Skip to main content

Diabetes—Can You Reduce Your Risk?




Diabetes—Can You Reduce Your Risk?


Courtesy : AWAKE!
THE incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing so quickly that it has become a global epidemic. There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 starts mainly in childhood, and presently doctors do not know how to prevent it. This article is about type 2, which accounts for about 90 percent of all diabetes.
While in the past it was seen as exclusive to adults, more recently type 2 diabetes has also been affecting children. Experts claim, however, that the risk of type 2 diabetes can be reduced. A little knowledge of this insidious disease may prove helpful to you.*

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person to have an excessive level of blood sugar. The disease upsets the normal process of transferring sugar from the bloodstream into cells that need it for energy. The result is damage to vital organs and impairment of blood circulation, sometimes leading to toe or foot amputation, blindness, and kidney disease. A large proportion of diabetes patients die of heart attacks or stroke.
Excess body fat can be a major factor in type 2 diabetes. Experts believe that fat accumulated in the belly and waist may indicate a higher risk for diabetes. More specifically, fat in the pancreas and the liver appear to disrupt the body’s regulation of blood sugar. What can you do to reduce your risk?

Three Steps That May Reduce the Risk of Diabetes

1. Have your level of blood sugar tested if you are in a high-risk group. A medical disorder known as prediabetes—a condition in which blood sugar is moderately higher than normal—often precedes type 2 diabetes. Both conditions are unhealthy, but there is a difference: Although diabetes can be controlled, it cannot yet be cured. On the other hand, some prediabetics have been able to bring their blood sugar back to normal levels. Prediabetes may have no obvious symptoms. Hence, this condition may go unnoticed. According to reports, about 316 million people around the world have prediabetes; yet, many of them do not realize it. For instance, in the United States alone, some 90 percent of prediabetes sufferers are unaware of their condition.
Prediabetes is not harmless, however. Besides being a precursor to type 2 diabetes, it has recently been linked to an increased risk of dementia. If you are overweight, not physically active, or have a family history of diabetes, you might already have prediabetes. A blood test can tell you if you do.
2. Choose healthful food. You might benefit from doing the following whenever it is possible and practical: Eat smaller portions than usual. Instead of sugary fruit juice and carbonated beverages, drink water, tea, or coffee. Eat whole-grain bread, rice, and pasta—in moderation—rather than refined foods. Eat leaner meats, fish, nuts, and beans.



3. Stay physically active. Exercise can lower your blood sugar and help you maintain a healthy weight. Swap some TV time for exercise time, recommends one expert.
You cannot change your genes, but you can change your lifestyle. Doing what we can to improve our health is worth the effort.
Awake! does not endorse any particular diet or exercise routine. Each individual should carefully evaluate the options and consult a physician as needed before making health-related decisions.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Health risks of high heeled shoes.

 It is so common to see some ladies put on high heels and be on them for hours. If you are one of them, have you sat down and asked yourself if it in anyway affects your health? I will be glad to share the possible health risks of wearing such shoes with you. Consider what a doctor who is a member of the American osteopathic association says " High heels put the foot at an angle and pull muscles and joints out of alignment, so the effects aren’t limited to the feet,” Dr. Surve explained. “It’s not unusual for people who spend lots of time in high heels to have low back, neck and shoulder pain because the shoes disrupt the natural form of the body.”      Structurally, the plantar fascia in the foot is connected to the calf muscle, which in turn connects to the hamstring. The hamstrings attach to the pelvis and low back, which is why wearing high heels can make your back ache along with your feet. Also, walking on the balls of your feet will shift your center of gravi...
Post a Comment
Read more

EXERCISE IS 100% BENEFICIAL FOR LADIES. LEARN WHY.

Exercise has been neglected by so many people especially the female gender, because they are always so busy and have no time to do it. Some entertain the idea that exercising Is meant only for the male gender.  Over the  years health professionals have advised all to engage in regular body exercises, with beneficial reasons.   Some exercises are done to reduce body weight for people who are overweight. Others build up muscles in different parts of the body and others are done to enlarge the tighs especially in ladies giving them a desirable shape.                 HOW TO BENEFIT AFTER EACH EXERCISE. After an exercise, it is advised to take fruits, since they are rich in vitamins or light foods that contain carbohydrates in order for the body to synthesise Adenosine triphosphate (ATP/Energy) which has already been used up by the body during the exercise. A glass of fruit juice can still be a perfect choice.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more

WHY YOU SHOULD STOP WEARING VERY TIGHT TROUSERS.

Tight fitting trousers can give you the best of looks because they can enhance  your figure, but still it can pose various health risks and can make you feel uncomfortable. WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Tight trousers or skinny denim can keep you uncomfortable especially when your work or business requires that you walk around for a very long time.      Tight trouser or skinny denim compresses a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, running from the pelvis to the outer side of the thigh.       Nerve compression contributes to pain on outer side of thigh associated with tingling, numbness and burning sensation in respective supplied areas.      Medically, this condition is known as “Meralgia paresthetica”. The condition is extremely severe in overweight people where extra weight enhances nerve compression.                      Other problems may include the following : Aggravatio...
Post a Comment
Read more