Things you should know?

Types of Diabetes
What are the effects of uncontrolled sugar levels?
Why is a doctor important for your diabetes treatment?

Types of Diabetes

There are 3 main types of Diabetes

1) Type 1 Diabetes – It is autoimmune condition. The beta cells of pancreas are attacked by body’s own immune system. These cells produce insulin. Hence the insulin production is affected. Hence it is also known as insulin dependent Diabetes and is more common people at a young age.

2) Type 2 Diabetes – This type of diabetes is caused by genetics, overweight, lack of exercise, unhealthy habits etc. Because of this there is insulin resistance. Hence body can’t use insulin independently. This leads to increase in the sugar levels. Hence it is known as non-insulin dependent diabetes. It is more common in adults after age of 45 yrs.

3) Gestational Diabetes – This type of diabetes is the one that occurs during pregnancy due to hormonal effect which affects insulin. Many people try to control diabetes or control sugar levels by using advise on the internet. Many times, this leads to improper diet habits which leads to poor sugar control and various side effects.

What are the effects of uncontrolled sugar levels?

Uncontrolled sugar levels can affect various organs like:

Kidney (Diabetic nephropathy)
Eyes (Diabetic retinopathy)
Heart (Risk of stroke)
Nerves
Skin/Diabetic Foot etc.

In the current Covid-19 situation it is necessary to keep sugar levels under control. An increase in sugar levels will affect the body’s immunity. As a result, a person with uncontrolled sugar levels can be prone to develop severe forms of Covid-19 infection.

Hence, it is must to consult an expert doctor to control sugar levels and prevent this complication. As there is no cure for diabetes, its management is a lifetime process. It involves a combination of medication, diet control and lifestyle modification all should be achieved with the help of doctors.

Why is a doctor important for your diabetes treatment?

Management of diabetes treatment differs from person to person. It depends on:

Type of Diabetes
Sugar levels
Age
Co morbidities
Lifestyle etc.

The doctor can help your identify symptoms of diabetes, like:

Increased thirst
Increased frequency of urination
Tiredness
Weakness
Generalised pruritus/itching
Recurrent urogenital infections
Delayed healing of wounds
More than half of all patients with diabetes will have no symptoms at all.

Depending on the above symptoms, a doctor can also guide you and help you understand, whether you need:

Oral medication
Insulin
Lifestyle modification
Dietary changes
Stress Management.

You should never self-medicate and make changes in the medication yourself. It is necessary to monitor sugar levels and inform them to doctors as both high and low sugar levels will cause complication if left untreated.

You can use our blood glucose calculator to keep a track of your blood sugar levels and manage your treatment better. For more fitness or nutrition related advise, visit the Activ Living Blog.