Diabetes Symptoms, Types of diabetes, Treatment Methods

Diabetes Symptoms, Types of diabetes, Treatment Methods:

What is diabetes? 

Diabetes, also called diabetes mellitus, is a disease where your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose is your body's main source of energy. Your body can produce glucose, but it also comes from the food you eat. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas. Insulin helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, where it can be used for energy. 

If you have diabetes, your body can't make insulin, can't use insulin properly, or both. Too much glucose stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. This can lead to high glucose levels. Over time, high blood glucose can cause serious health issues. However, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and try to prevent these health problems. 

What are the types of diabetes? 

There are different types of diabetes: 

• Type 1 diabetes. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body makes little or no insulin. It occurs when your immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. 

• Type 2 diabetes. This is the most common form of diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may still make insulin, but your cells don’t respond well to it. They can’t easily take up enough glucose from your blood. 

• Gestational diabetes. This type develops during pregnancy. It happens when your body can't produce the extra insulin it needs while pregnant. 

What causes diabetes? 

The different types of diabetes have different causes: 

• Researchers believe type 1 diabetes is caused by genes and environmental factors that might trigger the disease. 

• Type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors, including lifestyle choices and genes. Lifestyle choices include not being physically active and being overweight or obese. 

• Researchers think gestational diabetes is caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy, along with genetic and lifestyle factors.  

Who is more likely to develop diabetes? 

The different types of diabetes have different risk factors: 

• You can develop type 1 diabetes at any age, but it usually begins in childhood. If you have a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes, your chances of developing it may be higher.
• You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you: 
• Are overweight or have obesity. 
• Are over age 35. Though children, teenagers, and younger adults can get diabetes, it is more common in middle-aged and older adults. 
• Have a family history of diabetes. 
• Have prediabetes. This means your blood glucose is higher than normal, but it is not high enough to be diabetes. 
• Had gestational diabetes. 
• Have given birth to a baby who weighed 9 pounds or more. 
• Are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander. 
• Are not physically active. 
• Have certain other health conditions, such as high blood pressure or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 
• You are at greater risk of developing gestational diabetes if you: 
• Are overweight or have obesity. 
• Have a family history of diabetes. 
• Had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. 
• Have given birth to a baby who weighed 9 pounds or more. 
• Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 
• Are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.  

What are the symptoms of diabetes? 

The symptoms of diabetes may include: 

• Feeling very thirsty. 
• Feeling very hungry. 
• Urinating more often, even at night. 
• Fatigue. 
• Blurry vision. 
• Numbness or tingling in your feet or hands. 
• Sores that do not heal. 
• Losing weight without trying.  

However, your symptoms may vary based on which type you have: 

• The symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually appear quickly and can be severe. 
• With type 2 diabetes, the symptoms often develop slowly over several years. They can be so mild that you might not notice them at all. 
• Gestational diabetes often has no symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they may be mild. If you are pregnant, you will typically be screened for this condition between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. 

How is diabetes diagnosed? 

To determine if you have diabetes, your health care provider will use one or more blood tests to check your glucose levels. There are several kinds, including the A1C test. 

What are the treatments for diabetes? 

Treating diabetes focuses on managing your blood glucose levels: 

• If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need daily insulin, either through injections or a special pump. Some people may also need to take another type of diabetes medication that complements insulin.

• If you have type 2 diabetes, you might manage or even reverse it by making lifestyle changes. This includes eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular exercise. Some people also require diabetes medication to control their condition. 

• If you have gestational diabetes, you may be able to lower your glucose levels by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. However, be sure to discuss your treatment options with your provider. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after childbirth, but you will be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later. 

Monitoring your blood glucose levels is also crucial for managing your diabetes. Ask your provider the best method for checking your blood glucose and how often you should do it. 

Can diabetes be prevented? 

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. 

You may be able to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes through the same lifestyle changes used to manage it, such as eating a healthy diet, staying at a healthy weight, and getting regular exercise. These changes might also help prevent gestational diabetes. 

Diabetes Control the Blood Sugar, Healthy Food, Exercise, Medications:

When you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels within the range recommended by your healthcare professional is essential. Many factors can cause your blood sugar levels to change, sometimes quickly. Here are some factors that can affect blood sugar and what you can do to manage them.

Food:

Eating well is important for everyone. However, if you have diabetes, you need to understand how different foods affect your blood sugar levels. It's not just about the type of food you eat; it's also about how much you eat and how different foods work together in your meals and snacks.

What to do:

• Learn how to plan balanced meals. A healthy eating plan means knowing which foods to eat and how much to eat. Two common meal-planning methods are carbohydrate counting and the plate method. Ask your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian if either approach is right for you.
• Understand carbohydrate counting. This method involves tracking how many grams of carbohydrates you consume daily. If you take diabetes medicine called insulin at mealtimes, it's important to know the carbohydrate content in foods and drinks. This knowledge allows you to take the right amount of insulin.
• Among all foods, carbs tend to have the most significant effect on blood sugar levels because the body turns them into sugar, raising those levels. Some carbs are better choices than others. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are nutritious options. They contain fiber, which helps maintain more stable blood sugar levels. Limit your intake of refined and highly processed carbs like white bread, white rice, sugary cereals, cakes, cookies, candy, and chips.
• Get familiar with the plate method. This meal-planning approach is easier than counting carbs. The plate method encourages a healthy balance of foods and helps control portion sizes.
• Use a 9-inch plate. Fill half the plate with nonstarchy vegetables, such as lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, and green beans. Divide the remaining half of the plate into two equal sections. In one section, add a lean protein like fish, beans, eggs, or lean meat and poultry. In the other section, include healthy carbohydrates like fruits and whole grains.
• Pay attention to portion sizes. Learn the right portion sizes for each type of food. Everyday objects can help you remember. For example, a serving of meat or poultry should be about the size of a deck of cards. A serving of cheese is about the size of six grapes. A serving of cooked pasta or rice is roughly the size of your fist. You can also use measuring cups or a scale to ensure you get the proper portion sizes.
• Balance your meals and medicines. If you take diabetes medicine, it’s crucial to match your food intake with your medication. Eating too small in relation to your diabetes medicine—especially insulin—can lead to dangerously low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia. Conversely, consuming too much food can cause your blood sugar levels to rise excessively, called hyperglycemia. It can consult your diabetes healthcare team about the best way to coordinate your meal and medication schedules.
• Limit sugary drinks. Sugar-sweetened drinks are often high in calories and low in nutrition. They also cause blood sugar to spike quickly. It's best to limit these drinks if you have diabetes, unless your blood sugar is low. Sugary drinks can be used to quickly raise blood sugar in that case. These include regular soda, juice, and sports drinks.

Exercise:

Exercise plays a crucial role in managing diabetes. When you move and get active, your muscles use blood sugar for energy. Regular physical activity helps your body use insulin more effectively. These factors work together to lower your blood sugar level. The more intense your workout, the longer the benefits last. However, even light activities can improve your blood sugar level. Light activities include housework, gardening, and walking. 

 What to do: 

• Talk to your healthcare professional about an exercise plan. Ask them what type of exercise is best for you. Generally, most adults should aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity. This includes activities that get your heart pumping, such as walking, biking, and swimming. Try to get about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days of the week. Most adults should also aim for strength-building exercises 2 to 3 times a week.

• If you haven’t been active for a long time, your healthcare professional may want to check your overall health first. They can then recommend the right mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. 

• Keep a regular exercise schedule. Ask your healthcare professional when is the best time for you to exercise. This way, you can coordinate your workout routine with your meal and medicine schedules. 

• Know your numbers. Discuss with your healthcare professional what blood sugar levels are appropriate for you before starting exercise. 

• Check your blood sugar level. Talk to your healthcare professional about your blood sugar testing needs. If you don’t take insulin or other diabetes medications, you likely won’t need to check your blood sugar before or during exercise.

• But if you take insulin or other diabetes medications, testing is important. Check your blood sugar before, during, and after exercise. Many diabetes medications lower blood sugar, as does exercise, and the effects can last up to a day later. The risk of low blood sugar increases if the activity is new to you or if you start exercising at a higher intensity. Be aware of the symptoms of low blood sugar, which include feeling shaky, weak, tired, hungry, lightheaded, irritable, anxious, or confused. 

• See if you need a snack. Have a small snack before exercising if you use insulin and your blood sugar is low. A blood sugar level below 90 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), which is 5.0 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), is too low. The snack should contain about 15 to 30 grams of carbs. You could also take 10 to 20 grams of glucose products to help prevent low blood sugar. If your blood sugar is between 90 to 124 mg/dL (5.0 to 6.9 mmol/L), have 10 grams of glucose before exercising. 

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water or other fluids while exercising. Dehydration can affect blood sugar levels. 

• Be prepared. Always carry a small snack, glucose tablets, or glucose gel during exercise. You'll need a quick way to boost your blood sugar if it drops too low. Carry medical identification as well. In case of an emergency, medical ID can inform others that you have diabetes and whether you take diabetes medication like insulin. Medical IDs can come in the form of cards, bracelets, or necklaces. 

• Adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed. If you take insulin, you may need to lower your dose before exercising. You should also monitor your blood sugar closely for several hours after intense activity since low blood sugar can occur later. Your healthcare provider can guide you in making the right changes to your medication. Adjust your treatment if you exercise more often or more intensely.

Medicine:

Insulin and other diabetes medications help lower blood sugar levels when diet and exercise aren’t enough. How well these medications work depends on when you take them and the dosage. Other medications you take for different conditions can also affect your blood sugar levels.

What to do:

• Store insulin correctly. Insulin that isn’t stored properly or is expired may not work effectively. Keep it away from extreme heat or cold and do not store it in the freezer or in direct sunlight. away from extreme heat or cold and do not store it in the freezer or in direct sunlight.
• Inform your healthcare provider about any issues with your medications. If your diabetes medicines cause low blood sugar, the dosage or timing may need to change. Your healthcare provider might also adjust your medication if your blood sugar remains too high.
• Be cautious with new medications. Discuss any new medications with your healthcare team or pharmacist before trying them. This includes over-the-counter medications and those prescribed for other health issues. Ask how the new medication may affect your blood sugar levels and any diabetes medications you use. In some cases, a different medication may be needed to avoid harmful side effects or to prevent poor interactions with your current medications.

Illness:

If you have diabetes, it’s important to be ready for times of illness. When you’re sick, your body produces stress hormones to fight the illness, but these hormones can raise your blood sugar. Changes in your appetite and daily activity can also affect your blood sugar levels.

What to do:

• Plan ahead. Work with your healthcare team to create a plan for sick days. Include guidance on what medications to take and how to adjust them as needed. Note how often to check your blood sugar. Ask your healthcare provider if you need to check for ketones in your urine. Your plan should include what foods and drinks to have on hand and which cold or flu medications you may take. Know when to contact your healthcare provider, such as if you have a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) for 24 hours.
• Keep taking your diabetes medication. However, call your healthcare provider if you can’t eat due to nausea or vomiting. In these cases, you may need to change your insulin dose. If you take rapid-acting or short-acting insulin, you might need to lower the dose or pause it for a while. These medicines require careful balancing with food to avoid low blood sugar. Do not stop taking long-acting insulin. It’s also important to check your blood sugar frequently during illness.
• Stick to your diabetes meal plan if possible. Eating normally helps control your blood sugar. Keep easy-to-digest foods on hand, such as gelatin, crackers, soups, instant pudding, and applesauce. Drink plenty of water or other non-caloric fluids like tea to stay hydrated. If you take insulin, you may need to sip on sugary drinks, like juice or sports drinks, to prevent your blood sugar from dropping too low.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can be risky for some people with diabetes. Alcohol can cause low blood sugar shortly after consumption and for hours afterward. The liver usually releases stored sugar to counteract low blood sugar levels, but if it’s processing alcohol, it may not provide the needed boost.

What to do:

• Get your healthcare provider's approval to drink alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to health problems, like nerve damage. But if your diabetes is under control and your healthcare provider agrees, an occasional drink is fine. Women should limit themselves to one drink per day, while men may have up to two. One drink equals a 12-ounce of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled

spirits.
• Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach. If you take insulin or other diabetes medications, eat something before you drink alcohol to prevent to low blood sugar. Alternatively, drink alcohol with in a meal.
• Choose your drinks wisely. Light beer and dry wines typically have fewer calories and carbohydrates than other alcoholic beverages. If you prefer mixed drinks, opt for sugar-free mixers that won’t raise your blood sugar, such as diet soda, diet tonic, club soda, and seltzer.
• Account for calories from alcohol. If you count calories, include those from any alcohol you consume in your daily total. Ask your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian how to integrate the calories and carbohydrates from alcoholic drinks into your diet plan.
• Check your blood sugar level before going to bed. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels long after you’ve had your last drink. So check your blood sugar before sleep. If it isn’t between 100 mg/dL and 140 mg/dL (5.6 mm/L and 7.8 mmol/L), have a snack before bed to help stabilize it.

Periods and menopause

Both periods and menopause can significantly affect people with diabetes. Hormonal changes the week before and during your period can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels.

What to do:

• Look for patterns. Keep careful track of your blood sugar readings each month. You may notice patterns in your blood sugar levels related to your menstrual cycle.
• Adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed. Your healthcare provider may suggest changes to your meal plan, activity level, or diabetes medications to handle any blood sugar fluctuations.
• Monitor your blood sugar more frequently. If you’re approaching menopause or are already in it, discuss this with your healthcare provider. Ask if you need to check your blood sugar more often. Be aware that menopause and low blood sugar can share symptoms like sweating and mood changes. Always check your blood sugar before treating any symptoms to confirm if it’s low. Most types of birth control are safe for those with diabetes, but combination pills may raise blood sugar levels in some people.

Stress

Managing stress is crucial for people with diabetes. Stress hormones produced by your body may cause your blood sugar to rise. It can also be hard to stick to your routine for managing diabetes when you are under pressure.

Take charge. Once you understand how stress impacts your blood sugar, you can make healthy changes. Learn relaxation techniques, prioritize tasks, and set limits. When possible, avoid stressors. Regular exercise can help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar.