarily, but as always, too much of anything will always be bad. Too much sugar can cause stress on the glands and organs that takes charge in regulating the body’s blood sugar level. Diabetes is a disease associated with high blood sugar levels. This condition is caused by lack of insulin in the body. Another possibility is when cells become immune and no longer responds to insulin. It can also be caused by the kind of lifestyle a person has or because of genetics. Literally speaking, to avoid diabetes, the person with this condition should control his or her blood sugar level.

Since diabetes is caused by high sugar level in the blood, controlling the amount and its presence in the body can prevent or minimize the risk of diabetes. High blood sugar level can be reduced by either taking medicines or eating the right food. However, there are cases where you need to do both. Food with high soluble fiber content can slow down the absorption and digestion process of carbohydrates in the body. It strengthens the cells’ sensitivity to the presence of insulin and helps the liver’s capability to use glucose in maintaining the right blood sugar level. Powdered fiber stirred with water can also help if you drink this mixture twice before meals. Husks of psyllium seeds are good alternative supplements for fiber. Protein supplements can also help in stabilizing blood glucose level in the body.

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Diabetes – Facts and Statistics

What is it?

Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot properly produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone
that turns the foods you eat into energy. If your body cannot turn food into energy, not only
will your cells be starved for energy, you will also build up glucose (sugar) in your blood.
This will lead you to have “high blood glucose levels.” Over years, the high blood glucose
level can damage major organs like your heart, eyes, and kidneys.

Statistics:

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 18.2 million people in
the United States with Diabetes. That’s 6.3% of the population.

Diabetes is found in both men and women over the age of 20. About one-third of Diabetics do not know that they have it.
African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to have diabetes than Whites.
Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes than Whites.

Type 1 is most often found in children, with the peak incidence at puberty.
Type 2 is generally found in adults, however an alarmingly growing number of children are now
diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. One of the main causes is overweight.

Types:

  1. Type 1 Diabetes is caused by a total lack of insulin that, in turn, produces high blood glucose levels. Type 1 is most often is seen in children, but can develop in adults. If you have Type 1, your health care provider might recommend scheduled, nutritious meals, exercise, medication, and frequent blood sugar level tests.
  2. Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot properly use insulin. This is the most common type. The treatment may be similar to Type 1.
  3. Pre Diabetes or Borderline Diabetes may occur before a Type 2 diagnosis. Blood glucose levels will be higher than normal. Good nutrition and exercise may be recommended by your health care provider as treatment for pre diabetes. Even a slightly high blood sugar level is insidious and could affect major organs over time.
  4. Gestational Diabetes occurs in pregnant women that have high blood glucose levels. This type of Diabetes can harm both Mother and baby. If you have Gestational Diabetes, your health care provider may prescribe meal plans, exercise, daily testing and medicine.

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Child Diabetes – Know More About It

The inability of the pancreas to produce insulin is 85% of the cause of child diabetes. It is not a common disease but over the last 30 years research has shown that the number of cases of child diabetes increased a three-fold. This type of diabetes is also known as the Type 1 diabetes. It is classified as an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition that occurs in our body wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissues. Children who have child diabetes have insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that are destroyed. Similarly with adults etiology of this disease is uncertain, it may probably be the combination of both the environment and the genes. Symptoms of child diabetes may include thirst, weight loss, tiredness, and frequent urination.

There could also be visible signs of tummy pains, headaches and behavioral problems. Kids with diabetes tend to be irritable. If these signs are visible with your child right now, seek doctor’s advice immediately. If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, he needs a specialist in childhood diabetes. Diabetes in children needs special supervision and care. They may need an insulin treatment which is done under the clock. Insulin is a naturally-occurring hormone secreted by the pancreas. Insulin is required by the cells of the body in order for them to remove and use glucose from the blood.

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