Diabetes or Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases in which the patient has high blood glucose levels (blood sugar). This happens because either the cells do not respond to insulin adequately or insulin production is low, or sometimes both. Patients with high blood glucose classically experience frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger.
Some important facts about Diabetes are:
Diabetes is a long-term condition.
In 2013 it was estimated that over 382 million people throughout the world had Diabetes (Williams textbook of endocrinology).
Type 1 Diabetes - the body does not produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes - the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function. Most cases of Diabetes are type-2.
Gestational Diabetes - this type affects women during pregnancy.
The most common Diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
If you have Type 1 Diabetes and follow a healthy eating plan, do adequate exercise, and take insulin, you can lead a normal life.
Type 2 patients need to eat healthy, be physically active, and monitor blood glucose levels. They may also need to take oral medication, and/or insulin to control blood glucose levels.
The risk of cardiovascular disease is much higher for a diabetic, it is crucial that blood pressure and cholesterol levels are monitored regularly.
Smoking might have a serious effect on cardiovascular health, diabetics should stop smoking.
Hypoglycemia - low blood glucose and Hyperglycemia - when blood glucose is too high – both can have a bad effect on the patient.
Type 1 Diabetes
People usually develop type 1 Diabetes before the age of 40, in early adulthood or teenage years. It is referred to as insulin-dependent Diabetes, early-onset Diabetes or juvenile Diabetes. Patients need to monitor blood glucose levels regularly and will be insulin dependent through their lives.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most cases of Diabetes are type 2 cases, where the body does not produce enough insulin to function properly. In some cases the cells in the body are insulin resistant and do not react to insulin. Some people may be able to control type 2 Diabetes symptoms following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise and losing weight while monitoring their blood glucose levels. This however is a progressive disease and eventually the patient will need to take insulin, usually in tablet form. Obese and overweight people are at greater risk of this type of Diabetes as compared to individuals with healthy body weight. People with belly fat (visceral fat) are at higher risk. Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all add to the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. The risk is also higher as we grow older. Men with lower testosterone levels are also at higher risk of developing type 2 Diabetes possibly because of lower levels of physical activity.
Gestational Diabetes
This is Diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood during pregnancy, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose. Gestational Diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise. A low percentage of women may need to take oral medication to control gestational Diabetes. Uncontrolled Diabetes during pregnancy can lead to complications during childbirth.
What is Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a precursor to Diabetes especially type 2 Diabetes. Cells in the body are becoming resistant to insulin. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to merit a Diabetes diagnosis. Some studies suggest that at this stage some damage has already occurred. Pre-diabetes can be effectively treated with yoga and acupressure. When doing acupressure for diabetes you need to activate the pancreas point. A good video on acupressure showing how to activate the pancreas point is available at here. The link is repeated at the end of the post.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Metabolism is the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Everything we eat is broken down into glucose, which is the main source of fuel for our bodies. When our food is digested, the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, as soon as glucose enters the cells blood-glucose levels drop.
Doctors can determine whether a patient has a normal metabolism, pre-diabetic or diabetic in one of three different ways - there are three possible tests:
The A1C test
- at least 6.5% means Diabetes
- between 5.7% and 5.99% means pre-diabetes
- less than 5.7% means normal
The FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test
- at least 126 mg/dl means Diabetes
- between 100 mg/dl and 125.99 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
- less than 100 mg/dl means normal
An abnormal reading following the FPG means the patient has impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
The OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test)
- at least 200 mg/dl means Diabetes
- between 140 and 199.9 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
- less than 140 mg/dl means normal
An abnormal reading following the OGTT means the patient has impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
Watch Acupressure Video
Some important facts about Diabetes are:
Diabetes is a long-term condition.
In 2013 it was estimated that over 382 million people throughout the world had Diabetes (Williams textbook of endocrinology).
Type 1 Diabetes - the body does not produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes - the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function. Most cases of Diabetes are type-2.
Gestational Diabetes - this type affects women during pregnancy.
The most common Diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
If you have Type 1 Diabetes and follow a healthy eating plan, do adequate exercise, and take insulin, you can lead a normal life.
Type 2 patients need to eat healthy, be physically active, and monitor blood glucose levels. They may also need to take oral medication, and/or insulin to control blood glucose levels.
The risk of cardiovascular disease is much higher for a diabetic, it is crucial that blood pressure and cholesterol levels are monitored regularly.
Smoking might have a serious effect on cardiovascular health, diabetics should stop smoking.
Hypoglycemia - low blood glucose and Hyperglycemia - when blood glucose is too high – both can have a bad effect on the patient.
Type 1 Diabetes
People usually develop type 1 Diabetes before the age of 40, in early adulthood or teenage years. It is referred to as insulin-dependent Diabetes, early-onset Diabetes or juvenile Diabetes. Patients need to monitor blood glucose levels regularly and will be insulin dependent through their lives.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most cases of Diabetes are type 2 cases, where the body does not produce enough insulin to function properly. In some cases the cells in the body are insulin resistant and do not react to insulin. Some people may be able to control type 2 Diabetes symptoms following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise and losing weight while monitoring their blood glucose levels. This however is a progressive disease and eventually the patient will need to take insulin, usually in tablet form. Obese and overweight people are at greater risk of this type of Diabetes as compared to individuals with healthy body weight. People with belly fat (visceral fat) are at higher risk. Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all add to the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. The risk is also higher as we grow older. Men with lower testosterone levels are also at higher risk of developing type 2 Diabetes possibly because of lower levels of physical activity.
Gestational Diabetes
This is Diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood during pregnancy, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose. Gestational Diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise. A low percentage of women may need to take oral medication to control gestational Diabetes. Uncontrolled Diabetes during pregnancy can lead to complications during childbirth.
What is Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a precursor to Diabetes especially type 2 Diabetes. Cells in the body are becoming resistant to insulin. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to merit a Diabetes diagnosis. Some studies suggest that at this stage some damage has already occurred. Pre-diabetes can be effectively treated with yoga and acupressure. When doing acupressure for diabetes you need to activate the pancreas point. A good video on acupressure showing how to activate the pancreas point is available at here. The link is repeated at the end of the post.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Metabolism is the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Everything we eat is broken down into glucose, which is the main source of fuel for our bodies. When our food is digested, the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, as soon as glucose enters the cells blood-glucose levels drop.
Doctors can determine whether a patient has a normal metabolism, pre-diabetic or diabetic in one of three different ways - there are three possible tests:
The A1C test
- at least 6.5% means Diabetes
- between 5.7% and 5.99% means pre-diabetes
- less than 5.7% means normal
The FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test
- at least 126 mg/dl means Diabetes
- between 100 mg/dl and 125.99 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
- less than 100 mg/dl means normal
An abnormal reading following the FPG means the patient has impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
The OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test)
- at least 200 mg/dl means Diabetes
- between 140 and 199.9 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
- less than 140 mg/dl means normal
An abnormal reading following the OGTT means the patient has impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
Watch Acupressure Video
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