ALL ABOUT DIABETES

CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT AND SUGGESTED LIFESTYLE FOR PEOPLE

WHAT IS DIABETES?
• Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that
affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of
the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called
glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When
your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to
release insulin.
CAUSES OF DIABETES
Causes of type 1 diabetes
• The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. What is known is that your
immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses — attacks
and destroys your insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with
little or no insulin. Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in
your bloodstream.
• Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and
environmental factors, though exactly what those factors are is still unclear.
Weight is not believed to be a factor in type 1 diabetes.
CAUSES OF DIABETES
Causes of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
• In prediabetes — which can lead to type 2 diabetes — and in type 2 diabetes,
your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable
to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your
cells where it's needed for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.
• Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although it's believed that genetic and
environmental factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes too.
Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, but
not everyone with type 2 is overweight.
SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES
Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how • Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a
much your blood sugar is elevated. Some people, especially
byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat
those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may sometimes
not experience symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend that happens when there's not enough available
to come on quickly and be more severe. insulin)
Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 • Fatigue
diabetes are:
• Irritability
• Increased thirst
• Blurred vision
• Frequent urination
• Slow-healing sores
• Extreme hunger
• Frequent infections, such as gums or skin
• Unexplained weight loss
infections and vaginal infections
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR DIABETES?
• Treatment for diabetes requires keeping close watch over your
blood sugar levels (and keeping them at a goal set by your
doctor) with a combination of medications, exercise, and diet.
By paying close attention to what and when you eat, you can
minimize or avoid the "seesaw effect" of rapidly changing blood
sugar levels, which can require quick changes in medication
dosages, especially insulin.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO CONTROL YOUR DIABETES

• 1. Eat healthy. This is crucial when you have diabetes, because what you eat affects
your blood sugar. No foods are strictly off-limits. Focus on eating only as much as your
body needs. Get plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. This is even more
important if you take insulin or drugs to control your blood sugars.

• 2. Exercise. If you're not active now, it’s time to start. An active lifestyle helps you
control your diabetes by bringing down your blood sugar. It also lowers your chances of
getting heart disease. Plus, it can help you lose extra pounds and ease stress.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO CONTROL YOUR DIABETES

• 3. Get checkups. See your doctor at least twice a year. Diabetes raises your odds
of heart disease. So learn your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, and A1c (average
blood sugar over 3 months). Get a full eye exam every year.Visit a foot doctor to check
for problems like foot ulcers and nerve damage.

• 4. Manage stress. When you're stressed, your blood sugar levels go up. And when
you're anxious, you may not manage your diabetes well. You may forget to exercise, eat
right, or take your medicines. Find ways to relieve stress -- through deep breathing, yoga,
or hobbies that relax you.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO CONTROL YOUR DIABETES

• 5. Stop smoking. Diabetes makes you more likely to have health

problems like heart disease, eye disease, stroke, kidney disease, blood vessel
disease, nerve damage, and foot problems. If you smoke, your chance of getting
these problems is even higher. Smoking also can make it harder to exercise. Talk
with your doctor about ways to quit.

• 6. Watch your alcohol. It may be easier to control your blood sugar if you
don’t get too much beer, wine, and liquor. So if you choose to drink, don't overdo it.