Diabetes
Did you know that more than 1 out of every 10 people in America suffer from diabetes? When left untreated, this can lead to a plethora of side effects including, but not limited to heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage, eye damage, and even poor wound healing.
All this sounds scary, but it doesn’t have to be! We compiled a guide help you deal with your diabetes.
What is insulin and what does it have to do with diabetes?
Diabetes is a broad classification used to describe our body’s ability to utilize a very important hormone- insulin. It is split into 2 categories: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Insulin is an important hormone that allows us to extract the nutrients from the sugars we eat and process them into usable energy. Think sweets, breads, rice, fruits, milk, etc. If it’s yummy, it likely uses insulin.
What is the difference between the 2 types of diabetes?
- In type 1 diabetes, you cannot produce any insulin. Usually you are born with this, but in some cases, you can develop this later in life
- In type 2 diabetes, your body becomes desensitized to insulin and it no longer works as well as before. This generally occurs later in life and is strongly influenced by your lifestyle choices.
How do I know I have diabetes?
Some of the common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Feeling thirsty and having to urinate more than usual
- Losing weight despite no lifestyle changes
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Slow wound healing
- Blurry vision
- Always getting skin or vaginal infections
How do you treat diabetes?
Treatment consists of a combination of lifestyle modifications and/or medications.
Lifestyle changes for diabetes can be summarized in 3 steps.
- Stay active- exercise helps sensitize our body to insulin and in turn process the sugars we intake
- Eat healthy- it’s important to not just control the sugar you intake, but also choose the right kind of sugars
- Maintain a healthy weight- excessive weight works to desensitize our body’s response to insulin. Losing just 10-20 lbs can have a drastic effect on diabetes
While lifestyle changes should generally be implemented, the choice to medicate is best determined by your doctor.
Do I have to cut out sugars entirely?
Great question! A proper diabetic diet controls not just the quantity, but also the quality of the sugars you eat. Everything is better in moderation but certain food are better than others. Avoid white bread, white rice, sweets, and soda, while intaking more fruits, vegetables, and nuts. For a complete guide on the best foods, please consult with your doctor.
How do I know what medications to take?
This is the tricky part. There are several classes of medications, each with their own mechanisms of action and side effects. There is no single best drug for everyone. Rather, treatment is best tailored to each individual.
What are the next steps?
