Diabetes mellitus or diabetes as it is commonly known is a disease in which the body has high levels of blood sugar. Diabetes is a long term condition which if not treated and taken care if can prove to be fatal. The body basically depends on sugar or glucose for its energy needs. This is one of the main reasons why the body needs to maintain a balanced level of sugar or blood glucose in the body. When we eat food, the carbohydrates are converted to glucose and absorbed by the blood stream. If there is an increase in the level of sugar in the blood, the pancreas is signaled to release insulin which is a hormone that tells the cells to sponge up or absorb the glucose. If the body does not produce insulin, the glucose keeps floating in the blood stream and the cells needing it are not able to absorb the required amount of glucose. Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin or when the body produces less than the required quantity of insulin.
Type- 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin. Patients who suffer from type- 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections and medication for their entire life. In addition, these patients need to follow a strict diet and keep their sugar levels in check with regular tests. Type- 1 diabetes is not a very common condition and only about 10% of diabetes patients are said to suffer from this type of diabetes. There is no known cure for type -1 diabetes.
Type -2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and 90% of diabetes patients suffer from this type of diabetes. Type -2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the cells stop responding to insulin. Type -2 diabetes is a progressive disease and if not taken care of will finally develop into type- 1 diabetes. Type- 2 diabetes can be prevented. Patients with this type of diabetes can improve their lifestyle and take anti-diabetes medications to keep their sugar levels in control.
How can diabetes be prevented?
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by simply changing the lifestyle, controlling the weight and taking a healthy balanced diet. The following are a few ways in which type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
- Getting more active physically: Regular physical activity and exercise are great ways of preventing diabetes. When one exercises regularly, one is able to lose weight and control sugar levels. Exercising also boosts the body's sensitivity to insulin thus keeping the sugar levels in control both aerobic and anaerobic exercises help to prevent diabetes.
- Including fibers in the diet: Fibers are essential nutrients that the body needs for the proper functioning of the digestive system. Food rich in fiber lower the risk of heart diseases and help to prevent diabetes. Weight control is a great benefit of fibrous foods.
- Including whole grains in the diet: Whole grains and products made from whole grains help to control sugar levels. Therefore, including these in the diet not only help to control diabetes but also keeps several other diseases at bay. Whole grains contain bran and fiber that make it difficult for the digestive enzymes to break starch into glucose. This further ensures that the blood absorbs sugar at a slower pace leading to a reduced glycemic index. Whole grains also contain essential vitamins, minerals and phyto- nutrients that help to prevent diabetes.
- Controlling the weight: Being overweight is one of the major causes of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is essential to keep weight in check to control diabetes. Exercising regularly and losing weight help prevent diabetes by keeping sugar levels in control.
- Choosing good fats over bad fats: Trans- fats or bad fats have an adverse affect on the health of the body. These not only aid in weight gain but also lead to increased sugar levels in the body thus leading to diabetes. On the other hand, poly- unsaturated fats contain essential acids help to prevent diabetes as well as several heart diseases and so these must be included in the diet.
Thus, a small change in the lifestyle and diet can make a huge difference and prevent diabetes and several complications associated with it.