Authoritative statistics show that the number of confirmed diabetics in mainland China has exceeded 110 million, accounting for almost 1/4 of the total number of diabetes in the world. Numbers are soaring out of control.
In the long run, one in every ten people on the mainland has this disease.
There are more than 130 million people with diabetes on the mainland, and about 350 million more people are prediabetes, which means they are likely to develop the disease. These people's blood glucose levels are in danger zones and can quickly turn into full-blown diabetes at any time. Given that this is a serious situation and that there are many people affected, it is necessary to educate oneself.
Learn about diabetes
Your body produces many hormones to help your system function. One of the essential ones is insulin. The pancreas is responsible for making this hormone because it allows you to digest food. When the glucose in your system is higher than it should be, your insulin is not enough to control excess glucose.
People with type I diabetes usually experience this condition in childhood and are the most severe. There is no cure and management can be cumbersome. Type II diabetes is completely different because it usually develops later in life. Many people can control disease or even reverse it by changing their eating habits and exercising.
Metabolic disorders can lead to diabetes in the body. Many people do not have any symptoms until they are determined through routine blood tests in a doctor's office. However, some people whose blood glucose levels reach the danger zone, they develop unpleasant symptoms.
Nine common symptoms of diabetes
When you hear the word diabetes, it can sound confusing. Since you've heard of type I, type II, and pregnancy, you should know that the medical community uses this term to classify any disease that affects blood sugar levels. Regardless of the type you have, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
1 – Excessive thirst
Your body desperately wants to clear too much sugar from your body, so the kidneys excrete it with urine. However, flushing all this extra fluid will take away the fluid your cells need, and you'll need to replenish them. Excessive thirst is a common problem when your blood sugar levels are high.
2 – Neuropathy
Neuropathy does not begin immediately in people with diabetes, but occurs with the onset of nerve damage. According to Blood Glucose 101, nerve damage can occur as long as your blood glucose level is above 140 mg/dL. It is crucial to keep your numbers below this range, otherwise your feet and legs will feel needle, as well as organ damage.
One of the most common reasons people have amputations is because they have such nerve damage that the blood flowing to the area is damaged.
3 – Visual impairment
Once you develop diabetes, your vision suffers. When the glucose in your body is too high, it thickens your blood. This consistency is like oil in your engine for too long and it turns into sludge.
This sludge-like substance has a hard time getting through your body, and many parts don't get the important nutrients they need. The eye is a significantly affected area. Some people notice that their vision is blurred when their sugar content is high. Others develop a terrible disease called macular degeneration because the levels are too high for too long.
4 – Diabetes can cause headaches
It doesn't take much to get your whole body out of balance, and too much blood sugar can cause headaches. Headaches can be very severe or faint and don't go away.
5 – Frequent urination
Your body is desperately trying to get rid of the excess sugar in your body, so the natural way to flush it is through urine.
6 – Weight loss
Many people don't realize they've developed diabetes until they experience unexplained weight loss without trying. It's usually not a lot of weight, but it's enough to get attention.
Because your body can't use insulin efficiently. Sugar builds up in your bloodstream and your body starts burning muscle and fat to try to compensate. Therefore, the kidneys have a lot to do with this weight loss because they are flushing out waste quickly.
7 – Fatigue usually stems from diabetes
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes often complain of fatigue. Getting up in the morning and walking around is probably all you can do. Part of the reason is that your body isn't making or utilizing insulin, and your cells are deprived. Fatigue is a common problem with diabetes.
8 - Anxiety
Have you been feeling anxious or nervous lately? Elevated glucose levels may cause it. Complex emotional impacts are hard to ignore. Most of these mood disorders occur when a person's blood sugar fluctuates from high to low. Being in such a serious situation day in and day out can make you very anxious.
9 – Hypertension
It's not uncommon for people with diabetes to have high blood pressure and may even have a heart attack or stroke. Remember that blood is damaged, so it cannot nourish or flow the way it needs to. Gestational diabetes is a disease found during pregnancy, and the first symptom that doctors observe is high blood pressure.
Unlike other types of diseases, gestational diabetes disappears once the mother gives birth. However, the medical community is very aggressive in spotting this early, and they conduct glucose tolerance tests to understand how the body responds to sugar. When glucose levels in the body continue to rise during pregnancy, such as above average birth weight, there are many dangers to the unborn child.
5 Smart Tips for Managing Diabetes
Managing diabetes is no easy task and requires trial and error. Some people find that eating sugar-free foods helps them, but others find that the sugar alcohols used in them still increase sugar. However, there are a few things that can help effectively control the disease.
1. Drink plenty of water
Dehydration is not a good thing for people with diabetes. You need to replace the water that your body rinses, which helps to remove excess sugar from your system.
2. Exercise to defeat diabetes
It seems that most doctors prescribe exercise for almost every disease. This is because many people don't take the time to move their bodies the way they should. When you get up and move, too much sugar in the system is washed away. Plus, you're releasing important neurotransmitters that will only help you improve your mood.
3. Add lemon to your diet
Many people don't know that lemons are an excellent addition to the diet of diabetics. When you're done drinking all the water, add some natural lemon juice.
Lemon is very effective at helping sugar, and it's a great all-natural tool that can help you prevent sugar spikes. According to the Texas Kidney Center, the soluble fiber and vitamin C in lemons help maintain glucose.
4. Eat more protein and fiber
It helps if you have protein, so observing the keto or Atkins diet is very helpful for people with diabetes. Remember to consume large amounts of healthy fat and protein as it helps control blood sugar. Also, be sure to add nuts and fiber to your diet as it helps maintain balance.
5. Avoid sugar
Having diabetes doesn't mean you can never eat dessert, but it should be a treat, not something that happens every day. When you have diabetes, you have to change your eating habits. Consuming sugar can be very harmful and can cause your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. If you stay away from processed foods and starchy foods, that will help.
Diabetes is a wake-up call for many people to stay healthy. If you have type II diabetes, you may be overweight and have poor eating habits. However, obesity is not the only reason people develop the disease, as genetics plays a huge role.