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What is Diabetes? What Are the Types of Diabetes?

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:

  • When the pancreas does not produce any insulin
  • When the pancreas produces very little insulin
  • When the body does not respond appropriately to insulin, a condition called "insulin resistance"

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.

Types of Diabetes

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.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes often occur suddenly and can be severe. The include:

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased hunger (especially after eating)
  • Dry mouth
  • Frequent urination
  • Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
  • Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
  • Blurred vision
  • Labored, heavy breathing (Kussmaul respirations)
  • Loss of consciousness (rare)

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:

  • Slow-healing sores or cuts
  • Itching of the skin (usually in the vaginal or groin area)
  • Yeast infections
  • Recent weight gain
  • Numbness or tingling of the hands and feet
  • Impotence or erectile dysfunction

With gestational diabetes, there are often no symptoms. You might notice:

  • More thirst
  • More urination
  • More hunger
  • Blurred vision

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.

How is Diabetes Treated?

There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed and controlled. The goals of managing diabetes are to:

  • Keep your blood sugar levels as near normal as possible by balancing food intake with medication and activity
  • Maintain your blood cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) levels as near their normal ranges as possible by avoiding added sugars and processed starches, and by reducing saturated fat and cholesterol
  • Control your blood pressure, which should not go over 130/80
  • Slow, or possibly prevent, the development of diabetes-related health problems

You hold the key to managing your diabetes by:

  • Planning what you eat and following a balanced meal plan
  • Exercising regularly
  • Taking medicine, if prescribed, and closely following the guidelines on how and when to take it
  • Monitoring your blood sugar and blood pressure levels at home
  • Keeping your appointments with your health care providers and having laboratory tests as ordered by your doctor

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.

Nutrition and Meal Timing for Diabetes

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.

Alternative Medicine for Diabetes

Vitamins and minerals:

  • Vitamins B6 & B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • Magnesium

Take Notes

Keeping a detailed, daily log can help you track what affects your glucose levels. That log can include:

  • Insulin and other medications
  • Food, especially carbs
  • Physical activity
  • Stress
  • Illness
  • After a week or so, see if you notice any patterns

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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