DIABETES

The hormone insulin allows glucose to be used by cells for energy production. Diabetes occurs when the body does not secrete enough insulin or if the hormone does not function normally in the body. Diabetes can be controlled by paying attention to diet, weight and physical activities in addition to the recommended medical treatment. There are two types of diabetes. The more serious type I makes the patient insulin dependent. The disease manifests itself before the age of 35, mostly between the ages of 10 and 16. Type I diabetes progresses rapidly and can be fatal if left untreated. Type I diabetes occurs when immune system cells mistakenly attack and destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The susceptibility to the disease may be genetic. Type II, which does not make the person insulin dependent, or diabetes occurring in adults is a more common disease. The disease progresses slowly and mostly affects individuals over the age of 40.

Some people with type II diabetes produce insufficient insulin, but the majority of them develop resistance to insulin and the cells in the body do not respond to the insulin produced. Those with high blood pressure and fat around the waist are more prone to this type of diabetes. Type I diabetes worsens rapidly if left untreated, and high blood sugar levels cause drowsiness and eventually coma. These symptoms are not seen in type II diabetes, but if left untreated, they can lead to cataracts, neurology, kidney disease, heart and other vascular diseases. Shedding extra pounds reduces the risk of type II diabetes. If your close relative has diabetes, if you have high blood pressure, if fat accumulates easily in your abdomen, it becomes even more important to maintain your normal weight.

Diabetes treatment aims to keep blood sugar between normal values. In type I diabetes, daily insulin injections are required. In type II diabetes, medication is usually taken orally instead of an injection. In both types of diabetes, we can keep the disease under control by paying attention to what we eat, losing excess weight and exercising regularly. Eating small and frequent meals at regular intervals throughout the day and eating small meals 4-5 times a day instead of three large meals allows your body to regulate blood sugar better. It is also advantageous for diabetics to consume a milk group food as a night snack before going to bed. Thus, they can eliminate the possibility of low blood sugar at night while asleep.