How To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 which means your body does not produce any insulin and type 2 which means your body does not produce enough insulin or does not use the insulin properly. The most common type is Type 2. This type can be caused by: stress, inadequate exercise and a poor diet. This type is covered in this How To. Unfortunately, Type 1 cannot be prevented. It is impossible to prevent it, as it occurs naturally in some people's bodies.
Diabetes is when the pancreas, which creates insulin, stops working or your cells stop utilizing insulin created. Insulin is a hormone which lets sugar from your blood into the parts of your body which require it. When this vital hormone is missing or your cells cannot absorb insulin properly, sugar builds up in your blood, which causes you to get ill.
Some people require an injection of insulin to control the sugar, while others need a tablet or just diet and exercise. Everyone with diabetes needs to have a healthy diet - and this is also what helps goes a long way to help prevent the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes.

Steps

1. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise nearly every day. For example walking around your neighborhood each day is a good idea. The key is to use large muscle groups. You could also try going to the gym a couple of times a week.
   
2. Eat a balanced diet. Eat a little from each food group, and not too much of the bad stuff - like sugar, salt and fat.
   
3. Watch the amount of carbohydrates you eat. Your doctor or dietitian can give you a diet plan with the amount of carbohydrate, protein and fat you need each day. Follow their advice, and avoid fad diets which will only cause more trouble.
   
4. Drink plenty of water, because your body needs water. Water is better than any other drink. Water also fills you up so your desire to eat decreases.
   
5. Maintain a healthy weight by eating healthful foods and avoiding junk food.
   

Tips

• Recent research found that grapefruit can be extremely helpful in fighting obesity and preventing type 2 diabetes.
  

Diabetes

How To Tell If You Have Diabetes

If you believe that you may have diabetes, consult a medical professional immediately.
There are 2 main types of diabetes. Type 1, (your body does not produce insulin) sometimes known as juvenile diabetes which is more commonly diagnosed in children but can present at any age. Type 2, (your body does not absorb insulin correctly) sometimes known as adult-onset diabetes, is often subtle and may be due to aging or obesity. General signs that warrant further investigation are:

Steps

1. Check to see if you have one or many of the following symptoms:
   
   • SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION IF YOU HAVE A FRUITY SMELL ON YOUR BREATH. This is a symptom of Ketoacidosis caused by severe hyperglycemia, and requires urgent medical attention.
     
   • Excessive thirst
     
   • Excessive hunger
     
   • Frequent urination (you wake 3 or more times in the night to urinate)
     
   • Unexplained significant weight loss
     
   • Fatigue (particularly after eating)
     
   • Feeling irritable
     
   • Poor wound healing
     
   • Frequent or lingering infections
     
   • Leg cramps (usually occurring as the undiagnosed disease worsens and mostly during the night)
     
   • Blurred or other changes in vision
     
   
   
2. See your health care provider for confirmation.
   

Tips

• Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include being overweight or obese; being African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native-American, or of Pacific-Islander descent; having a family history of diabetes; having a history of gestational diabetes. If you have one or more of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting a fasting plasma glucose test.
  
• The onset of hyperglycemia is known when a person’s glucose level goes beyond the ideal level, and although it can occur on its own, it is highly considered as the major symptom of Diabetes Mellitus. In fact, it is known to be the primary cause of several complications associated with diabetes. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to more serious health issues, such as nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage or failure, blindness, and severe circulation problems resulting in difficult-to-treat infections that can progress into gangrene necessitating amputation (particularly in the lower extremities).
  

Warnings

• SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION IF YOU HAVE A FRUITY SMELL ON YOUR BREATH. This is a symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis that can be fatal if left untreated.
  
• It is extremely important to consult with a medical professional immediately if you are exhibiting any of these symptoms; undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or Type 2) can progress to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which rapidly progresses into possible organ failure or death.