When there is a plate full of sweets in front of you and you can’t stretch your hand to get it, there can be two reasons. Either you are watching your weight, or you have diabetes. If it is the latter, we understand the pain. We can imagine how difficult it must be to keep yourself from devouring your favourite delicacies because you don’t want to put your health at risk.
You are not alone in this battle of fighting diabetes. There are 101 million people in India suffering from diabetes. The good news is, diabetes can be managed. We will be getting to that, but before, let’s discuss the basics, shall we?
What is diabetes and how is it caused?
Diabetes happens when your body produces excess glucose. This usually occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient insulin. To make it simpler, you can consider glucose as the fuel your body cells require and insulin as the fuel line that carries glucose to the cells. Without insulin, the glucose keeps on building up in the bloodstream; it doesn’t reach the cells as it should.
If it is left untreated, or should we say the high sugar is not managed, it can lead to severe health consequences.
Here are a few symptoms you need to look for as they might point to diabetes:
- Unusual thirst
- Sweating
- Frequent urination
- Lethargy or lack of energy
- Bruises or cuts healing slowly
- Blurred vision
What else to know?
There are 3 types of diabetes, namely Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, Pre-diabetes and Gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces little to no insulin. The condition usually occurs in children, teenagers and young adults. In such a condition, taking insulin drip is advised.
Type 2 diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body fails to utilise insulin efficiently. Consequently, glucose levels rise. It is one of the most commonly found types of diabetes and is mostly found in adults. However, children and teenagers can also have it. Regular testing of sugar is crucial as the symptoms don’t usually show.
Pre-diabetes:
This occurs when the blood sugar is higher than usual, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. You can consider it the first stage of Type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t usually have apparent symptoms.
Gestational diabetes:
This type of diabetes is found in pregnant women. It usually disappears after pregnancy but can develop later in life.
Helpful tips to manage diabetes
Diabetes is a serious health condition that can give rise to a number of complications. Here are a few tips you can use to manage diabetes:
Exercise
Why exercise? Because it is your body’s best friend. Exercising regularly can add a lot of perks to your pocket, including helping you manage diabetes. Wondering how? Exercising can facilitate weight loss and increase insulin sensitivity. This means that your body begins to use glucose more efficiently. Muscles, for one, start using blood sugar to produce energy.
Reduce carb intake
Your carb levels have a significant impact on your blood sugar levels as your body breaks down carbs into sugar to use for energy. Blood sugar levels rise when you eat excess carbs or suffer from insulin function problems. Hence, controlling carb intake can help with controlling blood sugar levels; a low-carb diet can reduce blood sugar levels and prevent spikes.
Quit smoking
Here is a gentle reminder for you, smoking is your worst enemy. It cannot only increase the risk of developing cancer but chances of heart disease. It is even worse for diabetic patients as it can spike blood sugar levels. As insulin allows blood sugar to enter cells, nicotine can change cells so they don’t respond to insulin, ultimately increasing blood sugar levels.
Keep monitoring blood sugar
Measuring blood sugar is not a one-time thing but it is highly imperative to monitor it regularly. If you don’t know your blood sugar is high, how will you control it? Moreover, the effectiveness of medicines can only be evaluated by measuring blood sugar.
Closing thoughts
The multifaceted issue of diabetes in India demands a comprehensive and concerted effort toward demystification and effective management. By demystifying diabetes and fostering a culture of understanding, prevention, and support, India can hope to effectively address the sugar challenge and pave the way for a healthier future for its citizens.
