LIVING WITH
DIABETES
Diabetes is a lifestyle disorder. About 9.2% of the total world’s
population was found to be diabetic in 2019.
In a healthy person food is broken down into glucose, and insulin
transfers it to the cells of the body.
In a diabetic person, this ability to transfer glucose from blood to the cells gets impaired due to the
low level of insulin or insensitivity towards insulin. This results in high
blood sugar levels which if not checked can be extremely harmful for one.
Diabetes itself isn’t the problem rather it leads to a number of diseases
along with it, basically diabetes is the mother of diseases such as heart
disease, blindness, kidney problems, nerve damage and so on.
People who
are at risk of diabetes include:
·
are overweight or obese
·
are age 45 or older
·
have a family history of diabetes
·
are African American, Alaska Native, American
Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
·
have high
blood pressure
·
have a low level of HDL (“good”) cholesterol,
or a high level of triglycerides
·
have a history of gestational diabetes or gave
birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
·
are not physically active
·
have a
history of heart disease or stroke
·
have depression
·
have polycystic ovary syndrome, also called
PCOS
·
have acanthosis
nigricans—dark, thick, and velvety skin around your neck or armpits
What are the different effects of Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that causes several damages to the body and
system in different ways.
- Slow healing of wounds.
- Sexual dysfunction.
- Digestive disorders such as constipation, diarrhea, and nausea.
- Diabetes and coronary heart disease are closely related. High sugar level significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack.
- Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common complications caused by diabetes. It is caused by blood vessels swelling and leaking blood vessels in the back of the eye.
- Kidneys are another organ that is under a high risk of damage due to diabetes. However, damage to the kidneys takes place over a few years. It is possible to pinpoint it by naturopathy screening.
How to minimize the damage?
The silver lining around the dark cloud is that one can control the
adverse effects of Diabetes by keeping it under control. Most of the problems
occur when there is a significantly high sugar level consistently remains.
By following the right food habits, taking medications regularly and
including exercise in the daily routine, one can remain healthy for the whole
life in spite of having diabetes.
Natural
sweeteners that can help one cut the sugar levels
1.
Agave nectar:
Nectar obtained from agave plant similar to
natural honey. This is being used for several centuries. Agave is a popular
natural sweetener because it is believed to have a lower glycemic index (GI)
than table sugar or honey. The glycemic index of agave nectar is around 20 to
30, while regular sugar has a GI of 60 to 65. Foods that have a lower glycemic
index tend to raise blood sugars at a slower pace
2.
Stevia
leaves:
Stevia is another plant that has been used
since early times as a sweet source. It grows in South America, and the leaves
are similar in shape to the mint family. The stevia that you purchase at the
store is steviol glycosides-rebaudioside A and stevioside, which is extracted
from leaves of the plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.
3.
Monk fruit
extract:
Monk fruit
extract, also known as, Luo han guo, Siraitia grosvenorii, or Swingle fruit
extract, is a combination of several different cucurbitane glycosides, known as
mogrosides. It is extracted from a plant native to Southern China. Monk fruit
extract is estimated to be about 150 to 300 times sweeter than regular table
sugar and is reported to have an aftertaste at high levels.
Healthy snacks for diabetics:
1.
Hard boiled eggs
2.
Almonds
3.
Yogurt with berries
4.
Apple with peanut
butter
5.
Roasted chick peas
6.
Cottage cheese
7.
Popcorn
8.
Chia seed pudding
9.
Homemade protein
sticks
10. Cheese and whole grain cracker
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