Introduction
Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is a condition when your body cannot use the glucose properly that it absorbs from the food you eat. Although there are different types of diabetes, the common problem they share is excessive glucose in the bloodstream. Excessive sugar in the bloodstream can lead to various serious health issues like nerve damage, kidney damage, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Therefore, management of diabetes mellitus through diet and a healthy lifestyle is very important.
Diabetes treatment includes medicines, insulin, a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly. Chronic diabetes includes type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Reversible diabetes includes gestational diabetes and prediabetes. The normal fasting blood glucose level is less than 100 mg/dl. Anything between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl is considered prediabetes. A blood glucose level above 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes mellitus
Before you decide on the management of Diabetes mellitus, you have to know the symptoms. Undiagnosed and untreated diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications. Therefore, we have to identify the symptoms of diabetes to start quick treatment:
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Hunger and fatigue
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Dry mouth
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Dry and itchy skin
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Frequent urination
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Blurred vision
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Yeast infections
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Sores and cuts that won’t heal quickly
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Numbness or pain in our legs
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Unexplained weight loss
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Nausea and vomiting
Causes of diabetes mellitus
If you want to start diabetes treatment quickly, you must be aware of the causes of diabetes Here are the different causes for different types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes: The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is still unknown to doctors. In this, your immune system destroys the beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. Genes might be responsible for causing type 1 diabetes in some people. A virus might also make the immune system destroy the beta cells.
Type 2 diabetes: The causes of type 2 diabetes are genetics and lifestyle habits. The risk of type 2 diabetes is more in people who are overweight or obese. Extra fat in the belly makes your body more insulin resistant, thereby increasing sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes runs in families, and therefore, management of diabetes mellitus of type 2 becomes more difficult.
Gestational diabetes: Women suffer from hormonal changes during their pregnancy, which may lead to a spike in glucose levels. Hormones produced by the placenta make the cells of a pregnant woman insulin-resistant. All these cause a rise in the sugar level. Women who gain too much weight during their pregnancy are also at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Treatment of diabetes mellitus
The treatment and management of diabetes mellitus include:
· Healthy diet: Diabetes treatment includes a balanced diet which should comprise of more fibre-rich foods like fruits, whole grains, and non-starchy vegetables. You should indulge in smaller portion sizes with lesser starchy vegetables, refined grains, and sweets. Healthier alternatives such as olive oil and canola oil can be used for cooking, and the diet should comprise of fewer calories.
· Weight loss: Maintaining a healthy weight helps keep sugar levels, triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure in control. A doctor or dietician can help in setting up a weight loss program because losing as little as 5% of body weight can improve your overall health.
· Regular exercise: Regular exercise is crucial for weight loss as well as for lowering blood sugar levels. Limiting inactivity is a big step toward a healthy life, and you can do aerobic exercise or resistance exercise to get fitter and healthier. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before starting any exercise program. Another thing that you can do is avoid sitting in one place for long hours. Take a small break every 30 minutes and do some stretching or go for a short walk.
· Diabetes medication: If the management of diabetes mellitus is not possible through lifestyle modifications, your doctor will prescribe medicines. Metformin is the medicine prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Other medicines include Sulfonylureas, Glinides, Thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 Inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 Inhibitors, and low-dose aspirin, as high diabetes can affect your blood vessels and heart.
· Insulin therapy: In the past, doctors used to prescribe insulin as a last resort. But nowadays, insulin therapy is prescribed sooner as a means of management of diabetes mellitus. There are different types of insulin, such as long-acting and short-acting depending on how quickly they start an action and how long their effect works on the body.
Conclusion
Management of diabetes management is crucial because continuous high blood sugar might damage the heart, kidneys, and even nerves. It might also lead to several severe infections. Diagnosis and treatment of diabetes on time can save the lives of many, and therefore, blood sugar levels must be monitored regularly.
