According to Diabetes Canada (www.diabetes.ca), about 8% of Canadians are suffering with diabetes in Canada. It’s important that you know the early signs of diabetes before it’s too late to control this chronic disease. Having diabetes means that you may avoid eating certain foods which are high in saturated fats, sodium, and cholesterol. Read more to learn about the basics of diabetes and how you can prevent it from happening to you by visiting at www.diabetes.ca.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness that is a result of having excessive glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. The primary cause of this disease is when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin or not functional to regulate glucose levels which in turn causes a spike in your blood sugar. Having diabetes can put you at risk for other chronic ailments like heart disease, vision problems, and even impotence in men.
What are the types of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is also known as “insulin-dependent diabetes” or “juvenile diabetes.” This is considered to be more dangerous than type 2 diabetes and typically occurs in children and young adults. While the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is still unknown, family medical history can also be a risk factor in 10% to 15% of patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Those with other known autoimmune hormone-related diseases are also prone to developing this type of diabetes.
Meanwhile, those with type 2 diabetes or “adult-onset diabetes” are usually diagnosed after the age of 40. About 90% to 95% of those with diabetes have this kind of diabetes. According to some studies, type 2 diabetes has slowly become one of the fastest growing epidemics in this modern age. Obese children are also at risk of developing this type of diabetes as unhealthy food options are more readily accessible and affordable for the masses.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Between 3 – 20% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, depending on their risk factors. In most cases women with gestational diabetes did not have diabetes before their pregnancy; however, after giving birth, the diabetes usually goes away.
Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but are not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Although not everyone with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes, many people will.If left unmanaged, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes will increase. Taking steps to manage your blood sugar can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The key is a healthy lifestyle.
Common symptoms
You should consider consulting your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms which may indicate early signs of diabetes like:
- Unexpected weight loss
- Slow healing wounds
- Blurred vision
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained fatigue
Did you get diagnosed?
Your doctor may perform blood tests to measure and determine the type of diabetes and the severity of your condition. A urine test may also be necessary to see if there are any abnormalities in your ketone levels which is usually a result of low insulin levels in your blood.
For Canadians, Diabetes Canada (www.diabetes.ca ) is proving very useful information about the disease, prevention, and lifestyle habits including the diet plans. Visiting their website is very helpful in planning to a control diabatic condition.