November is observed as Diabetes Awareness Month
This is one question most people seek an answer for, but it is difficult to answer this with n yes or no. If one is suffering from type I diabetes, a cure is a far-fetched idea. However, with type II diabetes, there is still some hope. While using the word cure with diabetes isn t the right thing to do, you can take steps to ensure you manage the condition well and in some cases (like with type II diabetes) reverse it completely. Here are 14 foods that can help fight diabetes better.
What is type I diabetes?
In this condition, your immune system attacks the beta cells of your pancreas responsible for making insulin, the hormone that helps in disseminating glucose throughout the body. So, in the case of type I diabetes the glucose is unable to reach the cells of your body. The only way to manage the condition is to use insulin injections and help your body use the glucose. Another way to manage type I diabetes is to undergo a pancreas transplant. However, this is only offered for people who have severe complications of diabetes. Diabetes affects other organs too, and kidney damage is the most common. A pancreas transplant is mostly offered to people who undergo a kidney transplant and suffer from severe complications of type I diabetes. A donor is often a deceased person who has agreed to donate parts of his body. The new pancreas is then transplanted into the patient that helps to secrete insulin and keep the blood glucose levels in check. However, this still isn t a perfect cure for type I diabetes though many patients have shown positive results. People with pancreas transplant might need to be on immune-suppressants to make sure the body doesn t reject the new pancreas as a foreign body. Also, depending on the condition of a patient, the doctor might decide what kind of medication you might need to manage the condition. Here are tips to manage type I diabetes.
What is type II diabetes?
With type II diabetes, there is so much you can do to control and manage the condition and save yourself from its complications. Unlike type I diabetes, type II diabetes is caused due to reasons that are genetic and wrong lifestyle habits. This is a condition where the body becomes resistant to insulin and isn't able to use the insulin that is produced by the pancreas to distribute glucose throughout the body. The result -- increase in blood sugar levels. However, this isn't a condition which cannot be reversed. In fact, the right diet and exercise can go a long way in reversing this condition. Most people who are able to reverse type II diabetes say they cured it, but that isn't a case. If you fail to care for yourself the blood glucose levels can increase and lead to other complications.
Here are few things you can do to control your diabetes:
Limit your carbohydrate intake: Foods rich in carbohydrates break down into simple sugar and can increase your blood sugar levels if had in an excess amount. However, while eating carbohydrate rich food, it is necessary to choose the ones that are low in glycemic index, which means they release glucose slowly and keeps one satiated for long. Beans, legumes, pulses, non-starchy vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, fenugreek and dill leaves, starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, fruits rich in antioxidants like berries and apples are low in GI index. Also, remember if you suffer from type II diabetes your diet should consist seventy percent of carbohydrates. Did you know eating dill leaves and its seeds can help you control blood glucose levels.
Work on belly fat: Belly fat is a ticking time bomb for diabetic patients as the fat in your belly restricts the smooth functioning of the insulin, which helps to lower blood sugar levels. Insulin triggers the liver to store the extra blood glucose for future energy requirement. However, when the liver is submerged in fat, this becomes a problem. Remember fat in your thighs and hands aren t as dangerous as belly fat. Here are eight healthy foods that are really bad for diabetes.
Manage sleep apnea: Overweight people must be more concerned, as sleep apnea and diabetes, go hand in hand for them. Most people suffering from type ii diabetes and sleep apnea suffer from blood glucose fluctuations at night which could increase the risk of death from heart attack or stroke. Sleep apnea can be controlled by a simple surgery or using the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure).
Control stress: One way stress can affect you is by making your blood sugar soar. Cortisol, the stress hormone secreted when one is stressed can make the blood sugar go haywire despite being on medications.
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