Living with diabetes can feel like a never-ending puzzle, where every piece-from diet to medication can play an essential role in your health.
But what if we told you that managing diabetes need not be this overwhelming? Although it is incurable at the moment, with the proper diet and lifestyle alteration, it can be controlled.
Read along to learn the details of this condition and how, with Dr. Priyanka’s help, you can control your blood sugar levels.
What is Diabetes?
In simple words, diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar levels are too high.
But how does that happen?
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or none or when the body fails to respond effectively to insulin. The causes of diabetes can vary, but it affects people of all age groups.
Glucose, your go-to energy source, comes mainly from carbohydrates in our drinks and food. This glucose in our bloodstream needs a key to reach its final destination: insulin.
When the pancreas does not make enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar ( hyperglycemia).
Diabetes can cause several other health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eyesight issues, etc.
Understanding The Types of Diabetes:
There are several types of Diabetes. The most common ones are:
Type 2 Diabetes:
This is the most common form of diabetes. With this type, your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, or your body cells fail to use it properly, leading to insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is common in adults, but it’s becoming common in younger age groups as well.
Prediabetes:
As the term itself suggests, prediabetes is a stage before Type 2 diabetes. When your blood sugar levels are consistently high but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you are prediabetic.
Type 1 Diabetes:
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where your immune system starts attacking and destroying the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons. Type 1 diabetes is not as common as Type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes:
If one has gestational diabetes, the chances of having Type 2 diabetes in the future increase. Gestational Diabetes often happens during pregnancy and goes away post-child-birth.
How Common is Diabetes in India?
As per a study published in the Lancet, 101 million people in India, i.e., 11.4% of the entire population, are living with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type amongst the masses, driven mainly by lifestyle factors such as poor diet, sedentary behavior, and increasing obesity rates. However, genetic predispositions also play a significant role.
Rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes in the country have contributed to this rising epidemic, affecting both urban and rural populations.
The relevance of diabetes in India is much higher than the researchers could anticipate.
What causes Diabetes?
Higher levels of glucose in the bloodstream lead to diabetes, but the reasons for this spike differ depending on the type of diabetes.
So, what are the causes of diabetes?
Let’s have a look at some of the common ones:
Hormonal Imbalance:
Hormones are imbalanced during pregnancy. The placenta releases a hormone that results in insulin resistance. If the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, gestational diabetes might occur.
Insulin Resistance:
Insulin resistance is primarily responsible for type 2 diabetes. It results from your muscles, fat, and liver cells not responding to insulin as they should. Insulin resistance can be caused by several circumstances, ranging from heredity to obesity, inactivity, poor diet, hormone imbalances, and certain drugs. A proper diet for diabetes also includes checking food items to avoid consuming.
Autoimmune Disease:
Type 1 diabetes and LADA happen when your immune system starts to attack the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
Pancreatic Damage:
Any severe damage to your pancreas from surgery or injury can challenge its ability to produce insulin properly. This causes Type 3c diabetes.
Genetic Mutation:
Monogenic Diabetes occurs due to an inherited genetic mutation affecting the pancreas’s insulin production. This type of diabetes typically runs in the family.
Symptoms of Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes can vary according to the type. But the most common ones are:
- Dry mouth or increased thirst (polydipsia)
- Frequent Urination
- Blurred Vision
- Fatigue
- Feeling of Numbness
- Frequent skin or vaginal infection
Experts at Indyte will closely examine your symptoms of diabetes and help you accordingly.
How is Diabetes Diagnosed?
Diabetes, like any other health condition, needs to be diagnosed to move ahead with the treatment/medications. Three tests can measure your blood sugar levels:
Fasting Blood Glucose Test:
For this test, you don’t eat or drink anything except water for at least eight hours before taking the test. This test helps to find out your baseline blood sugar level.
A1C:
This test provides your average blood glucose level for two to three months. It is often known as the glycated hemoglobin test or HbA1C.
Random Blood Glucose Test:
Random indicates that you can take this test whenever you choose, even if you haven’t fasted.
Can Diabetes be Controlled by Diet & Lifestyle Changes?
Diabetes is a complex condition, and its management involves proper planning. Moreover, diabetes affects each individual differently, so the strategies are highly individualized.
Some crucial aspects of managing diabetes are as follows:
Monitoring of Blood Sugar:
Keeping track of your blood sugar levels can help you determine how well your treatment plan is going. It can also help you and your healthcare provider devise ways to control your blood sugar level.
Oral Medications:
Oral medications are often prescribed to people who have diabetes but still produce some insulin. Medications are often prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
Diet:
Planning your meals and selecting a balanced diet are essential components of managing diabetes because food significantly affects blood sugar levels. A significant part of managing diabetes is keeping track of the amount of carbohydrates in the food and beverages you eat. How much insulin you require at meals depends on how much carbohydrates you consume. Dt. Priyanka has over ten years of experience, which helps her carve out the best food chart for diabetic patients.
Exercise:
Regular exercise is crucial for diabetes management. It lowers insulin resistance and promotes insulin sensitivity in all people with the disease.
How Does Indyte Help You?
Indyte is dedicated to helping diabetic patients manage their condition through personalized nutrition plans and expert guidance. Under the leadership of Dt. Priyanka, a renowned dietitian with years of experience in diabetes management, Indyte offers comprehensive support tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Dt. Priyanka and her team of experts work closely with patients to develop customized meal plans and offer continuous monitoring to ensure optimal blood sugar control. Their holistic approach empowers patients to lead healthier lives, reducing the risks associated with diabetes and improving overall well-being.
Bottom Line
No matter the type of diabetes, there are ways to manage it. Personalized meal plans and lifestyle changes can significantly help patients on their journey.
Indyte understands personalized needs and fulfills them accordingly. With a team of experts, you can be confident when checking your blood sugar levels.