Diabetes And Diet - A Key to Success

Diabetes is a condition that affects many Americans and has been associated with many serious health issues. Approximately half of the 16 million people afflicted with diabetes do not know that they have the disease. Diabetes is behind heart disease and cancer as the cause of death.

Diabetes in general is characterized by increased level of blood glucose. This happens when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin produced properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its production is triggered when the level of blood glucose increases.  Insulin helps glucose move from the bloodstream into the cells that can be turned into energy. When glucose can not enter cells, it stays in the bloodstream where it leads to diabetic complications.

Main symptoms of diabetes include unusual weight loss, excessive thirst, excessive urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, frequent infections, cuts/bruises that are slow to heal and in men, erectile dysfunction may occur.

It is important to recognize the symptoms of diabetes early, the earlier diabetes is detected the quicker you can address the symptoms and prevent any long term complications from occurring.

There are 2 types of diabetes - Type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) and Type 2 (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus)

Type 1 diabetes is a life long condition which needs insulin supplementation. People with Type 1 diabetes need inject insulin because their body does not make enough or in some cases any insulin at all.

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs later in life. Many diabetics in the United States are diagnosed as Type 2 diabetics. Diabetes is often seen in those people who suffer with obesity. High cholesterol and hypertension can also accompany diabetes. Genetics does play a significant role in developing diabetes.

Diabetes is not a prison sentence and can be prevented and controlled by modifying your lifestyle. Diet and exercise is extremely important when trying to control and prevent diabetes. When you eat a meal that is high in sugar content, the pancreas produces more insulin to turn the sugar into energy. Saturated fat is transformed by the liver into glucose which also triggers insulin release. If the body doesn't use the energy produced, it gets stored as fat in various areas of the body. The higher the sugar and fat content we eat, the more fat gets deposited. It becomes a vicious cycle.

However, the cycle can be broken by eating a properly balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, and other fiber-rich products. The body does not have to produce extra insulin to take care of the additional glucose load. As a result, fat is not created and deposited and the blood glucose levels remain stable. By avoiding foods that contain loads of sugar and fat, you can maintain normal blood sugar levels. This can delay the onset of diabetes and prevent serious long term health conditions.