Diabetes Epidemic – Overcoming and Reversing the Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes is becoming a problem for many people and you may have just received this diagnosis or know someone with this disease. Diabetes continues to increase year after year and about half of diabetics do not even know that they have this debilitating disease. Dealing with the diabetes epidemic and overcoming diabetes and reversing the symptoms of this disease requires making certain lifestyle changes.

The majority of new diabetes cases are mainly due to making poor nutritional choices in addition to the sedentary lifestyle that is fairly common in this modern age. It is possible to manage diabetes and even overcome diabetes. While there are various medications that are prescribed for diabetes management, the best approach to the treatment and cure of diabetes is adopting the holistic approach to the treatment of diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Insulin which is required to transfer the glucose in the blood stream to the various cells in the body is produced by the pancreas. Glucose is required by the body for energy for daily activities and for the proper functioning of the body. When you consume food particularly carbohydrates, the body converts this food into glucose which is the simplest form of sugar.

When a person has diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body does not respond to the insulin produced for any number of reasons. In addition, the pancreas may also not produce any insulin at all.

This leads to the accumulation of glucose in the blood that cannot be transferred to the various body’s cells. This accumulation is then secreted by the body through urine leading to the loss of necessary energy needed for day to day activities.

Diabetes Types

a. Type 1

A Type 1 diabetes diagnosis leads to the reliance on daily injections of insulin. Injecting insulin is the quickest way to enable the insulin to quickly start transferring the glucose in the blood to the various cells and organs in the body.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood and results from a malfunctioning pancreas that stops producing insulin which means that diabetics with this type will rely on injections of insulin in order to survive.

b. Type 2

With Type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not produce enough or the body rejects or does not know how to use the insulin produced. Type 2 diabetes diagnoses have been exploding each year and this is mainly due to poor lifestyle choices. With this type of diabetes, it is possible to cure it by making better nutrition choices and adding daily activity.

If not properly managed, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to various long term damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes and the nerves if glucose continues to accumulate in the blood stream with no place to go.

Diabetes complications that can result from this damage include dealing with blindness, heart disease, kidney disease, various skin conditions, the nerve damage can lead to the necessity for limb amputations, etc. Diabetes complications can also lead to a diabetic coma or death.

c. Gestational

Gestational diabetes is usually pregnancy related and usually goes away a few months after giving birth. It can also develop into Type 1 diabetes later on. Gestational diabetes usually develops during the third trimester.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Because the symptoms of diabetes usually develop gradually, diabetes is known as one of the silent killers. It is important to note that because some diabetics with Type 2 diabetes many not show any diabetes symptoms, it is especially important to get tested for diabetes. Some of the symptoms of diabetes include;

a. Excessive hunger

b. Excessive thirst

c. The need to urinate frequently

d. If you experience sudden changes in eye sight or sudden vision problems

e. Fatigue problems

f. If you have bruises and cuts that are very slow to heal

g. Unusual weight loss that is sudden