Understanding and Managing the Signs of Diabetes

Introduction

You live with or a family member or friend who is living with Diabetes. You are familiar with the constant monitoring, testing and care required. You are ready to share your expertise, knowledge and support on how to treat this condition.

with Diabetes, it's not just diabetes. It's heart disease and stroke that are the biggest killers of people with Type 2 diabetes. The good news is that most people can control their blood sugar levels with diet, exercise and medicine.

People with diabetes are often told to eat healthfully, exercise and lose weight. There may be other factors that contribute to diabetes, such as obesity, a family history of diabetes and stress. But does diet make your blood sugar levels go up or down? The truth is that not all foods cause spikes in blood sugar levels. In fact, some byproducts from food can help slow the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream and improve blood sugar control. Here are a few tips that can help manage your blood sugar levels while eating normally.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or does not work properly. The condition can be controlled with medication and diet changes, but also may require medication in order to manage blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is a condition that affects the way your body handles sugar, or glucose. It’s called type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, if you don’t make or use enough insulin in your body.

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a common, life-threatening disease that affects the way your body uses energy. It can lead to serious health problems, including damage to your eyes, kidneys and nerves. There are several types of diabetes. Type 1/juvenile onset diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks its own insulin-making cells in the pancreas. Type 2/adult onset diabetes is caused when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or use it properly for energy. If left untreated, type 2 diabetes can progress to heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the modern developed world. It is estimated that in underdeveloped countries nearly 100 million people have diabetes, with an additional 80 million at risk (World Health Organization). In the United States alone, around 11 million people are living with diabetes; this figure increases every year by about seven percent (Diabetes Statistics—USPTF). Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include excessive thirst and urination, weight loss and fatigue, stomach pain and weight loss, inability to heal wounds and fainting spells.