General Health Advice

Diabetes can happen to anyone. If someone is suffering from diabetes, then how is it recognized? What are the symptoms of diabetes? These kinds of questions are more common among people. One thing to keep in mind is that the symptoms for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are almost the same. Symptoms of diabetes are related to increased glucose level in the blood and less supply of glucose to the cells where it is needed. The simple cause behind this increased glucose level in the blood of type1 is the lack of hormone called insulin while in the blood of type 2 is the development of insulin resistance. Following are the symptoms that are most commonly seen in a patient suffering from diabetes.

1. Frequent Urination

This is the first and a very important warning sign of diabetes. If the level of glucose is increased in the blood, then kidney tries to dilute this glucose. Due to this, the urinary bladder of a diabetic patient is constantly full resulting in frequent urination.   
2. Increased Thirst

As mentioned above in frequent urination, kidneys take water from the blood to dilute glucose, so diabetic patients get dehydrated and so they often feel thirsty.

3. Hunger

Sometimes people feel hungry even after having food or they may feel hungry at some odd times of the day. This is also an important symptom of a diabetic patient.

4. Sudden Weight Loss

In type 1 diabetic patient; this symptom is more common rather than in type 2 diabetic patient. Sudden weight loss occurs in a diabetic patient when the body immune system attacks insulin that is responsible for producing beta cells. Without insulin, these beta cells are unable to transform glucose into energy. The cells then make use of muscles and fat cells for energy. It happens gradually in type 2 diabetics so it is less noticeable there.

5. Fatigue and Tiredness

Diabetic people feel fatigue and tired due to lack of enough energy to the body cells.

6. Blurry vision

The increased glucose level in the blood affects the nerves of the eyes which results in blurry vision. This is the initial stage and if not treated properly, it may also result into blindness.

7. Numbness in hands and feet

As the increased glucose level in the blood affects the nervous system adversely, lack of proper blood circulation in the different parts of the body causes the numbness in hands and feet.

8. Vomiting and Nausea

Sometimes a diabetic patient may also suffer from vomiting and varying degrees of nausea. This happens due to the fluctuating behavior of glucose in the body.

9. Slow Healing

A diabetic patient having infections can have the problem of slow healing. This is mostly seen in the sores and cuts that do not get heal soon.

10. Memory Problems

In diabetes, a person may suffer from many memory problems like the concentration levels are highly affected. The fluctuating glucose level can cause many chemical imbalances in the body that can cause both physical and psychological symptoms.

If any person is suffering from anyone of the above mentioned symptom, it is suggested that they should immediately consult a doctor.

Doctors are still researching on the causes of diabetes. The exact causes of diabetes are not known but still some of the factors that mostly lead to diabetes are listed below:

1. General Factor:

The most general cause of diabetes is the insufficient supply of insulin to the body cells. This usually occurs when the pancreas is not capable of generating enough insulin or else due to the resistance of the body cells to insulin.

2. Gestational Diabetes (GDM):

The hormonal changes that occur during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result into diabetes. Actually, during this period hormones are released by the placenta. These hormones are usually responsible for the blockage of the normal secretion of insulin for providing enough glucose to baby. Thus, in pregnant women, it becomes necessary to increase the insulin level. If we fail to do this, then it gives rise to GDM. It is found that approximately 5% of women suffer from GDM. As we know what is the cause of GDM, on the other side, it is not known that why it occurs in only a few women.

3. Type 1 Diabetes:

This kind of diabetes is caused due to damage to the pancreas as a result of an auto-immune attack where the immune system of the body starts to attack the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. 

4. Type 2 Diabetes And Pre-Diabetes:

The causes of Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are similar. Pre-Diabetes is an early form of type-2 diabetes. Type 2 is a kind of diabetes that develops in the body, when the body stops responding to insulin. To this condition, the pancreas react by producing additional insulin and the liver react by releasing extra glucose. Over time this limits the effectiveness of the pancreas and further increases insulin resistance in the body. Type 2 diabetes is depends upon age, ethnicity, family history, inactivity and obesity.

5. Rumors:

Many times it happens that the exact cause of diabetes is unknown. In such cases, there can be a number of suggestions.These include:

• Being contagious- there is a hereditary element but it cannot be passed directly from person to person
• Diabetes being caused by sugar- excessive sugar consumption does not cause diabetes but is linked with obesity, a diabetes risk factor
• Stress causing diabetes-stress can aggravate the condition in diabetics but there is currently no evidence that it causes diabetes

Thus, now, we have an overall idea of what exactly happens inside our body when one suffers from diabetes. Therefore, it is suggested that you should immediately concern the doctor to figure out the exact cause of diabetes you are suffering from and use proper remedy accordingly.

Diabetes is a disease that is caused due to lack of insulin (a hormone responsible for converting blood sugar into energy) in the body. But how you can test for diabetes? See whether you are a victim of diabetes or not? Then only it is possible for you to take the necessary steps for controlling diabetes. Here are the top four tests for diabetes that will help you in the diagnosis of the disease.

1. FASTING PLASMA GLUCOSE (FPG) TEST

It is one of the most popular tests for detecting diabetes. However, it has a disadvantage that it is not suitable for the gestational diabetes (a form of diabetes which develops during pregnancy). The doctor will only use this test if you are not pregnant.

Initially, you will be scheduled for a FPG test. Your doctor will ask you to eat nothing eight hours before the test. In FPG test, your doctor will measure your blood sugar level using your blood sample. This blood sample will then be analyzed based on the following rules:

• A blood sugar level of 99 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) or less = Normal.
• A blood sugar level of between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL = Impaired Fasting Glucose (a form of pre-diabetes which if left untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes).
• A blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or greater = Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. In this instance you will be given another FPG for accuracy. If both FPGs suggest that you have diabetes your doctor will investigate further and diagnose you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

2. ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT)

This test is the same as that of FPG but it overcomes the drawback of FPG and is used to detect all kinds of diabetes. It is performed after the FPG test. If you are a man or a non-pregnant woman, then after the FPG test is being completed, the doctor will give you a glucose drink and take your blood samples after you finished your drink. If you are pregnant you will be given the glucose drink without an FPG test and regular blood samples will be taken following consumption. In both the conditions, the blood samples that are finally obtained will be used for the diagnosis of diabetes using the following rules:

• A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or less = Normal.
• A blood sugar level of between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL = Impaired Fasting Glucose (a form of pre-diabetes which if left untreated can develop into type 2 diabetes).
• A blood sugar reading of 200 mg/dL or greater = Type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. If you are a pregnant woman then you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Otherwise your doctor will investigate further and diagnose you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

3. RANDOM BLOOD GLUCOSE (RBG) TEST

This test involves a random blood test being taken. This test can be performed without the help of your doctor using a device called glucose meter which is used to calculate the approximate glucose level in your blood. In this test, your finger is pricked with a lancing device that will give a small amount of blood. Take this blood on a strip and put this strip in the glucose meter to get a reading. Repeat for more than two times. If multiple RBG tests show that you have blood sugar levels higher than 200 mg/dL then you may have diabetes.

Although RBG tests are easy to perform you should not do them yourself. They are approximately 10% as accurate as laboratory tests and therefore any concerns you may have as the result of multiple RBG tests should be followed up with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to give you the proper suggestion as per the requirement.

4. GLYCOSYLATED HAEMOGLOBIN TEST

Haemoglobin bounded with glucose is referred to as Glycosylated Haemoglobin. Glycosylated haemoglobin cells usually last for between two to four months. If you are suffering from diabetes or are unable to manage your diabetes effectively the level of glycosylated haemoglobin in your blood will increase. In the beginning of this test, your doctor will take a blood sample and analyze the glycosylated haemoglobin levels based on the following results:

• Glycosylated haemoglobin levels of between 4% and 6% = Normal.
• Glycosylated haemoglobin levels below 7% = Diabetes that is under control.
• Glycosylated haemoglobin levels greater than 7% = Diabetes that is not under control.

All the four techniques mentioned above will help you to detect whether you have diabetes or not. These tests should be performed under the supervision of the doctor. As the doctors have detailed knowledge about all the effects and results, they will be able to tell you more about your condition and also the appropriate remedy to control the disease.

There are a number of methods to cure diabetes. However, it cannot be completely cured using only the medicines of the doctor, some additional steps are required to at your own in order to clear your diabetes completely. So here are some natural methods that can definitely help you to get rid of the miseries that you suffer in diabetes.

1. Diet

The first thing that affects a person’s health is the food he eats. Diabetes is largely affected by the food intake of a person. In the natural methods suggested for diabetes, first comes about controlling the blood sugar level. Some variety of foods can have more impact than others as body reacts differently to the sharp spikes and lows of sugar levels.

One most important point to remember in case of diet related to a diabetic patient is that he has to control the intake of sugary food. Although we always prefer to eat sugary food, it is the sugar that can cause a huge harm to your body while suffering from diabetes. To cure diabetes, it becomes necessary to eat a lot of dark green leafy vegetables and to have a check on the intake of the level of carbohydrates regularly.

2. Exercise

A method to cure the diabetes naturally includes right amount of exercise. You should consult a doctor and find out the best and the most appropriate exercise for your body to fight with diabetes. Doctors will tell you in detail about initially which exercise you should implement and how to progress in it. Most of them suggest you walking as it is one of the best way to increase the circulation of blood in your body especially the legs as legs are the trouble spots for circulation in diabetic people. 

Once you have decided what kind of exercise you are going to perform daily, you can progress to the next level of exercise that you perform daily and achieve much better results. This technique can help you a lot in naturally curing the disease-Diabetes. You can even have a personal fitness instructor or trainer in order to achieve even higher goals. 

3. Detoxification

Detoxification is another important technique to control diabetes. In this method, the toxins should be eliminated out of the body. Various methods are available to do this. The first and easiest way is to drink right amount of water. Excessive intake of water can help to throw out the body toxins. Other therapies used for detoxification include acupressure and massage. Massage will help to relax the muscles and in turn muscles will help to release the toxins. Mud Pack is also one technique used for detoxification. The mud helps to draw them out and help clear the body.

While implementing any of this technique it is necessary to get advice or help from your doctor. This will help in getting your results much faster and they will be more effective.