Blood sugar is an important term that affects the glucose level in the body. Glucose is the sugar that is required by the body for energy and to function properly. All foods that contain carbs and fat are converted into glucose. However, our body can control blood sugar levels.
What is Diabetes?
There are two types of hormones, the anabolic hormone, insulin, which decreases the level of glucose, while the catabolic hormone, which increases the level of hormone. Diabetes mellitus is a symptom or a disease in which the pancreas is unable to secrete insulin naturally, therefore the blood sugar level rises in the body.
Untreated diabetes can damage organs slowly. It attacks the immune system making you prone to all kinds of disease.
Symptoms of Diabetes
- Increase in hunger
- Increase in thirst
- Weight loss
- Frequent urination
- Blurry vision
- Fatigue
- Decreased sex
- Poor muscle strength
- UTI
- Yeast infections
- Dry, itchy skin
- Slow healing of sores
Men and women show different signs of diabetes. However, once it is diagnosed patients must keep a regular check on their blood sugar. There are blood sugar monitoring machines that are available in the market. They are user-friendly and are good for at-home sugar level monitoring.
There are different types of diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It attacks the immune system and kills pancreas cells. It occurs when you have anyone in the family with the condition.
- Type 2 diabetes happens when the body declines to make insulin and sugar accumulates in the body. It majorly happens due to inactive lifestyle, obesity, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides, or parents or siblings with the condition.
There are pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes which can be controlled with a lifestyle change, and food.
Treatment of diabetes
- For type 1 diabetes, insulin is the only option. It can be taken in injection or tablet form. Depending upon the criticality the dosage is decided by the doctor.
- Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by making certain lifestyle changes. If it still doesn’t help then you might have to take a certain medication.
Diet for diabetes
Diabetes may sound like a common term that you have heard in many places. But it is a slow poison that can kill a person miserably. This is why doctors recommend a special diabetes diet for diabetic people so that they can keep their sugar levels in control. Whether it is Type1 or Type 2 diabetes, avoiding starch and sugary food items is equally important in both cases. Including food items with balanced protein, fat and carbs help in getting a balanced sugar level.
Diabetic patients must get Diabetes tests done regularly. Three types of diabetes tests are important –
- Fasting
- Postprandial
- HBA1C
The HBA1C blood test is done to monitor the average blood sugar level in the past 3 months. If your fasting and PP are normal, it doesn’t mean that your diabetes is in control.
Blood sugar testing is important. Your regular monitoring will help your doctor decide if the medicine has to be changed or diet or everything remains the same. Sigma Diagnostic has a team of expert diagnosticians that are proficient enough to help you with the blood sugar testing. Book an appointment with us by clicking here.