Diabetes and Diabetics :
The two different faces of Diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 Diabetes
In this type of diabetes the body fails to produce enough insulin, thus insulin treatment, such as injecting, is required along with dietary management. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas and its primary function is to help the body maintain a healthy level of glucose in the blood.
Type 2 Diabetes
In this type of diabetes, insulin production is inadequate or the insulin does not work effectively due to insulin resistance. If you develop insulin resistance, your body then tries to compensate by making more insulin, and eventually the cells that produce insulin become ineffective (this is impaired glucose tolerance) Some people who have this condition do not even realise it. A few of the symptoms are much increased thirst, frequent urination and tiredness.
Diet can help sufferers tremendously and they are encouraged to opt for foods with a low Glycaemic index (GI diets).
The higher the GI, the more quickly sugar is released into the bloodstream, needing a more rapid insulin response in the body. Avoid foods with high GI such as white or wholemeal bread, wheat based breakfast cereals, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, swedes and honey. Choose foods with low GI such as whole wheat pasta, beans, lentils, chick peas, apples, oat based breakfast cereals, milk and nuts.
It has often been suggested by experts that if you eat more the lower GI food group, you could be less likely to become insulin resistant as your body will then need to produce less insulin overall and your insulin will work more effectively. But beware if you are trying to diet as some of the low GI foods are very high in calories!
Exercise for diabetics
Also if you have Type 2 diabetes, try to increase your exercise regime to about 2 hours a week. Regular exercise is an important part of the treatment as it helps to control the weight and specifically helps regulate blood glucose levels, lower blood pressure and also increase 'good' cholesterol.
Research shows that even a very modest weightloss will improve cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure in diabetic sufferers.
Diabetes can be a killer and lead to conditions such as heart disease , strokes, eye and kidney disorders and also poor circulation which in turn can cause ulcers and even in the extreme, amputation. So, if you could prevent diabetes by keeping your weight down then why take a chance? Of course, no one can say for sure that you will not develop diabetes but making healthy lifestyle changes now could improve your chances of staving off diabetes for longer – or avoid it altogether!
The link between heart disease and obesity are also well established and it is well known that diabetics are at an even greater risk. It has been noted that a staggering 80% of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis, and although we know that diabetes tends to run in families, we do not know whether this genetic tendency is purely diabetes-related or whether obesity (which can also run in families) could be an equally important factor.
At the moment around 1.4 million people in the United Kingdom have diabetes and the gloomy prediction is that by the year 2010, that number could double!
Important points for diabetics to remember are ;
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