Welcome to Consumer Guru
Diabetes is a complex problem with far-reaching consequences. When you have this disease, your body struggles to maintain a healthy blood sugar level, leading to a cascade of complications. Excess blood sugar, also known as glucose, can wreak havoc on your blood vessels and nerves throughout your body, setting the stage for various medical conditions that range from serious to life-threatening.
Conditions associated with diabetes include stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, vision problems, and even blindness. Additionally, damage to the feet or legs is a common concern. However, there is encouraging news for the 26 million Americans living with diabetes and those at risk. Experts at Johns Hopkins, like Dr. Rita Kalyani, emphasize that ongoing research is shedding light on lifestyle strategies, new medications, and devices that can help control blood sugar and prevent complications.
Prevention is key when it comes to diabetes. While type 1 diabetes typically develops in childhood or early adulthood without known preventive measures, there are ways to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes in women. Staying active and maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy, especially if other diabetes risk factors are present, can significantly lower the chances of gestational diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is a form of diabetes that can be largely prevented. In most cases, individuals first develop prediabetes before progressing to full-blown type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes, making lifestyle changes is crucial in preventing the onset of diabetes. Consulting with your doctor about effective risk reduction strategies is essential. Here are some recommended steps to reduce the risk:
Shed excess weight: Even losing a small amount of weight can make a significant difference. The Diabetes Prevention Program found that participants who engaged in 30 minutes of daily physical activity and lost at least 7% of their body weight reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%. Losing weight improves the body's insulin utilization and glucose processing.
Stay active: Aim for at least two and a half hours of exercise per week. Engaging in activities like brisk walking can contribute to an active lifestyle and lower the risk of diabetes.
Adopt a healthy diet: Work with a dietitian to create an eating plan that promotes weight loss and long-term adherence. Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein while limiting fat and red meat consumption.
Consider medical interventions: If lifestyle changes alone aren't sufficient, medication may be necessary to reduce the risk of diabetes. Metformin, a commonly prescribed drug for individuals with prediabetes, can help control blood sugar levels by reducing liver glucose production.
Diagnosing diabetes involves identifying common symptoms such as excessive thirst or hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, and weight loss. However, it's worth noting that some individuals with diabetes may not experience noticeable symptoms, particularly in the early stages of the disease.
In the past, diagnosing prediabetes or diabetes required blood samples and fasting. However, newer tests like the hemoglobin A1C test have made the process more convenient. This test measures the amount of glucose attached to red blood cells over a three-month period, providing an average blood sugar level. A result between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes, while 6.5% or higher confirms diabetes.
Treatment approaches differ for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes require regular insulin injections, while those with type 2 diabetes may manage it with insulin injections, non-insulin injections, pills, diet, and exercise.
Managing blood sugar levels is a primary goal for individuals with diabetes, but preventing complications is equally important. To reduce the risk of complications like heart disease and stroke, healthcare providers often recommend weight loss, smoking cessation
