Diabetes is a number of diseases that involve problems with the hormone insulin. Normally, the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) releases insulin to help your body store and use the sugar and fat from the food you eat. Diabetes occurs when one of the following occurs:
Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Approximately 18.2 million Americans have the disease, and almost one third (approximately 5.2 million) are unaware that they have it. An additional 41 million people have pre-diabetes. As yet, there is no cure. People with diabetes need to manage their disease to stay healthy.
People with pre-diabetes usually have no symptoms, but it's almost always there before a person develops type 2 diabetes.
People with type 1 diabetes produce no insulin and must use insulin injections to control their blood sugar.
Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin. However, the insulin their pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is resistant to the insulin.
Gestational diabetes is triggered by pregnancy. Hormone changes during pregnancy can affect insulin's ability to work properly. This condition occurs in up to 9% of all pregnancies.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes often occur suddenly and can be severe. The include:
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be the same as those listed above. Most often, there are no symptoms, or a very gradual development of the above symptoms. Other symptoms may include:
With gestational diabetes, there are often no symptoms. You might notice:
Pregnancy makes most women have to urinate more often and feel more hungry, so these symptoms don't always mean you have gestational diabetes. But it is important to get tested, because high blood sugar can cause problems for both you and your baby.
There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed and controlled. The goals of managing diabetes are to:
You hold the key to managing your diabetes by:
Remember: what you do at home every day affects your blood sugar more than what your doctor can do every few months during your checkups.
Eating a balanced diet is vital for people who have diabetes, so work with your doctor or dietician to set up a meal plan. A healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in your diet will help keep your blood glucose on target. How much of each will depend on many factors, including your weight and personal preferences. Watching your carbohydrates - knowing how much you need and how much you are eating - is key to blood sugar control. If you are overweight, either a low-carbohydrate, low-fat/low-calorie, or Mediterranean diet may help you get your weight to goal. No more than 7% of your diet should come from saturated fat, and you should try to avoid trans fats all together.
Vitamins and minerals:
Keeping a detailed, daily log can help you track what affects your glucose levels. That log can include:
If you're trying to lose weight, write down everything you eat or drink for a week or two, including portion size. That'll give you a clear picture of where you stand and what changes you can make.
If you drink alcohol, check you blood sugar before you drink, while you drink, before you go to bed, and the following day. Alcohol lowers blood sugar for up to 24 hours after you finish your last drink.
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