What To Know About Diabetes I & II
March 6, 2009 by Tisha Tolar
Filed under Health Issues
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), one of the most prevalent medical conditions in today’s society, is caused by the body’s inability to process sugars properly. In 
a healthy person, the body can break down and process consumed sugars, called glucose, naturally and then circulate it into the blood stream where is will wait for a hormone which is produced by the pancreas to incorporate it into the body’s cells. A healthy pancreas works to adjust the levels of insulin in the body, based on the amounts of glucose present. In a diabetic person, the glucose break down does not occur properly and the body’s level of sugar will get too high.
Type of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes. With both types of diabetes, glucose can not move into the body’s cells so the levels of glucose in one’s body will become high. If the levels of glucose are not carefully controlled, serious medical complications can arise.
Type I diabetics are those individuals who are totally unable to produce insulin naturally in their bodies. Type I diabetes generally occurs before the age of 30 but can essentially develop at any age. Genetic disorders may be responsible for some types of diabetes. Type I diabetics will require frequent injections of insulin to control sugar levels.
Type II diabetics are those individuals who can naturally produce insult but have cells who do not respond to it, having developed a resistance. Type II diabetes generally appears in people over the age of 35 but can still happen at other ages, including childhood. Statistics show that nearly 95% of diabetic cases are considered to be Type II diabetes. Lifestyle issues are often the root cause of Type II diabetes.
Gestational diabetes will affect a small percentage of pregnant women, occurring usually in the second trimester of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes typically will go away after the woman gives birth. Developing gestational diabetes can lead to serious medical problems for both the mother and the baby if not diagnosed or treated properly. Diet and exercise during pregnancy is usually the recommended treatment plan. Doctors may need to prescribe additional medication in some cases. Gestational diabetes occurring in pregnancy will likely lead to additional occurrences in subsequent pregnancies and may signal the development of Type II diabetes at some later point in life.
Managing Diabetes
Type II diabetes often can be effectively managed through proper diet and exercise. Being overweight is one of the causes that can trigger Type II diabetes. Controlling your weight during the pre-stages of diabetes can help reduce your risks for developing a full-blown case of the condition. During the early stages, the body will process additional insulin to keep glucose levels normal. When the cells become resistant to the insulin, the pancreas will continue producing insulin, causing blood sugars to rise. High glucose levels are connected with blood vessel damage around the heart and can lead to clogged arteries.
Using exercise as a management tool for diabetes can help reverse the high production rate of insulin and allow the pancreas to begin functioning normally again. Studies show that a majority of Type II diabetics will have a lowered level of blood sugar after a routine of mild to moderate levels of exercise. Exercise helps to burn the energy stored in muscle cells, which makes the cells require more glucose. This allows the glucose to be absorbed into the cells rather than turning it into fat.
For diabetics, it is recommended that you start out with at least a program of exercise for 15 minutes twice to three times a day. Your goal is to keep increasing the time and level of activities you are doing and work up to three 30 minute sessions a day to keep your blood pumping and your body healthy. Even walking is a simple but a very effective means of fitness. Walking every day is a great exercise for controlling diabetes. Other cardiovascular activities are a good for managing diabetes.
Managing Your Diet
Controlling your sugar intake is essential to managing your diabetes. Reducing refined grains, including pastas and white bread. Plan a diet rich in fiber such as beans and nuts and keep fresh fruits and vegetables included in your daily diet. Cancel out out saturated and trans-fats. Start reading labels and pay attention to what you are eating each day. Controlling your diet can help you reduce the levels of glucose in your blood and prevent the need for additional injections of insulin.
