Diabetes, one of the most common diseases of today, is of great importance in terms of its insidious nature and the complications it causes. Diabetes Mellitus, the full name of the disease; It means sugary urine in Greek. This disease occurs when insulin is not secreted or is secreted inadequately. Insulin is the hormone that lowers the blood sugar level by transporting the sugar in the blood to the tissues.
In healthy individuals, the fasting blood glucose level is between 70-100 mg/dL. Diabetes is recognized by the blood sugar level being above 126 mg/dl. Blood sugar level between 100-126 mg/dl is impaired fasting glucose, popularly known as hidden sugar. Since the organ damage of diabetes (heart, kidney, eye, brain, vessels) begins at this stage, early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance from this stage.
Drinking a lot of water, urinating a lot, waking up to urinate at night, frequent Feeling hungry and eating too much, weakness, fatigue, sleepiness after eating, weight loss for unknown reasons, blurred vision, frequent infections, sexual dysfunction, feeling of discomfort in the form of numbness and tingling in the feet, healing of wounds later than normal, dry skin and itching are the symptoms of diabetes. Those who have a family history of diabetes, overweight and obese people, those with a history of chronic disease (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, etc.), mothers who give birth to large babies, and those with gestational diabetes are at risk for diabetes, and these people have diabetes once a year even if they do not have any complaints. They should be screened for According to statistical data provided by the International Diabetes Federation, one in every 11 adults has diabetes, and every 6 seconds, 1 individual dies due to diabetes-related problems.
As a result of many studies on the causes of diabetes, genetics are the cause of diabetes. It was concluded that environmental factors play a role together. There are basically two types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. The factors that cause the disease differ depending on these types. Although genetic factors play a role in the causes of Type 1 Diabetes, it also produces the hormone insulin, which is involved in regulating blood sugar. Viruses that damage the pancreas organ and malfunctions in the body's defense system are among the factors that cause the disease. In addition, the causes of Type 2 diabetes, which is the more common type of diabetes, can be stated as follows: Obesity (excessive weight), presence of a history of diabetes in the parents, sedentary lifestyle, stress.
The most important step of treatment is lifestyle changes. and healthy nutrition. Restricting calorie intake and increasing daily activity (using stairs instead of elevators, getting off the bus one or two stops earlier, walking to the grocery store when appropriate, exercising regularly, etc.) can be given as examples. Diet, exercise and drug therapy are each very important steps in the treatment of diabetes.
Drug treatment in diabetes varies depending on the type of disease. In type 1 diabetes, medical nutrition therapy should be applied meticulously along with insulin therapy. The patient's diet is planned by the dietitian according to the insulin dose and plan recommended by the doctor. The life of individuals with Type 1 diabetes can be made much easier with the carbohydrate counting application, in which the insulin dose can be adjusted according to the amount of carbohydrates contained in the food. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, treatment generally includes the use of oral antidiabetic drugs to increase the sensitivity of cells to the insulin hormone or directly increase the release of insulin hormone, in addition to ensuring the nutritional regime. In addition, insulin therapy is an important treatment option that can be used in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
To protect against diabetes, simple sugars should be avoided, appropriate amounts of vegetables and fruits should be consumed, brown bread should be used instead of white bread and consumption should be limited. Smoking should be quit, regular exercise should be done, and if overweight, weight should be lost.
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