Conquer Diabetes

Human body needs glucose to get the energy to keep it running. Glucose to the body is akin to the battery of the ubiquitous mobile phones. When the battery is in full charge, one can receive the calls well. Similarly when the human body has enough glucose, a sugar that is the body's main source of fuel, the body gets its due energy.

The pancreas is a long, flat gland in the belly region of a human body and helps the body to digest food. Pancreas makes a hormone called insulin which helps the glucose from the food move out of the blood and into the cells.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose. A person is said to be Diabetic, when the body either cannot secrete enough insulin or the insulin does not work in the body like the way it should, the glucose cannot get into the cells normally which increases the level of sugar in the blood. As a result the blood sugar level gets too high and needs to be controlled. When the blood sugar level continues to remain high, he or she is diagnosed as having diabetes.

Types of Diabetes

There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both cause high blood sugar levels in the body, but in a different way. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make insulin. But, the body can still get glucose from food. Because, of the lack of insulin, the glucose cannot get into the cells. As a result, the glucose stays in the blood and increases the blood sugar level.

With type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin but not adequately. As a result, the level of glucose is less able to enter the cells and do its job of supplying energy. Generally, with type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas may eventually wear out from working overtime to produce extra insulin. Over a period of time the pancreas may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels under control.

People with type 2 diabetes take pills that help the insulin in their bodies work better. Some people with type 2 diabetes also need insulin shots or an insulin pump to control their diabetes.

How Do People Know if They Have It?

The problem with diabetes, especially those who have type 2 diabetes, is that the symptoms are not always obvious. Many type2 Diabetic patients may not know it because diabetes can take a long time to develop. Some people don't have any symptoms at all.

But when a person gets type 2 diabetes, he or she may:

• Have frequent urination because the body tries to get rid of the extra blood sugar by passing it out of the body in the urine
• Feel thirsty as a result of frequent urination.
• Feel tired in a short time as the body cannot use sugar for energy properly.
• May develop "Acanthosis Nigricans” - a dark ring around the neck, as well as thick, dark, velvety skin under the arms, in between fingers and toes, between the legs, or on elbows and knees.  This happens for people whose bodies are having problems using insulin or who are overweight.
• In addition, girls with insulin resistance may also develop polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In PCOS, the ovaries get bigger and develop fluid-filled sacs called cysts. Girls with this condition often have irregular periods or may stop having periods altogether and also they are more likely to have excess facial and body hair.

People with type 2 diabetes have to pay a more attention to what they are eating and always keep a check on their blood sugar levels on a regular basis. They need to follow the following to stay healthy:

• Eat a balanced diet
• Eat smaller food portions and less salt or fat, too.
•  Engage in  regular physical activity
• Take medicines or insulin that help the body use insulin more effectively
• Take treatment for other health problems, like high blood pressure or problems with the levels of fats in their blood.

People with type 2 diabetes, who eat healthy foods, stay active, and get to a healthy weight may bring their blood sugar levels into a healthier range.



What to eat and what not to eat is important for diabetescontrol and diabetes cure or diabetes reversal. "Per day calorie intake should be between 1,500-1,800 calories with a proportion of 60:20:20 between carbohydrates, fats and proteins, respectively." Though dry fruits may seem like a healthy snack, it is not a good option for diabetics, as the fructose can spike your sugar level. Go for fresh fruits rather than dry fruits for diabetes control (but there are some restrictions)