‘Dementia link to sudden low blood pressure and dizziness’
October 13, 2024
Diabetes is a disease in which certain cells in the pancreas fail to produce enough, or any, insulin and/or where the other cells of the body fail to use insulin properly.
Type 2 diabetes is the form of the disease that usually affects adults, especially the elderly, and is an acquired disease which can result from prolonged periods of elevated blood sugar, stress, or other illness or disease.
Type 1 diabetes typically develops during childhood and involves the body attacking its own insulin-producing cells leading to an inability to control blood glucose (sugar) levels. Gestational diabetes is the form of the disease that arises during pregnancy.
Many factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes and these same factors often affect successful management of the condition.
Understanding how diabetes develops can help patients to control the condition and lead to a full and happy life despite their disease.
Often diabetes arises due to a combination of stress, smoking, lack of physical exercise, and a diet high in simple sugars and other pro-inflammatory foods and low in essential nutrients and fibre, all of which all conspire to burn out pancreatic beta cells and cause insulin resistance.
When we eat simple carbohydrates such as white rice, potatoes, white bread, and pasta, as well as sugar in the form of glucose, maltose, dextrose or sucrose, the body has to produce large amounts of insulin quickly in order to get the sugar out of the blood and into cells where it can act as fuel.
When this happens repeatedly the cells that produce insulin can become overworked and stop functioning as well, and the rest of the body’s cells may become resistant to the effects of insulin, leading to perpetually high blood sugar even in-between meals.
Testing for fasting blood glucose is a key element of diagnosing diabetes, as well as assessing blood glucose after a meal to determine the body’s ability to produce and react to insulin.
Those who are pre-diabetic, namely those whose fasting blood glucose levels are elevated, but not yet at the threshold for diabetes diagnosis, may be able to reverse their condition and prevent themselves developing full-blown diabetes and avoid all of the problems connected with the disease.
High blood glucose is problematic because it can damage blood vessels leading to impaired circulation and reduction in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells, tissues, and organs like the brain, heart, and kidneys.
Diabetes can lead to serious and life threatening complications, such as a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
The good news is that there are many things that someone diagnosed with diabetes can do to keep their blood glucose within acceptable levels and to maintain or even improve their quality of life.
Eating healthy meals with a low glycaemic index/load
Regular physical activity (such as walking daily, swimming, or cycling)
Maintaining a healthy weight, with an emphasis on improved muscle tone and reduced body fat
Taking medications for diabetes and other conditions as prescribed by a physician
Carefully monitoring blood glucose levels
Learning about effective stress management and keeping stress levels low
All of these things can help patients regulate their blood sugar more effectively and minimise damage to their body from elevated blood glucose.
It is also important for smokers to stop smoking as it exacerbates the effects of the disease and can complicate management of the blood sugar by increasing the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Careful blood pressure management also helps reduce the negative effects of diabetes, as does keeping cholesterol in check and having regular physical examinations and eye examinations so as to diagnose any issues early and to take appropriate measures.
Diabetics should take good care of their feet and attend a chiropodist regularly for any treatment they require.
It is important for patients to discuss the target range for their blood glucose with their healthcare provider and to find effective ways to manage blood glucose.
Staying positive and having realistic expectations about the condition helps with diabetes management.
It can also help to talk to others with diabetes, and there are many peer-support groups available where people can share tips and realise that they are not alone in the effective management of the condition.