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Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome in which the body is unable to produce or respond normally to insulin (A hormone made by the pancreas) results in high blood sugar which leads to increase urination and thirst. People suffering from diabetes may lose weight even they are not trying to and often they feel tired. It is also called “sugar diabetes”. In this disease, the body cannot use glucose normally. There is a similar term called diabetes insipidus which has similar symptoms like increased urination and thirst. There are two types of diabetes mellitus one is insulin-dependent and the other is non-insulin dependent.
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes pancreas is unable to produce insulin hormone because of weak immune system due to phagocytosis of the cells producing insulin. It is common in adults and kids and it cannot be prevented and requires lifelong treatment. In type 1 diabetes you need to inject or use insulin pump to control blood glucose level of the body.
Type 2 diabetes:
In type 2 diabetes people are resistant to insulin. It is common among middle aged and older people but it can affect teens and children because of childhood obesity. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes about 29 million people are suffering with it in the U.S.A. it is a lifelong disease that do not allows your body to utilize the insulin in the way it should.
Sign and symptoms:
- Increased urination
- Blurry vision
- Feeling hungry and thirsty
- Tiredness
- Weight lose even if you are not trying to
- Fatigue
- Decreased healing of wounds
- Greater chance of getting disease due to weak immune system.
- Dry skin
- Have numb or tingling hands or feet.
Living with diabetes:
Living with diabetes is not easy. If you are a patient, you must be aware from the sign and symptoms and there are several things to follow like how to take care of yourself eat healthy and be active. Measure your blood sugar regularly and take your medicines. Solve your problems take less stress and try to minimize other diseases.
Eat healthy:
Your daily diet is very important to control your blood sugar level. All you need to do is choose the foods to eat which are beneficial for you. Right food at right time is the key to manage blood sugar level at target point. Consult your doctor for the meal plan suitable to you according to your health. Eat healthy means choose the grocery products with low carbohydrates and fat.
Diabetic meal:
Choose vegetables which do not contain starch in large amount like broccoli. Use refined grains like white bread and rice and pasta with less than 2% of fiber. You can follow the following diabetes recipes if you are looking for meal that is suitable for your blood sugar level.
- Tomato salad with feta cheese and herbs
- Oven baked fishcakes with carrots and herbs
- Steamed seabass with cauliflower, carrots and broccoli
- Omelet with mushrooms
- Linguine with grilled shrimp, cheese and tomatoes
- Baked spicy chickpeas
- Lentils with carrots and onions
- Chicken meatballs baked in onion sauce.
When to consult your doctor?
You may need to consult diabetes doctor immediately if you have any of symptoms listed below
- If your blood sugar level is increased from 240 mg/dL even after increasing insulin and taking your medicines.
- Moderate to large ketones in the urine.
- In case of yeast infection.
- When swelling or tingling especially in hands, feet, legs, and arms.
- In case of illness like fever nausea because being sick can affect your blood sugar level.