Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people. Are you concerned that you are at risk of developing diabetes? If so, it pays to know the symptoms to determine if further investigation is required. Heredity plays a major factor in the development of Diabetes. The good news is that Diabetes can be prevented and in some instances even reversed.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or does not use insulin properly. Normally, the food you eat is digested and broken down to a simple sugar known as glucose. The glucose then circulates in your blood before entering your cells to be used as fuel. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps to transport the glucose into cells. With Diabetes, this sugar or glucose, is unable to pass into your cells resulting in too much sugar circulating in your bloodstream which deprives your cells of fuel and leaves you feeling tired.
There are two different types of diabetes.
Type I Diabetes (juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes): The reason for type I diabetes is due to pancreas inability to produce insulin.
Type II Diabetes (non insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes): This diabetes is a result of body tissues becoming resistant to insulin. It is usually hereditary.
If neglected, diabetes can have serious complications. This is why Diabetes control is so important. You do this by monitoring your blood sugar levels and keeping them in an acceptable range.
The most common symptoms of Diabetes are as follow:
- frequent thirst
- frequent urination
- excessive hunger
- excessive tiredness and fatigue
Some of the complications of Diabetes are:
- vision changes
- recurring skin infections
- kidney damage - wounds that won't heal
- tingling or numbness in the extremities
- gum disorders
- hair loss and more
Diabetes control is essential if you want to avoid it's many complications. Although Diabetes is a serious disease it can be brought under control by a proper diabetic diet along with exercise.
The American Diabetes Association recommends the following guidelines:
- resting blood sugar levels should be in the range of 70-130 mg/dl
- after a meal your blood sugar levels should be less than 180 mg/dl
- A1C less than 7.0%. Your A1C number measures your average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months.
- blood pressure reading around 130/80 mmHg.
- LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl
- HDL cholesterol greater than 40 mg/dl
- Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dl
Use your readings as a diagnostic tool to ensure that your Diabetes is under control. If your numbers are not where they should be, you may need to make dietary, exercise, and medication adjustments with the help of your health care professional. Make Diabetes control is within your control.
Debby Wier is an internet marketing specialist who also blogs and writes articles on a wide variety of topics. She believes that every individual should take an active role in their health care to ensure the highest quality of life.
Learn more at 123 Diabetes Health, a comprehensive site full of all sorts of diabetes information.
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