Diabetes is a common disease that occurs when the blood sugar or blood glucose is too high. Blood sugar is the primary source of energy and is usually obtained from the food we eat. A hormone known as insulin helps glucose get into the body’s cells so it can be used as energy. In some cases, the body fails to make enough insulin or fails to use insulin as required. Hence, glucose does not reach the body’s cells and stays in the blood, unused.

Having too much glucose in the blood can cause health problems such as diabetes. Even though there is no cure for diabetes, there are numerous steps you can take to manage diabetes and live a healthy life.

What are the main types of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes
10 percent of people who have diabetes have Type 1 diabetes. If you have this type, your body has failed to make insulin. It attacks cells whose job is to produce insulin. It means you have no energy. People diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes are young adults and kids. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to take insulin every day to live.

Type 2 diabetes
Themost commonly known type of diabetes is Type 2 because 90 percent of people who have diabetes have it. Contrary to Type 1 diabetes, the body has insulin, but it cannot use it. It is an end-user problem usually known as Insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes develops at any age but mostly in older people.

Gestational diabetes
This type of diabetes develops in women when they are expecting. Happily, it can go away after the delivering the baby. If you develop gestational diabetes, chances of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life are very high.

What are the most Common symptoms of diabetes

Some of the most common symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, intense hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, tiredness and fatigue, irritability due to lack of energy, blurred vision, skin infections, swollen gums, itchy skin, sex dysfunction among men, and numbness, particularly in the hands and feet.

Who is likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes
If your family has a history of diabetes, or you are over 45 years, or you are obese you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Health issues such as high blood pressure can also affect the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

Mothers who had the gestational type of diabetes when they were expectant, are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Treatment
The treatment of diabetes is probably the same for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. You will be recommended to take a low-glycemic diet and workout. These Low-Glycemic foods will help to stabilize your blood sugar, and they are usually foods that have a lot of fiber. Then you will need to exercise daily. However, the exercises do not have to be intense. For instance, a 15-minute activity every day will stabilize your blood sugar. With time, diabetes can lead to problems such as stroke, heart disease, eye problems, kidney disease, nerve damage, dental disease and foot problems.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.