Type 1 Diabetes Prevention, Causes, Symptoms & Risk Factors
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a main 'silent killer
disease' as there is usually no early symptom of the diabetes. Diabetes is the
main reason of kidney failure on the earth. Moreover, every year it is
responsible for 5% or 5 million blindness in adults & 1 million limb amputations.
Diabetes is also a main cause of heart diseases, strokes & cataract.
The very common early symptom is feeling
thirsty. Diabetes causes frequent urination, thirst, hunger, weight loss &
dehydration. In severe cases vision problems, heart disease, hearing problems
as well.
In the simplest terms diabetes is a
blood sugar disease. This is a disease in which our body either does not
manufacture or does not properly utilize insulin. It is a chronic nutritional
disorder. Diabetes is gradually rising out as a big problem in the world at
large.
What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone that is required to
convert consumed sugar, starches & other food into energy needed for
everyday life. Because diabetes patient have a trouble with insulin, patient’s
body can't utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy, which results in high
blood sugar/glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and the eventual urination of sugar
out of their bodies. As an effect diabetics can literally starve themselves to
death. While the disorder generally strikes the overweight people in middle or
older age, diabetes is also became common in the youth as well.
The normal sugar content must be is 80
-120mg per 100 ml of our blood. When it goes above this level, it needs to be
treated & controlled. Diabetes is a complex disease, affecting various
parts of our body. A number of problems can be comforted with simple things
right from the kitchen.
Though, the level of sugar can be
controlled with minimum efforts. Diabetes is difficult to be cured for lifetime
but proper sugar levels can be maintained by good and healthy diet habits.
There are three main types of diabetes-
1. Type 1
diabetes,
2. Type 2 diabetes
&
3. Gestational diabetes (pregnancy related)
In this post we are talking
about type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is also known as "insulin-dependent"
also known as "juvenile diabetes" or “Childhood diabetes”
Type 1 diabetes is associated with a
broken pancreas which does not produce adequate amounts of insulin. Mostly, it
develops in the kids and young adults. Type 1 diabetes is usually treated with
insulin. Most patients with Diabetes Type 1 developed the condition before the
age of 40. Approximately 15% of all people with diabetes have Type 1.
Large number of diabetes Type 1 patients
become so throughout childhood, it can also develop after the age of 18.
Developing Type 1 diabetes after the age of 40 is very uncommon.
Diet for diabetes Type
1
People with diabetes Type 1 should have
to observe their diet. Low fat food, less salt and food with no or very little
added sugar is ideal for them. Patient should eat foods that have complex carbohydrates
instead of fast carbohydrates, as well as fresh fruits and green vegetables.
Proper diet controls our blood glucose/sugar level as well as our blood
pressure & cholesterol levels, this helps in achieving the best possible
health. Quantity of the diet is also very important in order to maintain our
body weight.
Meal planning needs to be consistent so
that the food and insulin can work together to control blood glucose levels.
Most dietitians agree that you should consume the same quantity of food, with
equal portion of proteins, carbohydrates & proper quantity of fats at the
same time every day.
Complications in
Diabetes Type 1
Patient has a two to four times higher
risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness,
kidney failure, gum disease and nerve damage, compared to a person who does not
have any type of diabetes.
Patient will experience poor blood
circulation through legs, feet & slowness in wounds healing. If left
untreated the problem may become worse and a foot has to be surgically removed.
Patient will likely go into a coma if untreated. Treatment is available and it
is effective and can help prevent these complications from happening.
How to Prevent Type 1
Diabetes
In many ways prevention would be much
better than cure as it spares people from having to go through the disease
itself.
1.
Maintain your
blood pressure under 130/85 mm Hg.
2.
Maintain your
cholesterol level under 200 mg.
3.
Check your feet
every day for signs of infection.
4.
Get your eyes
checked once a year.
5.
Get your dentist
to check your teeth and gums twice a year.
6.
Make sure kids
consume a healthy diet.
7.
Several
researches suggests that early cessation of breast-feeding has been linked to
increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes, but this connection is
controversial., avoiding early introduction of solid foods, and additional
factors might play a role in lowering the risk of developing the disease.
8.
Preventing flu
and pneumatic disease.
9.
People who have
diabetes should have flu shot every year and a pneumatic vaccine. Usually,
people need only one dose of the pneumatic vaccine. But doctors sometimes
suggest one more dose for some people, particularly if they have a long-term
disease.
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10. Pneumatic vaccine helps prevent infections caused by
pneumatic bacteria. People with diabetes, particularly those who have heart
disease or kidney disorder, are at high risk for health difficulties &
death from flu and pneumatic disease.
11. Do work outs, yoga, brisk walking, aerobics &
other physical activity daily. You must have to do at least 30-45 minutes of
exercise or physical activity daily. Try to make your exercise schedule in the
morning.
12. Physical activity helps lower your blood sugar.
Exercise is good for everyone, not just people with diabetes Type 1. Daily physical
activities improve your sleep & keep you healthy.
13. Check your blood sugar level more regularly throughout
your first few weeks of exercise so that you may adjust your meal plans and/or
insulin doses accordingly. Person with Type 1 has to manually adjust insulin
doses, the body will not react automatically.
