Essentially, diabetes (or diabeetus lol) occurs when there is a problem with the blood glucose regulating hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is responsible for controlling the flow of glucose from the blood into body tissues where it is converted into energy. Excess glucose consumed over and above energy requirements is stored as fat. When insulin is not working properly the glucose can't leave the blood and so builds up causing high blood sugar levels.
There are 2 main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas can't make insulin, generally because of an autoimmune destruction of insulin-making cells. Patients typically require insulin replacement therapy and it is possible to successfully manage Type 1 diabetes with insulin injections, nutrition and exercise.
Type 2, which is more common, is caused when cells no longer respond correctly to insulin and take up sufficient blood sugar (insulin resistance) and / or the pancreas can no longer produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is strongly related to life style habits including obesity, smoking and so on. It is therefore highly preventable but regrettably is on the increase in western societies because of poor life style choices.
The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes which occurs in pregnant women due to increased blood sugar levels. If left uncorrected it can cause fat build up and excessive growth in the unborn child. Gestational diabetes is known to occur more commonly in certain groups of women including:
- Women over 30 years of age
- Women with a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Women who are overweight or obese
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Women of particular cultural groups, such as Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, Polynesian and Melanesian women
- Women who had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.
Pre-diabetes is a transition phase between normal blood sugar and Type 2 blood sugar levels. At that stage the condition is controllable and indeed reversible as insulin levels are still sufficient to cope but if left untreated it will develop into full blown Type 2 diabetes.
Cure for diabetes??
Unfortunately there is no cure for diabetes (yet). Successful treatment revolves around controlling blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels and making healthy life style choices. Sometimes these treatments are sufficient to significantly reduce the condition to the point where an almost normal, albeit more careful, lifestyle can be resumed.
Health and Nutrition strategist Matt Traverso has put together a program which helps Type 2 diabetes sufferers and those with pre-diabetes to get back in control of their condition. Underneath the inevitable marketing hype and drama which accompanies the promotion for this program is a seriously good
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