Here's a fact. Every 10th person in the world has diabetes. These are both children and adults, overweight and very thin people. So what is this disease and how to protect yourself from it? 10 facts that will explain you what's what:
- 1. Type 1 or Type 2? There is a huge difference between these two types of diabetes and you should know them. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. In it, the pancreas does not produce its own insulin, or produces it in a very small amount. Therefore, the patient needs to inject it on a regular basis. Throughout the whole life. Usually type 1 diabetes appears in children and adolescents. Type 2 - adults and children/adolescents who have a genetic predisposition to the disease are at risk. Type 2 diabetes can be caused not only by excess weight, but also by severe stress. In this condition, the body continues to produce insulin, but in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar level, it is necessary to follow a strict diet and take hypoglycemic drugs. Often type 2 diabetics are prescribed insulin therapy.
- 2. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented. To do this, you need to eat right and lead an active lifestyle. Even if your relatives had diabetes, you can avoid it.
- 3. Yes, people with diabetes can eat sweets. This is the biggest myth. Firstly - diabetes does not appear due to excessive sugar consumption. Secondly, like all people, diabetics need to get carbohydrates. Whether from sweets or from bread and pasta. The only thing - sugar, honey, sweets - they quickly increase blood sugar levels, so their consumption should be limited. To prevent fluctuations in sugar levels, which harms blood vessels and general well-being.
- 4. Each type of diabetes is serious. Complications are the same for both types: loss of vision, kidney failure, amputation, sexual dysfunction, and other complications that may be associated with impaired blood circulation through damaged blood vessels.
- 5. Diabetes is the first cause of vision loss. One of the most common complications of diabetes that can lead to complete or partial vision loss. Therefore, people with diabetes are strongly advised to visit an ophthalmologist at least twice a year.
- 6. Diabetes control is a vital task №1. Diabetes is a chronic disease. It is incurable. It should be perceived as a way of life. To do this, you need to monitor your health very carefully. Constantly check the blood sugar level (the recommended number of blood measurements is 5 times/day), lead an active lifestyle, eat right, and be less nervous.
- 7. Insulin cannot be "not injected". Insulin exists today only in liquid form. There are no pills. Only injections with syringes, syringe pens or insulin pumps. Now insulin that can be inhaled as a medicine for people with asthma is being tested. But before the approval of this method of insulin administration is still very long.
- 8. It will not disappear by itself. If a person with diabetes stops injecting insulin, he will fall into a state of ketoacidosis. In other words, coma is caused by excessive blood sugar (hyperglycemia). And vice versa. If a person with diabetes does not receive carbohydrates in time, the sugar level will drop to a critical level and cause hypoglycemia. A condition accompanied by loss of consciousness. In this case, the person must urgently give something sweet: fruit juice, sugar, candy.
- 9. High sugar is not diabetes yet. If during the measurement of sugar (which must be carried out at least once a year) you have an increase in sugar (above 7 mmol / l) - this does not mean that you have diabetes. In order to check for sure, you need to take a glycated hemoglobin test. This is a blood test that shows the average blood sugar level for the last 3 months.
- 10. People with diabetes do not need special "diabetic food". Such products are generally not needed and not recommended by doctors. It can be sweets with sugar substitutes, for example. But their consumption can be even more harmful than regular sweets. The only thing a person with diabetes needs is healthy food: vegetables, fish, dietary "right" meat: turkey, rabbit, chicken.