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Empower Your Health: The Ultimate Guide to Reversing Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by higher levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which mainly causes serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and nerves. The most common type is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body doesn’t make enough insulin.
In the past 3 decades, type 2 diabetes has risen. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. For individuals living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical to their survival.
Approximately 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low- and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. Both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades. Here we discuss a complete guide to reverse diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Diabetes can be expressed in various ways:
Sensitivity:
- Super thirsty and having a parched mouth.
- Peeing a lot.
- Feeling worn out all the time.
- Having dim vision.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Having numb or painful hands or feet.
- Cuts and sores take a long time to heal.
- Getting lots of skin or vaginal yeast infections.
Types of Diabetes
Here are a few different types of diabetes:
Type 1: This is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks and destroys your pancreas cells, where insulin is produced. We are not fully sure why this happens.
Type 2: This occurs when sugar levels go up, and your body does not respond well to insulin. It is the most common type. About 90% to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2.
Sources of Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when there’s too much sugar in your blood, but what causes it can vary depending on the type:
Type 1 diabetes: When the immune system malfunctions and attacks the cells in your pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition.
Type 2 diabetes: When your body does not respond well to insulin, it is called insulin resistance. This can be due to several factors like being overweight, not moving enough, diet, hormones, genes, or certain medications.
Gestational diabetes: During pregnancy, hormones from the placenta can interfere with insulin, making it hard for your body to keep up. Sometimes, other hormonal issues like acromegaly or Cushing’s syndrome can cause type 2 diabetes too.
Diabetes Management and Problems
Diagnosis of diabetes typically encompasses the following steps:
- Symptom evaluation: If you’re experiencing symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue, your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical examination.
- Blood tests: The primary test for diagnosing diabetes is a blood test to measure your blood sugar levels. You’ll need to fast overnight, and your blood sugar will be measured in the morning before you eat anything. After fasting, you’ll drink a sugary solution, and your blood sugar levels will be tested periodically over a few hours. These tests give an average blood sugar level over the past 2–3 months.
- Additional tests: Depending on your symptoms and initial test results, your doctor may also recommend additional tests, such as:
- Urine tests to check for ketones or protein in the urine, which can indicate complications or other conditions.
- Tests to assess pancreatic function or insulin levels in certain cases.
- Gestational diabetes screening: Pregnant women are typically screened for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy using the OGTT or other blood sugar tests.
Conclusion
Managing and reversing diabetes, especially type 2, requires a comprehensive approach involving lifestyle changes, medication, and regular monitoring. Healthy eating, regular physical activity, weight management, and stress reduction are key components. For type 1 diabetes, insulin therapy and vigilant blood sugar monitoring are essential, while managing gestational diabetes focuses on weight management during pregnancy. Regular medical check-ups and staying informed about the condition can significantly improve health outcomes.