What Is Diabetes Mellitus and Tips For Managing It
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that causes problems with how the body uses sugar. There are three types of diabetes Mellitus - type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Different factors cause each type, but all require other management. In this article, we’re going to discuss what diabetes mellitus is, the most common symptoms, how to diagnose it, and some tips for the management of diabetes mellitus.
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin. In people with diabetes, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. It can lead to high blood sugar levels, damaging the eyes, nerves, heart, and other organs. There are many ways to manage diabetes mellitus, including diet, exercise, and medication. A diabetes educator can help you learn more about managing diabetes and achieving your health goals.
Types of Diabetes Mellitus
There are three types of diabetes mellitus, and each has its own set of symptoms and treatment.
Type 1 diabetes is the most common type and is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Symptoms include extreme hunger, weight loss, increased thirst and urination, and fatigue. Treatment involves insulin injections and dietary modifications.
Type 2 diabetes usually results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is more common in men than women and often begins gradually with milder symptoms, such as increased thirst and urination, blurred vision, and poor memory. In some cases, these symptoms may be the only sign of the disease. Treatment involves lifestyle changes (including diet and exercise), medication (such as metformin or sulfonylureas), or both.
Type 3 diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin even after eating a healthy diet or taking medications to control type 2 diabetes. This type typically develops over time after people have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Symptoms may include a persistent feeling of being tired, weight gain despite trying to lose weight, frequent infections, and difficulty healing injuries.
Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus
Symptoms can vary greatly but can include:
Extreme hunger: If you are not skipping meals but still find yourself hungry and craving food all the time, it can be a sign of diabetes. It is a known fact that high blood sugar increases cravings and hunger pangs.
Thirst: If you drink a decent amount of water every day but still find yourself thirsty more often than not, it can be a sign of diabetes.
Unhealthy weight loss: If you shed a lot of weight in a short time, despite not working out that rigorously or following a strict diet, it can be indicative of high blood sugar levels.
Frequent urination: When the blood sugar levels are unusually high, the kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter the excess glucose. When the kidneys work overtime, more urine is generated, leading to a person with diabetes having the urge to urinate more frequently.
Fatigue: Although people commonly feel fatigued after a long day at work, those with diabetes feel fatigued despite not being involved in significant physical activity. If you feel sleepy throughout the day, you should consult a doctor and check your blood sugar levels.
Vision problems: High blood sugar levels affect your eyes, leading to blurry vision and other vision-related issues.
Management of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which the body can't produce enough insulin or doesn't use insulin effectively. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. Here are some tips to manage and help reverse diabetes:
- Keep track of your blood sugar levels. It will help you track whether you're managing your diabetes well and identify any signs of complications early on. Using
- Eat a healthy diet. Make sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat foods. Avoid sugary drinks, processed foods and excessive amounts of weight gain.
- Exercise regularly. A regular exercise regimen can help to improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of complications related to diabetes.
- Avoid excessive alcohol and tobacco use. Gradually phasing out the consumption of alcohol to eventually wholly stop is an intelligent way to quit alcohol.
Tips for Living with Diabetes Mellitus
We have already stressed the importance of eating healthy and exercising regularly to reverse diabetes. Managing stress is also something one should stringently follow to live with diabetes mellitus. Following are some of the tips to follow for managing stress:
- Meditating daily for a few minutes is proven to significantly lower stress levels.
-Yoga is another excellent way to manage stress. One of the best things about yoga is that you can practise it from the comfort of your home.
-Sometimes, doing something as simple as walking can also help you relax, thus managing your stress levels.
In Closing
Management of diabetes mellitus and reversing diabetes can be relatively straight forward with the correct information. This blog gives all the essential information regarding how to take care of your diet, reverse diabetes, exercise routine, and stress management in a way that helps keep diabetes in check.