By Terry Robbins
Prevention is always the best way with any disease and is even more important with diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes especially if you think you or a loved one is at risk and are wondering what pre-diabetes is and what the risk factors for pre-diabetes are. Not being ignorant of your risk factors will help you determine the actions you need to take to reduce your risks of developing diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes.
Diabetes relates to how the body processes carbohydrates and sugars that we consume in our daily food. When these carbohydrates and sugars enter the body, they are converted into glucose which is the simplest form of sugar and distributed to the blood. When this distribution to the blood occurs, the pancreas immediately kicks in and produces insulin which is a hormone that removes the glucose from the blood and distributes it to various parts of the body that need this glucose for energy.
With a diabetic, the pancreas does not produce any insulin (Type 1), not enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to the insulin produced (Type 2) leading to an accumulation of blood glucose levels with the glucose having no place to go and the body being starved of energy. The only way that the body is able to remove this glucose from the blood when insulin malfunctions, is to eliminate the glucose through urine leading to various diabetes related complications such as coma, blindness, heart disease, limb amputations, kidney disease, etc.
As you can see, diabetes is no joke and if you can reduce your risk of developing this condition or delay the onset of diabetes and the symptoms of diabetes, you need to do everything you can to accomplish this.
There are no gray areas with Type 1 diabetes which usually starts in childhood and the onset of this type is very rapid. There are however, gray areas with the more common type of diabetes which is Type 2 diabetes which has long been considered adult onset diabetes although with the current epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, the diabetics with this type have started to get younger and younger. This gray area with type 2 diabetes is known as pre-diabetes.
What is Pre-Diabetes?
When some people are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, they are usually monitored closely by their doctors which leads to a possible diagnosis of pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means that although the blood glucose levels are higher than what is considered normal, they are not high enough to warrant a diabetes 2 diagnosis.
When this occurs, there is no telling how long it will take or if the individual will develop Type 2 diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes. By becoming proactive and adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes monitoring the blood sugar levels and consuming more complex carbohydrates and other healthy eating habits in addition to adding daily exercise, the risk of developing the symptoms of diabetes and Type 2 diabetes will be delayed or eliminated.
When you are determined to be pre-diabetic, your doctor will usually monitor your blood glucose levels on a annual basis to ensure that the levels remain at a healthy rate. He or she will usually advise you to invest in a blood sugar monitor to be used by you regularly to check your blood sugar levels and make changes as needed depending on the results shown on the monitor.
What Are The Pre-Diabetes Risk Factors?
a. Have a family history of Type 2 diabetes
b. If you suffered from gestational diabetes during your pregnancy or pregnancies
c. If you are obese or overweight and/or lead a sedentary lifestyle with no physical activity
d. If you are at least 45 years of age
Prevention is always the best way with any disease and is even more important with diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes especially if you think you or a loved one is at risk and are wondering what pre-diabetes is and what the risk factors for pre-diabetes are. Not being ignorant of your risk factors will help you determine the actions you need to take to reduce your risks of developing diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes.
Diabetes relates to how the body processes carbohydrates and sugars that we consume in our daily food. When these carbohydrates and sugars enter the body, they are converted into glucose which is the simplest form of sugar and distributed to the blood. When this distribution to the blood occurs, the pancreas immediately kicks in and produces insulin which is a hormone that removes the glucose from the blood and distributes it to various parts of the body that need this glucose for energy.
With a diabetic, the pancreas does not produce any insulin (Type 1), not enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to the insulin produced (Type 2) leading to an accumulation of blood glucose levels with the glucose having no place to go and the body being starved of energy. The only way that the body is able to remove this glucose from the blood when insulin malfunctions, is to eliminate the glucose through urine leading to various diabetes related complications such as coma, blindness, heart disease, limb amputations, kidney disease, etc.
As you can see, diabetes is no joke and if you can reduce your risk of developing this condition or delay the onset of diabetes and the symptoms of diabetes, you need to do everything you can to accomplish this.
There are no gray areas with Type 1 diabetes which usually starts in childhood and the onset of this type is very rapid. There are however, gray areas with the more common type of diabetes which is Type 2 diabetes which has long been considered adult onset diabetes although with the current epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, the diabetics with this type have started to get younger and younger. This gray area with type 2 diabetes is known as pre-diabetes.
What is Pre-Diabetes?
When some people are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, they are usually monitored closely by their doctors which leads to a possible diagnosis of pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means that although the blood glucose levels are higher than what is considered normal, they are not high enough to warrant a diabetes 2 diagnosis.
When this occurs, there is no telling how long it will take or if the individual will develop Type 2 diabetes and the various symptoms of diabetes. By becoming proactive and adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes monitoring the blood sugar levels and consuming more complex carbohydrates and other healthy eating habits in addition to adding daily exercise, the risk of developing the symptoms of diabetes and Type 2 diabetes will be delayed or eliminated.
When you are determined to be pre-diabetic, your doctor will usually monitor your blood glucose levels on a annual basis to ensure that the levels remain at a healthy rate. He or she will usually advise you to invest in a blood sugar monitor to be used by you regularly to check your blood sugar levels and make changes as needed depending on the results shown on the monitor.
What Are The Pre-Diabetes Risk Factors?
a. Have a family history of Type 2 diabetes
b. If you suffered from gestational diabetes during your pregnancy or pregnancies
c. If you are obese or overweight and/or lead a sedentary lifestyle with no physical activity
d. If you are at least 45 years of age
Post a Comment