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In Spain, more than 6 million adults suffer from diabetes. 90% of cases are type 2. We talk about how to prevent and treat it.
Discovering that we have a disease that cannot be cured, such as diabetes, is not easy for anyone to digest. Probably the first thing you feel is a feeling of unreality and injustice. Accepting the disease, however, is the first necessary step in learning to live with it and keep it at bay. For this, going to a psychologist or a support group can be helpful and, above all, follow the instructions of the specialist who treats you to the letter.
According to statistics, 9 out of 10 adults in our country suffer from type 2 diabetes. The consequences of this disease can be serious if patients do not faithfully follow the treatment. However, a better quality of life can be achieved by choosing the healthy lifestyle path. And that is the objective of this article: to explain what diabetes is, what its types are, how to prevent it, how to detect and treat it.
What is the diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that appears when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not use the insulin it produces effectively.
There are three types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes : This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 35 and there is no way to prevent it. It is because the body does not produce insulin, therefore, the patient must inject it daily. This involves daily medication. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of total diabetes cases.
- Type 2 diabetes : It usually arises from the age of forty and is often linked to being overweight, poor eating habits and physical inactivity . The disease can only be diagnosed when it has been evolving for several years and complications have appeared. However, this age is not an exclusive symptom and type 2 diabetes manifests itself in both adults and children.
- Type 3 diabetes : It is known as gestational diabetes that appears in some women during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery. It is characterized by hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar) and increases the risk, both in them and with their children, of having type 2 diabetes in the future.
Can it be prevented?
What causes type 2 diabetes is caused by unhealthy eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, stress, alcohol consumption and lack of sleep. These factors increase glucose levels in the blood and cause an overstrain for the assimilation of that sugar by the cells, generating more insulin.
However, in some cases, this type of diabetes may be due to causes that cannot be prevented , such as genetic factor, age, and diagnosed glucose intolerance.
What can be done?
– Follow your doctor’s recommendations to the letter . Don’t forget the medication, or check your blood sugar frequently. It is also important that you carry out all the necessary medical check-ups before waiting to feel bad.
– Take care of your diet . It is important to follow a balanced diet , low in fat and taking into account that fast absorbing sugars should be taken very sparingly. As for the slowly absorbed carbohydrates, necessary for our body, their consumption must also be controlled. Your medical team will be able to tell you what is the recommended daily amount for you.
Perform moderate and daily physical exercise of greater intensity between one and three times a week. Going for a walk , swimming or yoga can be good options.
– Stop smoking . It is an excellent idea if you have diabetes. You can ask for medical help if you have trouble quitting.
– Enjoy your social life . Explain to your friends and family the specifics of your illness so that they can participate in social gatherings – dinners, family meals – without problems.
– Avoid or moderate alcohol consumption a lot since it favors hypoglycemia. In addition, it can inhibit the effect of medications.
Whatever your case, these tips can help you achieve your Well-Being Goal . It is necessary to understand that creating healthy habits is not delayed and that the quality of life, whatever your situation, can improve if you decide.
