Diabetes and Your Body
Diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot produce insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugars, starches and other food into energy that wee need for day to day activities. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), over 20.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, while another 6.2 million people don’t even know that they have the disease.
Detecting Diabetes
People are tested for diabetes through two types of tests: a fasting plasma glucose test (FPGT) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Both tests are used to determine whether or not a person is predisposed to Diabetes or if the person already has Diabetes. FPG tests that result in blood glucose levels of 126 mg or higher indicate that a person has diabetes. OGT tests that result in blood glucose levels of 200 mg or higher indicate that a person has diabetes.
Types of Diabetes
There are several types of diabetes. The most commonly known ones are Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is less common among people and results from the body’s failure to produce insulin. Most Americans are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which results from insulin resistance and deficiency. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This affects approximately 4% of all pregnant women. Usually, it develops when the woman is pregnant due to hormone changes, and after the baby is born, usually goes back to normal. Many people also have what is known as “pre-diabetes,” which is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are high but not necessarily high enough for that person to be diagnosed with diabetes.
Prevention
If you are at risk for getting diabetes (either it runs in your family or you have pre-diabetes symptoms), then the best way to prevent yourself from being diagnosed is to monitor what you eat as well as stay active. Also, healthy lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, increasing exercise and going for regular checkups can greatly reduce your chances of getting diabetes.
Myths About Diabetes
We have all heard various information about diabetes. The following are some of the myths that the ADA has dispelled:
- Eating too much sugar causes diabetes- Not true. Diabetes is caused by genetic and lifestyle factors. However, being overweight CAN increase your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.
- People with diabetes can’t eat starchy foods- Not true. Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean that you can’t eat what you once used to. It simply means that you have to decrease your portion sizes and eat in moderation, which is advice that everyone (not just diabetics) should follow.
Having diabetes doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Over the years, there have been numerous medical advances that have made living with diabetes a positive experience for those who have it.
|
Drug Addiction Recovery Texas and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Texas Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams |