Understand and Control your DIABETES

One of the most common diseases after cold and flu is possibly Diabetes. About 371 million people suffer from diabetes and it being so common, many of us don’t even know if we have it. World Diabetes day is celebrated globally on 14 November. The day initiated by International Diabetes Federation aims to promote better diabetes management amongst people across the globe who are or have been suffering from the condition.  On this World’s Diabetes day, Krishi Jagran would like to discuss a more about this devil and find out possible solutions which can treat you or the person you know, who suffers from diabetes at home.

To understand, how does one gets prone to Diabetes, we should peek in the functioning of our body. To perform any activity, just like the fuel in our car engines, our body needs energy source. That energy source/fuel is GLUCOSE. This Glucose is different from the sugar we take, the sugar that is used in houses is SUCROSE which is way more sweeter than glucose. Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Whenever then blood glucose level elevates Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. Insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level by promoting the uptake of glucose into body cells. Patients with Diabetes, find it troublesome to utilize this excessive sugar and hence have elevated blood sugar levels.

Although, there is no one common diabetes cause. Diabetes causes vary depending on your genetic makeup, family history, ethnicity, health and environmental factors. There are two Diabetes types namely :

Type 1 DIABETES :

Type 1 Diabetes is caused when the immune system destroys the pancreatic cells that make insulin. This leaves the body short of enough insulin to function normally. This is better known as Auto-Immune cause, since the body is attacking itself.  This is generally prevalent in young age group and children.

Type 2 DIABETES :

Cause of Type 2 diabetes are usually multi-factorial  where more than one diabetes cause is involved. Often, the most overwhelming factor is a family history. Also the gestational diabetes can follow having one of the following reasons :
       => Family history of gestational diabetes
       => Overweight or obesity
       => Polycystic ovary syndrome
       => Have had a large baby weighing over 9lb

Causes of gestational diabetes may also be related to ethnicity - some ethnic groups have a higher risk of gestational diabetes.

Symptoms of  type 1 and type 2 diabetes include :

=> increased urination
=> hunger
=> tingling or numbness in the feet or toes
=> skin problems
=> slow healing wounds
=> excessive thirst
=> fatigue
=> yeast infections

Some of the factors which exposes us more to this disease are : overweight or obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, a family history of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and low levels of the "good" cholesterol (HDL) and elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood. If you have any of these, you should be a little more conscious and go for a regular check up. Remember, Diabetes can be controlled, but it a chronic disease and stays a lifetime.

Some of the Remedies using leaves and herbs have been really effective in numerous cases and this trend of medicinal substitution is taking over the disease : The few methods are :

• Eating Neem Leaves, empty stomach in morning.
• Chewing Jamun/Plum leaves.
• Making a paste of Turmeric/haldi, Amla and taking it with hot water.
• Making a paste of Hibiscus leaves. And having it twice a day with water for 8 continuous days without any skip. Nothing should be eaten for 2 hours once this paste is taken with water. This is not bitter. unlike other choices.

The basic essence of life is fulfilled when its active. A little exercise of minimum 30 minutes or a morning walk can do wonders in making your life a little better and more efficient.