One of the most common health issues of today’s world is diabetes. Many people live with it, and most don’t know why they have it. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot control the level of sugar in your blood, which is also called glucose. It can be harmful if the level of glucose increases in your body.
Living with diabetes can be difficult, but the good news is that there are many ways to prevent, control, and manage it with the right lifestyle. In this article, we will discuss the causes of diabetes, symptoms, and prevention in simple words.
Definition of diabetes
Diabetes happens when your body cannot make enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone in the body that helps remove sugar from the blood into the cells for energy.
When insulin is not working properly, sugar stays in the blood instead of going into the cells. This is the reason for high blood sugar, which leads to diabetes.
Types of diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
It happens when your body is not making insulin at all. This usually happens in children and youngsters; people who have this type of diabetes need insulin injections for a lifetime.
Type 2 diabetes
It happens when your body is making insulin but not using it properly. This is the most common type; this type of diabetes mostly happens in adults, but nowadays, children also get it due to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Gestational diabetes
It happens mostly in women during pregnancy. It usually goes away after delivery, but it increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later.
Causes of diabetes
Diabetes does not have one single reason. It usually develops due to the combination of genetics and an unhealthy lifestyle. Let’s have a look at the most common causes of diabetes.
Genetics
If your parents or grandparents have diabetes, the chance of getting it becomes high. This can happen mostly for type 2 diabetes.
Overweight and obesity
Insulin stops working when there is extra fat in your body. The risk increases for people who have fat around the stomach, that is, belly fat.
Less physical activity
People who do not move their bodies enough can develop diabetes. Due to a lack of physical activity, it becomes difficult for cells to use insulin. Sitting for a longer time also increases the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Poor eating habits
A diet that is high in sugar, processed food, fried items, and junk food increases the risk of diabetes. Below are the examples of the most risky food items that can cause diabetes.
- Surgery drinks
- White bread
- Fast food
- Sweets, chocolates
- Packaged snacks
- Stress
Another reason that can cause diabetes can be long-term stress, which affects the hormone level, increases cravings, and can also raise the blood sugar level.
Changes in hormones
Some hormonal problems, like PCOS, can increase insulin resistance in women. Such conditions can raise type 2 diabetes.
Age
People who are above 40 have more chances of having diabetes, but due to a poor and unhealthy lifestyle, people below 40 can also face this problem.
Symptoms of diabetes
Below are the signs that can diagnose diabetes. These signs are mild and can often be ignored.
Here are the common signs. Let us have a look.
Frequent urine
If you are visiting the washroom more often in a day or even at night, that means you might be suffering from diabetes.
Increased thirst
Your body loses water because of frequent urination. This causes constant thirst. This is another common symptom of diabetes.
Extreme tiredness and hunger
Your body feels weak and tired when sugar cannot enter the cell. When cells are not getting energy, you feel hungrier even after having a meal.
Sudden weight loss
If you are suffering from diabetes, your body starts burning fat and muscles to get energy. This is another common symptom of type 1 diabetes.
Weak vision
High blood sugar also affects your eyesight, causing temporary blurred vision.
Slow-healing wounds
When cuts and wounds take a longer time to heal, that means your body has poor blood circulation.
Frequent infections
Most people with diabetes get skin infections, fungal infections, and urinary infections more often.
Numbness in the hands and feet
Because of long-term high sugar levels, nerves can also be damaged. This can cause tingling and burning sensations.
Dark patches on the skin
Another symptom of diabetes is a dark patch around the neck, armpit, or groin.
Uncontrolled Diabetes
Diabetes can harm nearly every aspect of the body if it is not managed.
Among the main issues are:
- Heart conditions
- Damage to the kidneys
- Damage to the nerves
- blindness of the eyes
- ulcers on the feet
- A stroke
- Elevated blood pressure
- Low immunity
For this reason, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial.
How to prevent diabetes
Preventing diabetes is possible for many people, especially type 2 diabetes. A change in your lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk.
Here are simple and effective ways to prevent diabetes.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Losing some weight can lower the risk.
Common tips
- Eat a small portion
- Reduce oily and fried food.
- Choose healthy snacks
- Avoid junk
Adopt a balanced diet.
- A balanced diet can keep your blood sugar stable.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Have healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and olive oil.
- Avoid sugary drinks, white bread, and unhealthy snacks.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
Workout day
Physical activity is very important to prevent diabetes. At least aim to do 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
Here are simple exercises you can do daily.
- Walk 30 minutes daily.
- Cycling
- Yoga
- Home workouts
- Light jogging
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
Get proper sleep
Poor sleep can affect hormones that control hunger and sugar levels. As an adult, you should sleep 7 to 8 hours every night.
Frequent Check-Ups
Individuals who have risk factors or a family history should routinely check their blood sugar.
Among the tests are fasting blood sugar.
- The HbA1c test
- Sugar test at random
Better management is aided by early
