DIABETES
The general assumption when we talk about
DIABETES is that it is a disease caused by too much consumption of sweet foods (chocolates, candies, etc.). Quite a dangerous misconception.
Diabetes is about having too much sugar in your blood and the lack of Insulin that will take these sugars to where they are needed and will be used (muscle tissues). This sugar, or more accurately,
GLUCOSE, is actually a processed
CARBOHYDRATE and not those sugar in your sweets. (Meaning,
Diabetes is more about eating too much
Carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta, rice, potato, etc., than sweet foods).
Glucose, commonly called blood sugar, is the main source of energy of the cells of our muscles and tissues. But, for Glucose to reach these cells, it needs INSULIN - a hormone produced by the Pancreas. For maximum utilization of energy supplied by the foods we eat, the amount of Insulin must be proportionate to the amount of Glucose in the blood.
Diabetics are people whose body either does not produce Insulin (Type 1) or does not produce enough Insulin (Type 2). If Insulin is non-existent or not enough, Glucose level in the bloodstream will, eventually rise. And too much of anything is toxic, this will eventually damage our eyes, kidneys, nervous and immune system, blood vessels and our heart.
Types of DIABETES
- Type 1 - an inherited DIABETES, also known as JUVENILE DIABETES because it is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Type 1-Diabetics are Insulin-dependent since their body is not capable of producing Insulin.
- Type 2 - the non-insulin-dependent DIABETES. This is the most common type of DIABETES, with 90% of all Diabetics suffering from this type of DIABETES. People who are usually susceptible to this type are those in their 40s and above (not surprising as, at this age, people would have eaten lots of Carbohydrate-rich foods without the corresponding work-out).
Most Common CAUSES of DIABETES
- Genes - especially true for Type 1-Diabetic
- Weight - or, more accurately, being overweight.
- Age - researchers speculate that the natural dysfunction of mitochondria—your cells' power plants—during aging leads to Insulin resistance and decreased insulin production in older people.
- Excessive Drinking and Smoking - causing widespread injury and dysfunction of the Pancreas
Symptoms of DIABETES
Check out the Symptoms of Diabetes. If you are experiencing one or two of these symptoms, better to go to your doctor for an examination :
- Urinating more than usual
- Easily gets tired, hungry or thirsty
- Unusual weight loss
- Blurry vision
- Irritability
- Bruises that are slow to heal
- Dry or itchy skin
Warning : Symptoms of type 2 Diabetes usually develop gradually and are not as noticeable as in type 1 diabetes. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to have no symptoms of type 2 diabetes in the beginning, prior to being diagnosed; instead, they are diagnosed with diabetes after a routine laboratory test. So its best to have regular check-ups.
REMEDY & PREVENTION
- Type 1 - unfortunately, this is not treatable and preventable. You can only control it by taking daily injections of Insulin to maintain a normal level of Glucose. Type 1-Diabetics should also maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy foods and exercising daily.
- Type 2 - not treatable but preventable. A healthy lifestyle is what you need to prevent getting this disease. That healthy lifestyle is also what you need to control the disease once you are already afflicted by it.
Recommended Foods for Diabetics
This will be the main goal of this blog : to guide readers on the natural foods available which will greatly help in the prevention and handling of Diabetes. Natural foods like Fruits and Vegetables - abundant and cheap.
For this task, we will be receiving great help from other Pinoycity blogs which are also in pursuit of promoting a healthy and natural lifestyle. The following blogs will be our partners-in-crime (for lack of a better term) :
- Pinoycity's Fruits : Vital Nutrients
- Pinoycity's Vegetables : Vital Nutrients
