Diabetes

1. What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay healthy. Sometimes people call diabetes “a touch of sugar” or “borderline diabetes.” These terms suggest that someone doesn’t really have diabetes or has a less serious case, but every case of diabetes is serious. What are the different types of diabetes? The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. Your immune system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to stay alive. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

2. Symptoms Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms can appear relatively suddenly and may include: Increased thirst Frequent urination Bed-wetting in children who previously didn't wet the bed during the night Extreme hunger Unintended weight loss Irritability and other mood changes Fatigue and weakness Blurred vision Causes #) The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Usually, the body's own immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses — mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing (islet, or islets of Langerhans) cells in the pancreas. Other possible causes include: # Genetics # Exposure to viruses and other environmental factors Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

3. The role of insulin Once a significant number of islet cells are destroyed, you'll produce little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas). 1.The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. 2.Insulin circulates, allowing sugar to enter your cells. 3.Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. 4.As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas. The role of glucose Glucose — a sugar — is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. 1.Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver. 2.Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin. 3.Your liver stores glucose as glycogen. 4.When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, the liver breaks down the stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose levels within a normal range. In type 1 diabetes, there's no insulin to let glucose into the cells, so sugar builds up in your bloodstream. This can cause life-threatening complications. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

4. Risk factors Some known risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:   Family history. Anyone with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a slightly increased risk of developing the condition.   Genetics. The presence of certain genes indicates an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes.   Geography. The incidence of type 1 diabetes tends to increase as you travel away from the equator.   Age. Although type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, it appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old, and the second is in children between 10 and 14 years old. Complications Over time, type 1 diabetes complications can affect major organs in your body, including heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Maintaining a normal blood sugar level can dramatically reduce the risk of many complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes dramatically increases your risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke, narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure. Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

5. fingers and gradually spreads upward. Poorly controlled blood sugar could cause you to eventually lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the nerves that affect the gastrointestinal tract can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, erectile dysfunction may be an issue. Kidney damage (nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant. Eye damage. Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy), potentially causing blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of other serious vision conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma. Foot damage. Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections that may ultimately require toe, foot or leg amputation. Skin and mouth conditions. Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to infections of the skin and mouth, including bacterial and fungal infections. Gum disease and dry mouth also are more likely. Pregnancy complications. High blood sugar levels can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. The risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and birth defects increases when diabetes isn't well-controlled. For the mother, diabetes increases the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic eye problems (retinopathy), pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and preeclampsia. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

6. Treatment : Type 1 diabetes requires treatment to keep blood sugar levels within a target range. Treatment includes: Taking several insulin injections every day or using an insulin pump. Monitoring blood sugar levels several times a day. Eating a healthy diet that spreads carbohydrate throughout the day. Regular physical activity or exercise. Exercise helps the body to use insulin more efficiently. It may also lower your risk for heart and bloodvessel disease. Regular medical checkups. You will get routine screening tests and exams to watch for signs of complications, such as eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve diseases. Not smoking. Not drinking alcohol if you are at risk for periods of low blood sugar. Blood sugars are easier to predict and control when mealtimes, amounts of food, and exercise are similar every day. So getting into a daily routine helps a lot. Type 2 diabetes If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. However, this type of diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

7. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Look for: #) Increased thirst and frequent urination. Excess sugar building up in your bloodstream causes fluid to be pulled from the tissues. This may leave you thirsty. As a result, you may drink — and urinate — more than usual. #) Increased hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger. Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, you may lose weight. Without the ability to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscle and fat. Calories are lost as excess glucose is released in the urine. Fatigue. If your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable. Blurred vision. If your blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus. Slow-healing sores or frequent infections. Type 2 diabetes affects your ability to heal and resist infections. Areas of darkened skin. Some people with type 2 diabetes have patches of dark, velvety skin in the folds and creases of their bodies — usually in the armpits and neck. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, may be a sign of insulin resistance. Causes Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown, although genetics and environmental factors, such as excess weight and inactivity, seem to be contributing factors. How insulin works Insulin is a hormone that comes from the gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas). Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

8. #) The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. #) The insulin circulates, enabling sugar to enter your cells. #) Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. #) As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas. The role of glucose Glucose — a sugar — is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. #) Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver. #) Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin. #) Your liver stores and makes glucose. #) When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven't eaten in a while, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range. In type 2 diabetes, this process doesn't work well. Instead of moving into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. As blood sugar levels increase, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas release more insulin, but eventually these cells become impaired and can't make enough insulin to meet the body's demands. In the much less common type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the beta cells, leaving the body with little to no insulin. Risk factors Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

9. Researchers don't fully understand why some people develop type 2 diabetes and others don't. It's clear, however, that certain factors increase the risk, including: Weight. Being overweight is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin. However, you don't have to be overweight to develop type 2 diabetes. Fat distribution. If your body stores fat primarily in your abdomen, your risk of type 2 diabetes is greater than if your body stores fat elsewhere, such as your hips and thighs. Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin. Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes. Race. Although it's unclear why, people of certain races — including blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian-Americans — are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than whites are. Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. That's probably because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as they age. But type 2 diabetes is also increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults. Prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Left untreated, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. If you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kilograms), you're also at risk of type 2 diabetes. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

10. Polycystic ovarian syndrome. For women, having polycystic ovarian syndrome — a common condition characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth and obesity — increases the risk of diabetes. Complications Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore, especially in the early stages when you're feeling fine. But diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Controlling your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications. Although long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually, they can eventually be disabling or even life-threatening. Some of the potential complications of diabetes include: #) Heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke, narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure. #) Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in the legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward. Poorly controlled blood sugar can eventually cause you to lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the nerves that control digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, erectile dysfunction may be an issue. #) Kidney damage (nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, which often eventually requires dialysis or a kidney transplant. #) Eye damage. Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy),potentially leading to blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of other serious vision conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

11. #) Foot damage. Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections, which may heal poorly. Severe damage might require toe, foot or leg amputation. impairment. Hearing #)Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes. #) Skin conditions. Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections. #) Alzheimer's disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The poorer your blood sugar control, the greater the risk appears to be. The exact connection between these two conditions still remains unclear. Prevention Healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent type 2 diabetes. Even if you have diabetes in your family, diet and exercise can help you prevent the disease. If you've already received a diagnosis of diabetes, you can use healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent complications. And if you have prediabetes, lifestyle changes can slow or halt the progression from prediabetes to diabetes. Eat healthy foods. Choose foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Get physical. Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. Take a brisk daily walk. Ride a bike. Swim laps. If you can't fit in a long workout, spread 10- minute or longer sessions throughout the day. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

12. Lose excess pounds. If you're overweight, losing 7 percent of your body weight can reduce the risk of diabetes. To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits.Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem. medication is an option as well. Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others), an oral diabetes medication, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes — but healthy lifestyle choices remain essential. Sometimes Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant. Most of the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, if you’ve had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Sometimes diabetes pregnancy is actually type 2 diabetes. diagnosed during Symptoms Gestational diabetes symptoms can be subtle—or even nonexistent—and some can be mistaken for typical side effects of pregnancy, like the urge to pee frequently. Here are some possible signs of gestational diabetes that should be brought to your doctor’s attention: Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

13. Blurred vision Tingling or numbness in the hands and/or feet Excessive thirst Frequent urination Sores that heal slowly Excessive fatigue Causes and Risk Factors One of the gestational diabetes causes is the surge of hormones that your body produces to help your pregnancy thrive. Those additional hormones can keep your body from using your insulin effectively to maintain the right blood sugar levels.There are a number of risk factors for gestational diabetes. Your ob-gyn will likely monitor you for this type of diabetes during pregnancy if you: Are over 25 years old Are obese Have a family history of diabetes Had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy Previously gave birth to a baby who weighed over 9.5 pounds Previously had a stillborn baby Are Asian, Native American/Pacific Islander black/African-American, Latina/Hispanic, Prevention While there’s no way to avoid gestational diabetes completely, a few things can minimize the chances of developing the condition. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

14. #) Start before you’re expecting. Make a point of eating nutritiously and reaching a healthy weight before you even start trying to conceive. “Preparing three to six months before getting pregnant is the first step in lowering your risk for gestational diabetes,” Ross advises. “Being overweight can affect your ability to get pregnant and to have a healthy pregnancy.” #) Go Mediterranean.“The Mediterranean diet has been embraced by the medical community as the model of healthy living,” Ross says. “Plant foods, fresh fruit, whole grains, fish, lean meats, unprocessed foods and healthy fats are the highlights of this diet.” #) Get moving.“As little as 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise a day can improve your health and well-being,” Ross says. “Exercise can reduce blood pressure, reduce blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol levels, control body weight and body fat and lower your risk of gestational diabetes and other pregnancy complications.” Aim to work out three to five times per week. These lifestyle adjustments may seem basic, but science has shown they can have a huge impact on preventing gestational diabetes. A 2016 study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that when health-care professionals provided counseling on diet, exercise and weight control, the occurrence of gestational diabetes in high-risk women was reduced by 39 percent. In another studyappearing in a 2017 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecologyobese women who exercised (in this case, they used stationary bikes) at least 30 minutes, three times per week during pregnancy nearly halved their risk for gestational diabetes (22 percent versus 40.6 percent). Other types of diabetes Less common types include monogenic diabetes, which is an inherited form of diabetes, and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes . Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

15. How common is diabetes? As of 2015, 30.3 million people in the United States, or 9.4 percent of the population, had diabetes. More than 1 in 4 of them didn’t know they had the disease. Diabetes affects 1 in 4 people over the age of 65. About 90-95 percent of cases in adults are type 2 diabetes.1 Who is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes? You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight. Physical inactivity, race, and certain health problems such as high blood pressure also affect your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. You are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes or had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant. Learn more about risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks

16. What health problems can people with diabetes develop? Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as heart disease stroke kidney disease eye problems dental disease nerve damage foot problems You can take steps to lower your chances of developing these diabetes-related health problems. Click to know: Doctors Reverse Type 2 Diabetes in Three Weeks References [1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes statistics report, 2017. Centers for Disease website. www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics- report.pdf (PDF, 1.3 MB) . Updated July, 18 2017. Accessed August 1, 2017. Control and Prevention [2] causes/syc-20353011 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms- [3] https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-1-diabetes-guide/type-1-diabetes-treatment- overview [4] https://www.thebump.com/a/gestational-diabetes