Lakhs of people are suffering from diabetes today. Diabetes is a disease that takes away our freedom to eat and drink and even our lifestyle gets affected by diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), about 536 million people aged between 20 to 80 years are suffering from diabetes. Our aim is to eliminate diabetes from the world.
Why diabetes occurs ?
1. Genetics –
This may play a role in the development of diabetes in some people. If a woman has a family history of diabetes, then the chances of that woman having diabetes during pregnancy are higher. If someone has a family history of diabetes, the chances of the person having diabetes in future generations increases. If symptoms of diabetes start appearing in a person, the first question the doctor asks that person is whether your parents have diabetes? This clearly means that diabetes can also be directly related to genetics.
2. Lifestyle -
Obesity, physical inactivity, bad eating habits, stress, irregular sleep, in such situations the body becomes unable to use insulin which helps in the development of diabetes. Getting regular sleep, exercising regularly, keeping the body always working, eating nutritious food, maintaining balance in the diet, all these are very important.
3. Auto-immunity system
In type 1 diabetes, our own auto-immunity system mistakenly kills beta cells. When beta cells start functioning and 80% remain then diabetes starts because there is not enough insulin in the body to control glucose. A lot of studies have been done on why antibodies that kill beta cells are formed in the body, but the exact reason has not been revealed yet.
4. Food culture -
Eating refined carbohydrates, eating more sugary foods, using more rice in food, consuming foods containing flour, having higher stress levels, in such circumstances the chances of diabetes increases. Diabetes occurs due to dysfunction of insulin in the blood and increase in glucose.
How it works?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which our glucose levels increase and the system for converting glucose stops. The system in which glucose is used by cells gets broken down. Insulin works to send glucose into the cells. Insulin is a hormone that works to produce beta cells in our pancreas. When beta cells produce insulin, insulin works to send glucose to cells and muscles, due to which the body’s metabolism remains normal.
Diseases caused by diabetes -
1. Eye problems -
1.1. Retinopathy
A serious disease that causes damage to the delicate tissue behind the retina of the eye. Diabetes increases the chances of developing retinopathy.
1.2. Macular edema
Macular edema occurs when blood vessels leak into an area of the retina called the macula. This causes the macula to swell, causing blurred vision. There are many different conditions that can cause macular edema. The most common is diabetic retinopathy – an eye condition that causes vision loss in people with diabetes.
1.3 . Cataract point
A cloudy area is formed in the lens of the eye due to which there is problem in vision, such problems as seeing two things, reflection of light, poor vision at night can occur due to cataract point. Cataract point is a disease mostly occurring in diabetic patients.
2. Ulcer -
Ulcer is a disease mostly found in diabetic patients. The problem of wounds not healing quickly is common in diabetic patients; hence even a small ulcer grows bigger and becomes a serious problem.
3. Gangrene -
Gangrene is a viral infection disease in which tissue death occurs. The place in the body where gangrene occurs is that due to lack of blood flow to the tissues, the tissues die and the gangrene increases. If gangrene occurs in diabetic patients, amputation of the affected limb may occur, which is a serious problem.
4. Atherosclerosis -
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease in which plaque accumulates between the arteries, which disrupt the blood flow, due to which calcium, fat and unnecessary substances accumulate between the arteries, which cause serious diseases.
5. Also these
- Serious problems like pain, heart attack, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, narrowing of blood arteries, oral health problems, skin related diseases, bacterial and fungal infections etc. are seen in diabetes.
Ways to control diabetes -
1. Avoid carbohydrate -
Be very careful about carbohydrate content in your food, carbohydrate contains glucose which sends excessive amount of sugar into the blood due to which the sugar level is not controlled.
2. Glycaemic Index –
Consume foods with glycaemic index. The range of substances has been determined in the glycaemic index, in which the index is measured from 0 to 100, those whose index is around 100 should not be eaten, and those with lower index should be eaten more. In the glycaemic index, substances that allow glucose to flow quickly into the blood are included in the category of substances.
3. Low Glycaemic Index Fruits -
Raw banana, litchi, pomegranate, avocado, guava are fruits with low Glycaemic Index. You can eat them. Consume fibre rich foods, protein and low fat dairy products like curd and milk
4. Always rehydrate -
Drink more water when blood sugar increases, this helps in getting rid of extra glucose and keeps sugar under control. Sugar level can also become normal by increasing the level of hydration in the body.
5. These are some goodies for diabetic patients
Cinnamon has diabetes controlling properties. The patient is benefited by boiling cinnamon in water and drinking it. Diabetes can be controlled by drinking bitter gourd juice. Fenugreek seeds and flax seeds have sugar controlling properties.
What to eat?
Diabetic patients should consume a proper mix of vegetables, fruits, proteins, foods made from low-fat milk and plenty of fibre. 50% starchy vegetables, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots. Eat 25% lean protein, chicken, fish, beans, and eggs. Consume 25% starchy food, corn, pomegranate, or fruit, Raw banana, litchi, pomegranate, avocado, guava are fruits with low Glycaemic Index. You can eat them. Consume fibre rich foods, protein and low fat dairy products like curd and milk. Azadirachta Indica leaves juice, bitter gourd juice, Java Plum juice can drink ginger water.
Say no to these -
Diabetic patients should not consume junk food, potatoes and fries; dip fried foods, soybeans, refined flour products, butter, jaggery, sugar, caffeine, refined foods, rice, excessive salt, bananas, mangoes, alcohol and sweet wine, specially port type and cherry.
This information is written by
Mr Suhas Dadarao Avhad
Author and CEO (usahealthy.net)