•As Many Anti-DIABETES Adverts Take Over FACEBOOK
If you are a regular Facebook addict, you must have noticed recently a lot of Sponsored posts about the upsurge in the incidents of Diabetes. You must have seen Adverts for drugs on how to Crush Diabetes without Traces, and the new Way To Reverse Diabetes promising that Diabetes & Pre-Diabetes can Be History For Good.
There is also a trending advert on a Breakthrough called Green Power Stem Cell which has been described as the Ultimate natural way to say goodbye to high blood sugar and high blood pressure.
There is also the promotion of a Free book on The Diabetes Miracle. It is a free report on How To Beat Blood Sugar Spike. So also the promo on Muimar Diabetes Remedy that comes with Free Diabetes E-book. It promises that you will discover how to lower blood sugar levels naturally. There is also Gyma Indian Herbal Remedy that Lowers Blood Sugar, Helps in Insulin Production and Reduces Blood Glucose (Sugar) levels.
Not only this. There is the Diabego Capsule that tackles Diabetes and irregular blood sugar. (100% herbal with NAFDAC approval.
There are many Adverts for the permanent remedy for Diabetes, with testimonies of patients who were diagnosed of having High Blood Sugar but now have a new story to tell because of a new discovery in Diabetes treatment. There was a man who revealed how he was able to reverse his high sugar level.
There is another Advert that says Diabetes can be managed by maintaining proper blood sugar levels. There is an advert of Prof. Rob Nkosi who says he has discovered the secret of Diabetes and how to maintain proper blood sugar levels. And yet another one on How You Can End Diabetes or How To Reverse Diabetes using the Ancient Method.
Another promo says Diabetes is Preventable & Reversible and that you can normalise High Blood Sugar Now. There are adverts on how to clean blood vessels regularly to ensure clean blood, How To Permanently Reverse issues with Blood Sugar (Diabetes) and many more.
Why the sudden interest in |Diabetes & High Blood Sugar level? City People gathered that it is because of the increase in the number of celebrities suffering from Diabetes.
What is the disease all about? City People gathered that Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses Blood Sugar (Glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it’s an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It’s also your brain’s main source of fuel.
The underlying cause of diabetes varies by type. But, no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in your blood. Too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include Prediabetes and Gestational diabetes. Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. And Prediabetes is often the precursor of diabetes unless appropriate measures are taken to prevent progression.
SYMPTOMS
Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. Some people, especially those with Prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, may sometimes not experience symptoms. In Type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.
Some of the Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are:
Increased thirst, Frequent urination, Extreme hunger, and Unexplained weight loss. Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin), Fatigue, Irritability, Blurred vision, and Slow-healing sores.
Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections
Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, though it often appears during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age, though it’s more common in people older than 40.
CAUSES
To understand Diabetes, first, you must understand how Glucose is normally processed in the body.
HOW INSULIN WORKS
Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).
The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin circulates, enabling sugar to enter your cells, Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream, As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.
THE ROLE OF GLUCOSE
Glucose — a sugar — is a source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.
Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver.
Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin.
Your liver stores and makes glucose.
When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.
CAUSES OF TYPE 1 DIABETES
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. What is known is that your immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses — attacks and destroys your insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.
Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, though exactly what those factors are is still unclear. Weight is not believed to be a factor in type 1 diabetes.
CAUSES OF PREDIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES
In Prediabetes — which can lead to Type 2 diabetes — and in Type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it’s needed for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.
Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although it’s believed that genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes too. Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with Type 2 is overweight.
CAUSES OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES
During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your cells more resistant to insulin.
Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes your pancreas can’t keep up. When this happens, too little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in your blood, resulting in gestational diabetes.
RISK FACTORS FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES
Although the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, factors that may signal an increased risk include:
Family history. Your risk increases if a parent or sibling has type 1 diabetes.
Environmental factors. Circumstances such as exposure to a viral illness likely play some role in type 1 diabetes.
The presence of damaging immune system cells (autoantibodies). Sometimes family members of people with type 1 diabetes are tested for the presence of diabetes autoantibodies. If you have these autoantibodies, you have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. But not everyone who has these autoantibodies develops diabetes.
Geography. Certain countries, such as Finland and Sweden, have higher rates of type 1 diabetes.
RISK FACTORS FOR PREDIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES
Researchers don’t fully understand why some people develop prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes and others don’t. It’s clear that certain factors increase the risk, however, including:
(1) WEIGHT
The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.
(2) INACTIVITY
The less active you are, the greater your risk. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
(3) FAMILY HISTORY
Your risk increases if a parent or sibling has Type 2 diabetes.
(4) AGE
Your risk increases as you get older. This may be because you tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as you age. But Type 2 diabetes is also increasing among children, adolescents and younger adults.
(5) HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Having blood pressure over 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) is linked to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If you have low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol, your risk of type 2 diabetes is higher. Triglycerides are another type of fat carried in the blood. People with high levels of triglycerides have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can let you know what your cholesterol and triglyceride levels are.
RISK FACTORS FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES
Risk factors for gestational diabetes include (a) Age. Women older than age 25 are at increased risk.
(b) Family or personal history. Your risk increases if you have prediabetes — a precursor to type 2 diabetes — or if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has type 2 diabetes.
COMPLICATIONS
Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes — and the less controlled your blood sugar — the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Possible complications include Cardiovascular disease. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis). If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to have heart disease or stroke.
Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in your legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.
Left untreated, you could lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction.
Kidney damage (nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Eye damage (retinopathy). Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy), potentially leading to blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of other serious vision conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Foot damage. Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can develop serious infections, which often heal poorly. These infections may ultimately require toe, foot or leg amputation.
Skin conditions. Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
Hearing impairment. Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.
Alzheimer’s disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The poorer your blood sugar control, the greater the risk appears to be. Although there are theories as to how these disorders might be connected, none has yet been proven.
Depression. Depression symptoms are common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Depression can affect diabetes management.
HOW TO LOWER BLOOD SUGAR
Your body breaks down glucose for energy using the insulin produced by the pancreas. This is required for our bodies to function. Illness can have an impact on the way our pancreas functions. Read this to learn how high blood sugar can affect your health.
Our body requires energy to function, and this energy comes from food. Specifically, your body breaks down glucose for energy using the insulin produced by the pancreas.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes cause impairment to this breakdown of sugar in the body, causing blood glucose levels to become irregular. When glucose is not broken down into energy, it can build up in the bloodstream and then becomes a health problem.
Your pancreas produces insulin, which breaks down glucose. With type 1 diabetes, the cells that produce insulin are mistakenly attacked by your immune system. As a result of this autoimmune condition, blood sugar levels can become dangerously high without intervention.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body no longer responds to insulin as well as it should and then also causes glucose to accumulate in the blood.
WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD SUGAR?
Elevated blood sugar levels are known as Hyperglycemia. Blood sugar levels are measured using a small sample of blood (typically pricked from the finger) that is tested in a lab. Blood sugar can also be tested using home devices, such as a handheld Glucometer. Levels that indicate hyperglycemia are indicative of prediabetes and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Normal ranges of blood sugar will vary depending on the test being done. In general, a normal fasting (testing done early in the morning before breakfast is eaten) glucose level will be between 70-100 mg/dL. After a meal, these levels are expected to rise slightly around 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal, but should be less than 180 ml/dL.
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is important not only for metabolic health, but heart health too. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. People with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease:
High blood pressure increases the force of blood through your arteries and can damage artery walls. Having both high blood pressure and diabetes can greatly increase your risk for Heart Disease.
Too much LDL (“Bad”) cholesterol in your bloodstream can form plaque on damaged artery walls.
CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
The leading causes of high blood sugar or hyperglycemia include:
(1) Diet: Glucose comes from food, so what you are eating causes high blood sugar. Carbohydrates are the most common culprit as they are broken down into glucose very quickly in the body. High-sugar foods, high-fat foods, and processed foods also cause blood glucose spikes and should be replaced with healthier options.
(2) Stress: When you are stressed, more stress hormones and chemicals are released, which drives blood sugar levels up too. If the stress is only temporary, this is not a serious issue, but if you experience chronic stress or an anxiety disorder, you may experience high blood sugar levels more often.
(3) Metabolic Syndrome: These are a collection of conditions that occur at the same time and increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. High blood pressures, excess fat around the waist, and high cholesterol or triglycerides are examples of these conditions. When these occur in the body together, your risk for diabetes increases as does your blood sugar and the risk for potential complications.
(4) Physical Inactivity: A lack of physical activity contributes to elevated blood sugar. When you are physically active each day, insulin works more efficiently, and your blood sugar can be maintained.
(5) Obesity: This is commonly associated with diabetes as a result of eating too many processed and high-sugar foods. Your risk for diabetes increases if you are overweight, so maintaining a healthy weight is important in preventing high blood sugar. You can also promote healthier blood glucose levels by losing weight.
HOW DOES HIGH BLOOD SUGAR AFFECT THE BODY
Monitoring your blood sugar is essential if you have Diabetes. Symptoms will get worse if treatment is not provided, and serious health complications can arise as a result. The signs of high blood sugar to look for include fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches along with:
(1) Frequent urination and thirst: Excess sugar in the blood is passed through the kidneys and into urine. This draws more water into the urine which means more frequent urination. High glucose levels cause thirst even when you are drinking enough fluids.
(2) Weight loss: Elevated blood sugar levels over time can lead to unexplained weight loss as a result of cells not getting the glucose they need. As a result, they start burning fat instead.
(3) Numbness: High blood sugar can cause tingling and numbness in the extremities. It is important to note that this is a complication of long-term diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
COMPLICATIONS OF HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
Diabetes is one of the main causes of high blood sugar levels, but there are other causes that can impact your blood glucose and your risk for hyperglycemia.
Hyperglycemia is the medical term for high blood sugar levels. You can have temporary spikes in blood sugar after eating a large meal or as a result of medication side effects. Chronically elevated blood sugar levels are dangerous and common in those with diabetes. Without treatment, you run the risk of a diabetic coma.
As a result of the high blood sugar, your body tries to push out the excess glucose by passing it through your urine. Without treatment, this can result in life-threatening dehydration so prompt medical attention would be necessary.
LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS
Without correction, high blood sugar can interfere with healthy organ function over time. Blood vessels can become damaged which can lead to complications such as: Heart attack or stroke
damage to the eye and loss of vision, kidney disease or failure, nerve problems in the skin (especially in the feet, leading to slow-healing sores and infections).
WAYS TO LOWER HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
With careful monitoring and control of your blood sugar levels, you can live a healthy life. There are a number of ways you can lower and prevent high blood sugar.
Learn to count carbohydrates: When you count carbs or keep track of what you are eating, you can control your blood sugar more efficiently. Set a maximum amount you can have each day for your meals and keep track to make sure you do not go past the limit. This helps to stabilize blood sugar and prevent dangerous spikes. Portion control is important too, so make sure your meals are not too large, as these can cause temporary spikes.
Try meal planning: To help keep track of your carbohydrate intake, start planning your meals. Based on the amount of carbohydrates you can have, plan meals accordingly, so you do not risk going above the set limit. When your meals are planned, you also avoid eating out or getting convenience food, which contains more sugar and fat, and will negatively affect your blood sugar.
Start a weight loss program: Obesity contributes to diabetes and impairs your body’s ability to process energy efficiently. Losing weight helps your body to use insulin more efficiently, and it reduces fat storage, which can trigger inflammation in the body.
Learn the glycemic index: Not every carbohydrate is equal, so some are better for you than others with regard to glucose production. Knowing the glycemic index for foods and how they affect your blood sugar can help you plan meals effectively and stabilize blood sugar levels.
NATURAL TREATMENT FOR HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
Preventing high blood pressure is key, however, there are natural treatment options available that could help to reduce your blood pressure.
Managing stress with meditation or deep-breathing exercises. Quit smoking. Starting an exercise routine. Eating more food rich in calcium and magnesium. Eating foods rich in potassium can help
In addition to the options listed above, there are several natural supplements that may also help to lower blood pressure or prevent it from elevating, to begin with. Berberine, Fish Oil, Garlic, Hibiscus.
WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM OUTLOOK
Diabetes is a chronic condition, and there is no cure. Diet and careful monitoring are the main factors in keeping your diabetes and blood sugar under control.
With careful monitoring and following medical advice as well as a proper diet, you can maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Without intervention and treatment, there are serious complications to high blood sugar, and the result can be death.
www.imdnutrition & www.mayoclinic.com
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