Diabetes is a disease caused by having too much sugar or glucose in your blood.
Glucose is the primary source of energy for your body.
Your body processes the food you eat and turns it into glucose.
Your bloodstream carries glucose to other parts of your body.
Glucose is used by your body to create energy.
Diabetes is a condition caused by your body having trouble turning glucose into energy.
When glucose is not used by your body, it builds up in your blood.
Consequently, your body is starved for energy.
Diabetes is a very serious disease that, over time, can cause problems with many parts of your body, including your: ...
heart ...
eyes ...
feet ...
kidneys ...
nerves ...
and other parts of your body such as your teeth and your hands.
Even though there is no known cure for diabetes, you can prevent and/or control diabetes through proper diet and exercise.
Medicine is also available to help control diabetes.
You may have diabetes and not even know it.
Some of the warning signs include: 1...
constantly being very thirsty 2...
feeling tired on a regular basis for no apparent reason 3...
the need to frequently urinate 4...
unexplained weight loss over time 5...
you may have sores that do not heal 6...
suffering from blurred vision 7...
tingling or a "pins and needles" feeling in your feet These symptoms will not be experienced by everyone who has diabetes.
However, if you have one or more of these symptoms, you should seriously consider visiting your doctor for a diagnosis.
The most common type of diabetes common in adults over age 40 is Type 2 diabetes.
This is the type of diabetes most commonly discussed.
In addition to age, another common denominator with Type 2 diabetes is that most people suffering from this disease are overweight.
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body is unable to properly use the glucose in your blood.
Consequently, your blood sugar level is too high.
Your doctor can determine if your blood glucose level is higher than normal.
If it is, your doctor will probably advise you that you have pre-diabetes, and that you are at risk for getting Type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease.
Consider these common risk factors for diabetes: 1...
are you overweight? 2...
do you exercise less than 3 times a week? 3...
are you over 40 years old? 4...
do you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol? 5...
are you African American, Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American or Pacific Islander 6...
do you have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes? Fortunately, there are actions you can take to prevent the occurrence of diabetes.
1...
Watch your weight.
It appears that losing just 7% of your body weight can significantly lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, 14 pounds is 7% of your body weight.
2...
Develop healthy eating habits.
By eating healthy foods, you can control your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and significantly reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
3...
Become active and stay active.
By simply being or becoming physically active every day, you can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a terrible disease, but by intelligently managing your lifestyle, you significantly increase your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Glucose is the primary source of energy for your body.
Your body processes the food you eat and turns it into glucose.
Your bloodstream carries glucose to other parts of your body.
Glucose is used by your body to create energy.
Diabetes is a condition caused by your body having trouble turning glucose into energy.
When glucose is not used by your body, it builds up in your blood.
Consequently, your body is starved for energy.
Diabetes is a very serious disease that, over time, can cause problems with many parts of your body, including your: ...
heart ...
eyes ...
feet ...
kidneys ...
nerves ...
and other parts of your body such as your teeth and your hands.
Even though there is no known cure for diabetes, you can prevent and/or control diabetes through proper diet and exercise.
Medicine is also available to help control diabetes.
You may have diabetes and not even know it.
Some of the warning signs include: 1...
constantly being very thirsty 2...
feeling tired on a regular basis for no apparent reason 3...
the need to frequently urinate 4...
unexplained weight loss over time 5...
you may have sores that do not heal 6...
suffering from blurred vision 7...
tingling or a "pins and needles" feeling in your feet These symptoms will not be experienced by everyone who has diabetes.
However, if you have one or more of these symptoms, you should seriously consider visiting your doctor for a diagnosis.
The most common type of diabetes common in adults over age 40 is Type 2 diabetes.
This is the type of diabetes most commonly discussed.
In addition to age, another common denominator with Type 2 diabetes is that most people suffering from this disease are overweight.
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body is unable to properly use the glucose in your blood.
Consequently, your blood sugar level is too high.
Your doctor can determine if your blood glucose level is higher than normal.
If it is, your doctor will probably advise you that you have pre-diabetes, and that you are at risk for getting Type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease.
Consider these common risk factors for diabetes: 1...
are you overweight? 2...
do you exercise less than 3 times a week? 3...
are you over 40 years old? 4...
do you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol? 5...
are you African American, Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American or Pacific Islander 6...
do you have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes? Fortunately, there are actions you can take to prevent the occurrence of diabetes.
1...
Watch your weight.
It appears that losing just 7% of your body weight can significantly lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, 14 pounds is 7% of your body weight.
2...
Develop healthy eating habits.
By eating healthy foods, you can control your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and significantly reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
3...
Become active and stay active.
By simply being or becoming physically active every day, you can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a terrible disease, but by intelligently managing your lifestyle, you significantly increase your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.