Type 1diabetes results when the pancreas are unable to produce insulin for the breakdown of glucose into energy. When the body produces energy but cannot use it, type 2diabetes occurs.

The simplest carbohydrate is glucose, a monosaccharide, which is the basic unit to be broken down for energy production. Glucose works with the hormone insulin, which helps to build glucose transporters for the cells within the body. Glucose enters the cells to provide energy. The inhibition of this process either in the production or utilization phase leads to diabetes.

Type 1diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes as it affects children and younger adults. Though it is incurable, it can be controlled to a large extent.

If diabetes runs in your family, it is advisable to understand the disease well. Your doctor, the local library or the internet are the sources you can tap for information.

Symptoms:

The early symptoms of type 1diabetes are-excessive urination, increased thirst, unusual hunger, dramatic weight loss, weakness, blurry vision, vomiting and irritability.

Allied diseases:

Untreated and uncontrolled diabetes can cause grave complications like, heart problems, stroke, kidney damage and even blindness.

Treatment:

The treatment aims to tackle the root cause of the disease i.e. no insulin production. So, insulin is provided to diabetics to control the disease. There are 20 types of products that can be used for insulin needs of the body. Based on a person’s individual parameters like, blood sugar level, rate of insulin assimilation, peak time of requirement of insulin, duration of insulin effectiveness in the body etc, an appropriate insulin product is prescribed by a doctor. So, basically the line of treatment follows a person’s individual requirements.

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Just as a heart patient realises the importance of the heart, a respiratory trauma person of the lungs and breathing, so does a diabetic understand the necessity of insulin for proper transformation of glucose into energy for the cells.

There are 2 types of diabetes- Type 1diabetes- in this condition the pancreas does not produce insulin. It is mostly found in children and young adults hence, the name juvenile diabetes. Insulin injections is the only treatment.

Type 2diabetes- this condition is usually seen in the later stages of life. Here, the body is unable to utilize the insulin produced by the pancreas. Treatment is possible through medications, diet control and exercise.

In type 2diabetes, tissues of the body do not physiologically respond to the insulin. In response to this, the pancreas increases insulin production. The liver too releases glucose into the blood stream. Eventually a stage is reached where the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin and tissues develop resistance to insulin. Consequently, the blood sugar level increases.

Type 2 diabetes may develop in those persons who are over 40 years. Being overweight increases the risk factor much more. A person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 25, with a sedentary lifestyle and apple shaped physique (greater amount of fat around the stomach) have higher chances of developing diabetes.

Children these days are increasingly becoming obese due to poor diet and lack of exercise. They too, are at risk of developing the disease. Type 2diabetes symptoms are not easily recognised however, the common symptoms are increased urination, excessive thirst, unexplained fatigue, weight loss, hunger pangs, blurry vision etc.

Untreated type 2diabetes can lead to grave complications of the heart, kidney, eye, nerves etc. so, early diagnosis and treatment are a must.

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If you have diabetes and cannot do without sugar then you should go for sugar substitutes or sugar-free candies so that you can satisfy your sugar cravings and at the same time control your blood sugar.

Now it is understood that a no-sugar diet is not required. If you eat complex carbohydrates like, grains, corn, etc, it will ultimately be converted into glucose but the main issue is how fast the glucose enters the blood stream. So, you can occasionally indulge in chocolates but make sure to cut back on other foods and never forget to take your dose of insulin.

Sweeteners:

You should avoid pure sugars like table sugar and instead opt for sugar substitutes like, Nutrasweet or saccharin for your tea or coffee but it is not suited to cooking or baking. Splenda (chemically sucralose) can be used for baking purposes though the end product is not as good as natural sugar. Be careful to read the label as some Splenda products contain sugar.

Another alternative is mannitol or sugar alcohol used for manufacturing candies etc. Mannitol partially converts into sugar unlike Nutrasweet, saccharin or Splenda. However, the amount is fairly low and much of the sugar alcohol remains in the unabsorbed form. Be advised that eating a product containing sugar alcohol may cause bloating, cramping or other intestinal problems.

All in all, diabetes is not the end of all your culinary delights. Medication and moderation can help you live life to the fullest.

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It is quite possible that diabetes mellitus may have developed in the body yet there may be no external manifestations. Type2 diabetes may take a number of years to be detected as it is a slow developing disease. Symptoms of diabetes tend to vary from person to person. However, two most common symptoms are excessive thirst and frequent urination. The excess glucose circulating in the blood tends to extract water from the tissues causing a person to feel dehydrated. So, he may drink a lot of water which in turn leads to frequent urination.

A diabetic person may wrongly think that he is down with viral infection as he may experience fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite. The other symptoms are flu-like conditions, weight gain/loss, blurred vision, recurrent infections, slow healing wounds, nerve damage and red, swollen and tender gums. The weakness that a diabetic feels is because of the inability of sugars to reach the body cells.

Weight gain occurs when, to compensate for the loss of fluids and sugars, the patient tends to eat more. On the other hand, weight loss takes place when in spite of eating more than is required, the muscles do not get sufficient glucose, as happens in type1 diabetes.

When the blood sugar level increases, the fluids are pulled out of the body tissues including those of the eyes leading to blurred vision and in acute cases, blindness.

Another sign of diabetes is that the ability of the body to heal wounds and ward off infections, is adversely affected. Bladder and vaginal infections are seen in diabetic women. There may also be loss of sensation or tingling feeling in the hands and feet which could be due to nerve damage. Sexual dysfunction in men is also the result of excess sugar in the blood.

Diabetes insipidus is another form of diabetes caused due to hormonal disorder. This leads to the inability of the kidneys to retain and conserve water leading to excessive urination and thirst.

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For a woman on the path to motherhood, diabetes is a dreaded word. However, gestational diabetes mellitus is a reality for pregnant women and it is estimated that there are about 200,000 such cases every year in the US.

Constant monitoring:

Gestational diabetes and pregnancy can go hand in hand in most cases. For a woman at risk, a test is conducted from between 24-28 weeks. If the test is positive, proper exercise as well as a close watch on your diet and blood sugar levels is required. In some cases insulin injections may be required. However, this does not adversely affect the baby. Gestational diabetes disappears within 2 months after delivery.

However, it could be a warning sign for occurrence of diabetes in the future and will have to be tracked by your doctor. If you have had this form of diabetes in the past and are considering another pregnancy, make sure to consult your physician first. Your blood sugar levels need to be tested a few months before you attempt to get pregnant again.

The risk of pre-eclampsia:

A per-existing diabetic condition or gestational diabetes, allows for a normal pregnancy and safe delivery most of the time. However, the risk of pre-eclampsia increases with diabetes.

Pre-eclampsia is a toxic condition with hypertension or high blood pressure symptoms. It puts stress on the kidney and liver, may lead to oedema of the lungs, increases the risk of blood clots and causes seizures during birth. About 5-8% pregnant women experience this condition and is more common during the first pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia can even lead to death. The increase in risk for those with gestational diabetes is 15% while for those who have pre-existing diabetes, the risk of pre-eclampsia goes up to 30%. Your health care provider will most definitely monitor your condition to avoid any risky situation.

Though diabetes during pregnancy can be worrisome, being alert and with the close co-operation of your doctor, you can look forward to a safe delivery and happy motherhood.

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When the blood glucose levels of a person are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes, the stage is called pre-diabetes. So it is a phase earlier than diabetes, which is a disease requiring many lifestyle changes and constant monitoring as well as health complications. Unfortunately, pre-diabetes does not have any symptoms. Symptoms like excessive thirst, blurry vision, unusual fatigue may indicate that you have already developed diabetes.

Tests

Two tests can help determine if you have pre-diabetes. Fasting plasma glucose test or oral glucose tolerance test can tell your doctor whether preventive steps need to be taken to prevent type 2 diabetes. It is possible to prevent diabetes in most cases. Once you realise that you have pre-diabetes, you need to take certain steps to prevent it from developing into diabetes. 1) Firstly, increase your physical activity. 30 minutes of moderate physical activities 5 times a week is advised. Swimming, walking, light aerobics, dancing are all good exercises. 2) Try to lose 5- 10 % of your total body weight. This may be a challenging task but going about it slowly and steadily can help you achieve your target. A short-term weight loss of 5 pounds is good enough. 3) Maintain your physical activity and weight loss program.

Remaining active will help bring down your glucose level to normal and completely eliminate the chances of diabetes.

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Diabetes is the disease which is the result of the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin or the body’s inability to utilise the produced insulin. Insulin is responsible for the breakdown of glucose present in the blood into energy. Diabetes hence, leads to increased blood sugar levels. The severity and type of the disease may be different but management of diabetes is possible by dealing with 4 aspects.

1) Medications- it is important to medically treat diabetes with either oral medicines or insulin injections as the need be. Negligence in treatment can lead to severe complications causing blindness, heart disease etc. Diabetic shocks can even lead to death. 2) Diet – Dieticians can help chalk out a diabetes diet plan keeping in mind various aspects of the patient (like, age, health condition etc )and disease (like type of diabetes, calorie requirement etc).In general, the diet should be rich in fibres, containing foods like whole grains, fruits ad vegetables. The main aim is to control the blood sugar level through the diet. 3) Exercise- a regular physical activity program is essential. Walking is a wonderful exercise requiring no equipments at the same time working your entire body. Simple thing like taking the stairs instead of elevator, walking to the stores etc are helpful. Exercise helps lose weight and keep it under control. Apart from this, the cardiovascular system benefits and blood sugar is also controlled. 4) Mental make up- Make the most of the power of the mind. Harness, the positive energies of the mind to help you cope and overcome the disease. Make knowledge your ally in the fight against diabetes. You can overcome fears regarding the disease if you have relevant information. Support groups also offer hope and strength to counter diabetes and lead a happy and normal life.

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The cause of juvenile diabetes is unclear, however, it is known that it occurs when the body attacks the insulin producing beta cells. This leads to cessation of insulin production and onset of diabetes symptoms. Juvenile diabetes symptoms are most often not recognised due to misconceptions regarding the disease. The common belief is that diabetes is only a lifestyle disease and does not affect children.

Symptoms:

Frequent trips to the toilet is one of the first symptoms to watch out for. When insulin production stops, glucose level increases in the blood. To get rid of this excess glucose, the kidneys resort to producing more urine.

Increased water intake is a consequence of the above and so must be recognised as a sign of potential diabetes. It is easy to get confused about these symptom thinking that since the child is drinking too much water, he is frequently going to the toilet, when it is actually the other way round.

Weight loss is the most visible symptom of juvenile diabetes. Obesity and diabetes are related in type2 diabetes and so dramatic weight loss should not be ignored in children. This weight loss is due to inadequate amounts of glucose being available to the body cells. This cell starvation also leads to constant hunger pangs in the child.

Symptoms of juvenile diabetes develop fast in a period of weeks and months. So, if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is imperative to get the child tested for diabetes immediately because untreated juvenile diabetes can be fatal.

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Causes:

It is actually due to malfunction of the autoimmune system of the body. The beta cells produced by the Islets of Langerhans (pancreas) either die or are too weak to produce insulin required by the body. This is a direct fall-out of the failure of the autoimmune system of the body.

Diagnosis is half the battle won. To regulate the blood sugar level, insulin injections are prescribed. A family member normally injects the child with insulin. Sometimes up to 5 injections may be required everyday to bring the sugar level under control.

Diet is another aspect requiring attention. A low carbohydrate diet is the norm so as to prevent sugar level from shooting up. With a control on diet, insulin dependence can be reduced. Cutting off sugar entirely from the diet could lead to hypoglycaemia causing the child to faint, become delirious or go into coma. Insulin injection at this time can be fatal.

An information card in the form of a medical ID is advised for children suffering from juvenile diabetes. It can be kept in the pocket or worn as a bracelet or necklace. This could be a life saving factor in conditions of emergency.

Awareness about juvenile diabetes and all its different aspects is of critical importance. A healthy balance of sugar in the diet is required as is blood sugar tests. Insulin should be administered in the correct dose and at the right time. Care on the part of the family of a child suffering from the disease can go a long way in ensuring a normal and happy childhood for him.

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More than any other time, it is desirable that a pregnant woman takes a nutritious and balanced diet for a healthy and safe pregnancy and birth. For a woman with gestational diabetes, the diet is of even more importance. It may be the only way to keep blood sugar under control without resorting to insulin injections. It is important to consult a doctor or dietician and then chalk out a diet plan. The number of calories to be taken each day, avoiding food s that increase sugar level and taking more of sugar maintaining foods, are the factors to consider while planning a diet.

Diet:

An appropriate gestational diabetes diet would be one which provides all the nutritional requirements for the mother and foetus as well as keeps the mother’s blood sugar normal. The daily calorie intake has to be increased by three hundred calories during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy i.e. after fourteen weeks a woman should take 2100 calories per day. The requirement of vitamins and mineral is greater during pregnancy so taking low fat dairy products, whole grain cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables in larger amount will help. Pre-natal vitamins though helpful, do not replace a good gestational diabetes diet. These vitamins should be taken before bedtime or on an empty stomach in the morning.

High sugar foods should be avoided like pies, cakes, cookies, ice-creams, soft drinks, jams and jellies, fruit yoghurt etc Juice should be taken only with meals and not more than 6 ounces as these contain large amounts of sugar. Tomato juice is the best since it has the lowest sugar content. Though fats are needed for vitamin absorption, the diet should have little of it. Complex carbohydrates like vegetables, cereal grains, peas, beans are excellent for gestational diabetes. They help keep the sugar normal and hence decrease the need for insulin. Foods high in fibre like whole grain cereals, breads, fruits and vegetables and legume are good because they help in digestion.

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