Diabetes – Initial Symptoms and Prevention

In diabetes, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin and/or the body does not respond properly to insulin. But how to know if we have diabetes? Just continue reading. Here we will find diabetes early signs and how food and lifestyle changes for diabetes helps in prevention.

Types of diabetes

1. Type 1

This is a severe type of diabetes where the body cannot produce insulin at all. Patient of this type of diabetes have to take insulin injection regularly for survival.

2. Type 2

This is a common type of diabetes, more common in aged people (35+). It occurs when the body does not produce sufficient insulin or the body is unable to use insulin
properly.

Early symptoms

1. Hunger and fatigue

The food we eat gets converted to energy with the help of insulin. When our body is
lacking insulin, the food to energy conversion is very poor. This will make us more hungry and tired than usual.

2. More peeing and more thirsty

An average human pee four to seven times in a day, but diabetes patient pee a lot more.
Since peeing more, our body needs more water and we feel thirsty more often.

3. Blurred vision

As the fluid level in our body changes constantly, the lens of eyes swell up. This not only makes the eyes dry but also hampers the ability of eyes to focus.

4. Itchy skin

because our body loses more fluid through frequent peeing, moisture available to other parts of the body is less. This makes our skin dry which feels itchy.

Adjustments to avoid diabetes

Food and lifestyle changes to avoid diabetes is the most effective approach.

1. Control in weight

Orbit is a major factor for diabetes. Obesity results in 20 to 40 times more likely to have 

diabetes when compared to a healthy weight. [1]

2. Physical activity

Increase and maintaining our physical activity by working and exercising regularly. Studies showed that exercise increases insulin sensitivity by 51% to 85%. [2]

3. Water as primary beverage

Beverages that are high in sugar like soda, increase the risks of diabetes. By contrast, 

increase water consumption helps in blood sugar control and insulin response. [3]

4. Control diet

The food that we need to include in our diet are green vegetables, beans, nuts and 

seeds, and fresh fruits. Foods that increase the risk of diabetes and we need to avoid them are refined grains such as white rice and wheat flour products, fried foods, red and processed meats.

The bottom line

Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours and consuming the right foods will keep us healthy. If any diabetes early symptoms is/are observed, consult doctors immediately.

References

1. Hu FB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Diet, lifestyle, and the risk of type 2 diabetes 

mellitus in women. N Engl J Med. 2001; 345:790-7.

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24243632

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26537940

•