What is diabetes? Diabetes is when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar is too high. When not enough insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas is used by the body is not produced or is not used efficiently and excess amounts build up in your body, diabetes occurs. 30.3 million Americans have diabetes this is from 2015 and includes both Type 1 and Type 2, unfortunately I am sure the amounts have grown exponentially since 2015*. There are 3 different types of diabetes; Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body does not produce insulin, your body’s immune system attacks and kills the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Children and young adults typically show signs of Type 1 diabetes, but it can occur at any age. Environmental and genetic factors are looked upon as the triggers for the disease. Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are serious and usually happen quickly, over a few days to weeks.
Symptoms can include:
- increased thirst and urination
- increased hunger
- blurred vision
- fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
Asking your health care provider to run an RPG or random plasma glucose test can diagnose if you have Type I, this test is recommended if diabetes runs in your family. Managing type 1 requires daily injections of insulin, staying active and following a diabetes meal plan.
Type 2 is the most common and can be prevented, it occurs most often in middle aged adults or older who are overweight, or obese, inactive, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a poor diet all contribute to developing Type 2 diabetes. Symptoms usually develop slowly, and some people don’t even realize that have Type 2.
Symptoms to be aware of are:
- increased thirst and urination
- increased hunger
- feeling tired
- blurred vision
- numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
- sores that do not heal
- unexplained weight loss
You can take control and prevent Type 2 by shifting gears in your nutrition and overall lifestyle limiting the amount of processed foods in your diet, by increasing fresh vegetables, lean protein, limiting sedentary behavior by incorporating physical exercise as part of an active daily lifestyle will be the biggest contributing factors in prevention of Type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, usually diagnosed between weeks 24-28. During pregnancy, your body makes special hormones and goes through other changes, such as weight gain. Because of these changes, your body’s cells don’t use insulin well, a condition called insulin resistance. All pregnant women have some insulin resistance during late pregnancy. Most pregnant women can produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but some cannot. These women develop gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes can cause problems for your baby such as being born too early, weighing too much, problems breathing or having hypoglycemia when born.
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms, but you can lower your chances of developing it by losing extra weight before becoming pregnant and increase activity levels. Ask your doctor how much weight gain and physical activity during pregnancy are right for you.
Nicole Moress
Owner,
N-GAGE FITNESS
