Diabetes
Millions of people around the world today have been diagnosed with diabetes. Including 29 million people in the United States, that is roughly 9.3 percent according to the center for disease control. Worldwide this disease afflicts over 380 million people. Today diabetes takes more lives than breast cancer and AIDS combined (diabetesresearch.org). So what is diabetes and how can you prevent this disease? Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood. The pancreas is supposed to release insulin. The insulin is very important because it allows glucose to go into the cells in the body. Insulin acts as the key that opens up the cells so the …show more content…
When someone has type 1 diabetes their body for some reason attacks the part of their pancreas that produces insulin. The cells the immune system attacks are called islets. The islets sense the amount of glucose in the blood and produce the amount of insulin the body needs. Since insulin is the key that allows the cells to use glucose for energy it is very important. Without the insulin there is no key so the glucose is locked out of the cells and gets stuck in the blood. The insulin will build up in the blood and the high level of blood sugar can damage a person’s eyes, kidneys, nerves, and their heart. High blood sugar levels can also lead to comas and in severe cases death. So a person who has type 1 diabetes has to daily take precautions in order to keep their diabetes in order. The steps involve taking daily injections of insulin. The injection of insulin will now be their key so the cells in their body can open up and use the glucose for energy and their blood sugar levels will stay in a normal and healthy level. The amount of insulin you should take however is hard to determine. The amount of food you intake and the amount of exercise you perform daily are key factors in determining how much insulin your body needs. Two other …show more content…
They must make sure they are not eating foods that have too much sugar in them. Most medical professionals would recommend eating 3 small meals a day and some snacks in between meals. Diabetics should also try to eat carbohydrates that contain whole grains. Carbohydrates have the greatest impact on blood sugars. Carbs are broken down into glucose so if to many of them are eaten blood sugar level might rise. Diabetics should keep track of the carbs they consume in order to manage their blood sugar levels. Carb counting is very important to do if you have diabetes. Healthy snacks like yogurts and fruits or nuts are great snack choices. Fluid intake should be at the very least 64 ounces a day. Vegetables should be eaten at 2 servings a day as well. When considering what foods to eat diabetics should look to avoid fried food because it adds calories that are not needed. They should instead choose a backed or grilled option. Lean meats like chicken breast are also recommended. Fish is a very healthy option that is low in fat and full of protein. Just because someone has to stick to their diet does not mean they can never eat ice cream again. They just must make sure they are sticking to their diet and pay close attention to their glucose levels. Beans are a great food option they are full of fiber potassium and magnesium. Nuts are another great choice full of fiber. Dark green leafy vegetables are great for diabetics
Millions of people around the world today have been diagnosed with diabetes. Including 29 million people in the United States, that is roughly 9.3 percent according to the center for disease control. Worldwide this disease afflicts over 380 million people. Today diabetes takes more lives than breast cancer and AIDS combined (diabetesresearch.org). So what is diabetes and how can you prevent this disease? Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body’s inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of glucose in the blood. The pancreas is supposed to release insulin. The insulin is very important because it allows glucose to go into the cells in the body. Insulin acts as the key that opens up the cells so the …show more content…
When someone has type 1 diabetes their body for some reason attacks the part of their pancreas that produces insulin. The cells the immune system attacks are called islets. The islets sense the amount of glucose in the blood and produce the amount of insulin the body needs. Since insulin is the key that allows the cells to use glucose for energy it is very important. Without the insulin there is no key so the glucose is locked out of the cells and gets stuck in the blood. The insulin will build up in the blood and the high level of blood sugar can damage a person’s eyes, kidneys, nerves, and their heart. High blood sugar levels can also lead to comas and in severe cases death. So a person who has type 1 diabetes has to daily take precautions in order to keep their diabetes in order. The steps involve taking daily injections of insulin. The injection of insulin will now be their key so the cells in their body can open up and use the glucose for energy and their blood sugar levels will stay in a normal and healthy level. The amount of insulin you should take however is hard to determine. The amount of food you intake and the amount of exercise you perform daily are key factors in determining how much insulin your body needs. Two other …show more content…
They must make sure they are not eating foods that have too much sugar in them. Most medical professionals would recommend eating 3 small meals a day and some snacks in between meals. Diabetics should also try to eat carbohydrates that contain whole grains. Carbohydrates have the greatest impact on blood sugars. Carbs are broken down into glucose so if to many of them are eaten blood sugar level might rise. Diabetics should keep track of the carbs they consume in order to manage their blood sugar levels. Carb counting is very important to do if you have diabetes. Healthy snacks like yogurts and fruits or nuts are great snack choices. Fluid intake should be at the very least 64 ounces a day. Vegetables should be eaten at 2 servings a day as well. When considering what foods to eat diabetics should look to avoid fried food because it adds calories that are not needed. They should instead choose a backed or grilled option. Lean meats like chicken breast are also recommended. Fish is a very healthy option that is low in fat and full of protein. Just because someone has to stick to their diet does not mean they can never eat ice cream again. They just must make sure they are sticking to their diet and pay close attention to their glucose levels. Beans are a great food option they are full of fiber potassium and magnesium. Nuts are another great choice full of fiber. Dark green leafy vegetables are great for diabetics