How To Control Diabetes With Diet

Diabetes Mellitus, more commonly known as Diabetes, is characterized by the body’s inability to metabolize or break down food sugars (glucose).

When carbohydrates are consumed by a person with Diabetes they are digested by the stomach and the "sugars" enter the blood stream. In order to process the "sugars", also known as glucose or blood glucose, the pancreas releases insulin into the body. Insulin has a sole function of transportation. When the insulin meets up with the glucose, it is moved to the cells of the body for use as energy, or for storage until energy is needed at some other time. The level of insulin released into the blood stream is directly related to the amount of carbohydrates eaten and how quickly these carbohydrates were consumed.

For the diabetic person, this insulin process is either faulted or missing entirely. The glucose released into the blood stream can not be moved to the cell or utilized in any way by the body for energy. This leads to increased levels of glucose in the bloodstream that needs to be transported out of the body. Some of the extra glucose is passed out of the body in urine, which causes more work for the kidneys.

The Three Types of Diabetes

Juvenile Onset – Type I Diabetes

Type I Diabetes is characterized by the body’s immune system reaction. This auto immune disease attacks the pancreas every time insulin is released. Over time, the pancreas stops producing and releasing insulin and daily insulin injections are needed to survive. The name, Juvenile Diabetes, comes from the fact that Type I Diabetes is most often diagnosed in childhood.

Adult Onset – Type II Diabetes

Type II Diabetes is much more common than Type I Diabetes. The three factors that are often related to the diagnosis of Type II Diabetes are genetic predisposition to diabetes, being overweight and aged 40 years or older. With Type II Diabetes, the pancreas creates insulin and the insulin moves the glucose to the cells normally, but there is not enough insulin produced to transport all of the glucose to the cells.

Type II Diabetes can be managed through changes in diet, weight and the addition of a daily exercise program. In some cases, prescription medication may be needed to supplement insulin production.

Pregnancy Related – Gestational Diabetes

With the many changes occurring in the body during pregnancy, 4% of women find that their pancreas is unable to manage the glucose levels effectively which can lead to a form of Diabetes that is only diagnosed during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is often first diagnosed in the 5th or 6th month of gestation and will remain a part of the mother / baby relationship until the birth of the child.

Common symptoms include: feelings of fatigue, polyuria (increased urination), polydypsia (increased thirst), change in eyesight and loss of weight. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to long term effects on the kidneys, eyes and heart.