What is diabetes?

Diabetes develops when the body can not properly respond to glucose. People that have diabetes usually have high levels of glucose in the blood if the condition is not controlled.

Types of diabetes

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

  • Type 1 may more likely to occur in younger people, usually up to age 40, although it can develop at any age. This type develops when the cells inside the pancreas are destroyed do so preventing the production of insulin. This type of diabetes is a rare phenomenon and affects 5% to 15% of diabetics.

It`s treated with insulin injections and a healthy diet.

  • Type 2 diabetes usually develops at older people but recent statistics show that it occurs even in younger generations including children. By doing daily exercises and practicing healthy life it can be treated, followed by regular consumption of medications, often insulin.

For both types of diabetes is extremely important to control levels of blood sugar and blood pressure to prevent long-term complications.

What is the risk of getting diabetes?

It is not quite simple to tell which people get Type 1 diabetes, but it’s presumed that people who have a close relative diagnosed with diabetes, develop diabetes.

You are more likely of getting type 2 diabetes if:
  • have a relative with diabetes (parent, brother or sister);
  • have overweight;
  • have more than 40 years;
  • you had diabetes during pregnancy.

Can diabetes be prevented?

There is no reliable way to prevent diabetes. However, a healthy and balanced diet, regular exercise and losing weight (if you are overweight), can delay the onset of this condition.

Diabetic products

Specialists do not recommend special products for diabetics. Food that is labeled “diabetic” is not necessarily healthier or more suitable for diabetics and is usually more expensive.

Many of the products that are labeled “diabetic” are cakes, chocolate and biscuits. A general recommendation is to avoid this food.

 

 

 

What kind of food should diabetics eat?

People with diabetes need to maintain a healthy weight and consume healthy food:

 

  • Whole-grain flours, such as whole wheat flour
  • Whole grains, such as brown rice
  • Cereals containing whole-grain ingredients and little added sugar
  • Whole-grain bread
  • Baked potato or baked steak fries
  • Whole-grain flour or corn tortillas

 

 

Overall, diabetics can consume any type of food, though avoiding meals rich in fat and sugar. Cakes and biscuits should be poorly eaten, as a part of a balanced diet.

If you are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), sometimes you need a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. In such cases you should take a mild drink or glucose tablets, and soon after some starch meal, for example, sandwich.