2. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your
blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is
too high. Blood glucose is your main source
of energy and comes from the food you
eat. Insulin, a hormone made by
the pancreas, helps glucose from food get
into your cells to be used for energy.
3. Type I diabetes: Also known as juvenile
diabetes, this type occurs when the body
fails to produce insulin. People with type I
diabetes are insulin-dependent, which
means they must take artificial insulin daily
to stay alive.
4. Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes affects the way the
body uses insulin. While the body still makes insulin,
unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond
to it as effectively as they once did. This is the most
common type of diabetes and it has strong
links with obesity.
It is also called type 2 diabetes mellitus and adult-
onset diabetes. That's because it used to start almost
always in middle- and late-adulthood. However, more
and more children and teens are developing this
condition.
5. Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not
produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood
sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Urination and
thirst are increased, and people may lose weight even if they
are not trying to.
Symptoms: Weight loss; Polydipsia
6. Polyuria: It is a condition where the
body urinates more than usual and
passes excessive or abnormally large
amounts of urine each time you
urinate.
7. Gestational diabetes: This type occurs in
women during pregnancy when the body can
become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational
diabetes does not occur in all women and
usually resolves after giving birth.
8. Diabetes insipidus (die-uh-BEE-teze in-SIP-uh-dus) is
an uncommon disorder that causes an imbalance of
fluids in the body. This imbalance leads you to produce
large amounts of urine. It also makes you very thirsty
even if you have something to drink.
9. Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes
and type 2 diabetes are:
•Increased thirst
•Frequent urination
•Extreme hunger
•Unexplained weight loss
•Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a
byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that
happens when there's not enough available insulin)
•Fatigue
•Irritability
•Blurred vision
•Slow-healing sores
•Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections
and vaginal infections
10. Causes of type 1 diabetes
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. What is known is
that your immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria
or viruses — attacks and destroys your insulin-producing cells in
the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of
being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your
bloodstream.
Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic
susceptibility and environmental factors, though exactly what
those factors are is still unclear. Weight is not believed to be a
factor in type 1 diabetes.
Causes of prediabetes and type 2/malletus diabetes
In prediabetes — which can lead to type 2 diabetes — and in type
2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and
your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this
resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it's needed for
energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.
.
11. Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although it's
believed that genetic and environmental factors play a
role in the development of type 2 diabetes too. Being
overweight is strongly linked to the development of type
2 diabetes, but not everyone with type 2 is overweight.
3.Causes of gestational diabetes
During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to
sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your
cells more resistant to insulin.
Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough
extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes
your pancreas can't keep up. When this happens, too
little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in
your blood, resulting in gestational diabetes
12. Stress & Diabetes
Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical
tension. It can come from any event or
thought that makes you feel frustrated,
angry, or nervous. Stress is your body's
reaction to a challenge or demand. In short
bursts, stress can be positive, such as
when it helps you avoid danger or meet a
deadline.
13. Stress and diabetes
Diabetes management is a lifelong
process. This can add stress to your daily
life. Stress can be a major barrier to
effective glucose control. Stress hormones
in your body may directly affect glucose
levels. If you’re experiencing stress or
feeling threatened, your body reacts. This
is called the fight-or-flight response. This
response elevates your hormone levels
and causes your nerve cells to fire.
14. During this response, the body releases
adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream and
respiratory rates increase. Our body directs blood
to the muscles and limbs, allowing us to fight the
situation. Our body may not be able to process
the glucose released by our firing nerve cells if
you have diabetes. If you can’t convert the
glucose into energy, it builds up in the
bloodstream. This causes the blood glucose
levels to rise.
Constant stress from long-term problems with
blood glucose can also wear you down mentally
and physically. This may make managing your
diabetes difficult.
15. Stress can affect people differently. The type of stress
that you experience can also have an impact on your
body’s physical response.
When people with type 2 diabetes are under mental
stress, they generally experience an increase in their
blood glucose levels. People with type 1 diabetes may
have a more varied response. This means that they can
experience either an increase or a decrease in their
blood glucose levels.
When you’re under physical stress, your blood sugar
can also increase. This can happen when you’re sick
or injured. This can affect people with type 1 or type 2
diabetes.
16. How to cope with diabetes-related stress
If you’re feeling stressed about your condition,
You can connect with people online or in your
community for solidarity and support.
Online support groups
If you’re a Facebook user, consider liking
this diabetes support group that offers helpful tips
and a strong community to help you
cope. Diabetic Connect is also an online resource
dedicated to improving your quality of life. It
provides articles, recipes, and informative videos.
In-person support groups
For women with diabetes,
17. For women with diabetes, Diabetes Sisters
offers nationwide meetups. The group
started in North Carolina and expanded due
to popularity. They now offer in-person
groups throughout the country. These
informal meetings are held on weeknights
and typically last for one or two hours.
Besides this Defeat Diabetes Foundation
and The also offers local offices focused on
education and community outreach.
18. You may feel more comfortable talking with
a professional about your stress. A
therapist can provide coping mechanisms
tailored to your individual situation and give
you a safe environment to talk. They may
also provide medical advice that online or
in-person support groups can’t offer.
19. How to prevent
Foods that don’t force insulin production.
Refined sugars force your body to produce more
insulin, which causes your cells to become more
resistant to it. To lower that resistance, fill your diet
with vegetables; healthy fats such as olive oil,
avocado, and nuts; and healthy proteins such as grass-
fed beef, pasture-raised poultry and wild-caught
fish. This not only lowers your blood sugar to prevent
diabetes, but it also fuels your body to function better
overall.
20. Regular physical movement
Moving your body uses up excess insulin and
improves insulin sensitivity in your cells. Even
30 minutes of movement a day can greatly
decrease your risk of Type 2 diabetes, especially
if your current lifestyle is chronically sedentary.
21. Can a person recover from stress
induced diabetes?
By focusing on lowering your stress levels,
you can reverse its effects on your blood
sugar and insulin sensitivity. Adopt a
meditation routine, participate in activities
you find relaxing, and socialize with friends
and family more often. In some cases, long-
lasting stress might have a deeper
underlying cause. If you need help reducing
your chronic stress, consider reaching out
to a counsellor.
22. Importance of social support in diabetes care
Social support is considered as one of the influential and
important factors for performing self-care and for adherence to
the treatment and disease control which can facilitate self-care
behaviors and compatibility with the disease. On the other
hand, a major part of the care for this disease is done at home
and inside the family. Therefore, diabetes is sometimes called
a family disease because its control and demands influence all
family members. Thus, social support, especially family
support, can be a vital component in the successful control of
diabetes.
23. It is no secret that people with a chronic
illness such as diabetes have a higher rate
of depression. Often in individuals with
diabetes, depression results in difficulty
coping and following through with the
recommended treatment plan. “Diabetes
distress” is a term that broadly covers
specific worries, fears, and concerns that
those with diabetes may face when they
struggle with the demands of a progressive
chronic illness.
24. Mental health provider & diabetes care
team.
Social support is one of the emotion-
oriented coping mechanisms with the
potential power for influencing life quality.
Studies have shown a significant
relationship between health and social
support, so people who receive higher
social support have better health.
