Diabetes, Its Symptoms, Causes and Ways to Control

Diabetes, Its Symptoms, Causes and Ways to Control

You or someone you know may have been diagnosed with diabetes this article will inform you what it is and why it's important to keep it under control.

Diabetes and Its Symptoms

People can have different symptoms with diabetes. Common symptoms include feeling very hungry, feeling very thirsty, urinating often, fatigue, blurry vision and slow healing of wounds.  People with type 1 diabetes may also feel weight loss. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop suddenly. They may make a person feel very ill. On the other hand, symptoms of type 2 diabetes usually grow slowly. They may be mild enough, so, it is hard to notice them. Some people have no symptoms. If your high blood sugar level isn't treated, life-threatening complications can result. For example, you can become severely ill with a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.  It's most common in people with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes and It Causes

Diabetes happens because you have little or no insulin in your blood. Your cells can't obtain the sugar they need for energy.  As a result, your body turns to fats and proteins for energy. As your body breaks down the fats certain substances known as ketone bodies build up in your blood. This results in a condition called ketosis. If ketones build-up to dangerously high levels in your blood, you may develop diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA. This may result in coma or death. If your blood sugar level drops too low you may experience a serious complication of diabetes called hypoglycemia.

A common way this can happen is by taking too much diabetic medication or not eating too much insulin or oral diabetic medication can cause too much sugar to go into your cells. Then your blood sugar level drops down too low. Certain organs such as the brain need a constant energy supply to work properly because the brain's main source of energy is sugar. It's the first organ affected by lower sugar levels. When your brain cells called neurons don't get enough sugar they start to malfunction. Symptoms such as nervousness shakiness and confusion can result. If your blood sugar keeps dropping your brain does not have enough energy to work properly. This can result in seizures or diabetic coma. If your blood sugar level remains high over time long-term health problems can occur. They include heart and blood vessel disease. Stroke, blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease and amputation of a foot or leg.

Diabetes and Ways to Control It

If you have questions about diabetes or the medications for it speak with your doctor. It is important to take your medications as directed by your doctor. Tell him or her about any side-effects you have.

To control diabetes, you should exercise daily. Exercise not only reduces your stress, but it also helps in controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You should exercise for half an hour at least five days a week.

You should regularly check your blood sugar level at least twice a day and keep in mind whether it is at the normal level as indicated by your doctor. Also, do not forget to write after recording the blood pressure, you will be able to understand that when the pressure is increasing or decreasing.

Your carbohydrates should be trekked. Always remember that the quantity and time for their consumption. If you do this, then your blood sugar level will be under control. Also, eat foods that have high fiber content, such as green vegetables, fruits, beans, etc.

Your diet has a significant role during the treatment of diabetes. Diet should be taken either with insulin injection or with combination of hypoglycemic drugs. You should avoid eating too much carbohydrates.