Although it is not the major kind of diabetes as it happens in only 5% of the people who are diagnosed with Diabetes mellitus. Still, the symptoms as well as the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes are along the similar lines of other types of diabetes.

A good and proper amount of knowledge about the disease helps a lot in preventing it. So let’s learn more about Type 1 Diabetes.

What happens in Type 1 Diabetes: Definition & Meaning

As per the Type 1 Diabetes definition and meaning, when you are diagnosed with this disease, the beta cells (subset of pancreatic cells) are badly destroyed and lose the ability to produce enough insulin that your body needs. Once this happens, the glucose which gets into the bloodstream cannot be absorbed by body cells and it accumulates as sugar in your blood which can further lead to many complications.

The worst thing about Type 1 Diabetes is that it cannot be cured either through drugs or any kind of oral medication. We can only treat it after the symptoms begin to show so that it doesn’t harm our body. But in all cases, a diabetic patient must consult a doctor and only then begin with its diagnosis. Well, it is a chronic sugar disease; therefore, a person with Type 1 Diabetes must get it diagnosed as soon as the early signs show up.

Main Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

All kinds of diabetes are usually caused by the same major causes that affect our body. These causes usually develop due to poor lifestyle habits or unhealthy diet or sometimes they may simply arise due to genetic predisposition. Let’s see some of the most common causes of Type 1 Diabetes so that it will help you know what not to do if you want to avoid this sugar disease.

• Autoimmune Disorder: When the immune system of our body mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells (only insulin producing cells in the body), then it leads to a decrease in insulin levels and effects the blood sugar levels in the body.
• Lifestyle Factors: A sedentary lifestyle such as playing video games, lying down on couch and watching flicks for long hours are the main causes of Type 1 Diabetes.
• Genetic Predisposition: However, it is true that Type 1 Diabetes does not occur with direct inheritance. But the individuals who have a family history of Type 1 Diabetes, especially a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) have a risk of developing this condition. The risk of type 1 diabetes is higher in case of both parents have this type of diabetes.
• Bad Eating Habits: A poor diet plan and the process of eating after every 15-30 minutes come under the category bad eating habits. It is one of the major causes of Type 1 Diabetes.
• Other Environmental Factors: There are a variety of bad viruses and other kinds of toxins available in your surroundings that can be a cause of Type 1 Diabetes. It also has various effects on different organs in the body. Thus, you must try to avoid being in unhealthy environments.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

The signs and symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes can seem like normal at first but if they recur or stay for a prolonged period of time, you must immediately visit your physician and follow his guidelines. There are various signs of Type 1 Diabetes that can be easily identified by you in order to diagnose it quickly and effectively. Some of the first signs of Type 1 Diabetes are as follows.

• There might be increase in thirst at the beginning and thus frequent urination as a result of the same.
• Increase in appetite or hunger is also said to be one of the Diabetes Type 1 symptoms which you must look out for.
• Vision can get blurry at times.
• Small kids or children can go through bedwetting or excessive amount of urination.

Type 1 Diabetes in Adults

Although Type 1 Diabetes is said to happen in children but adults can also diagnosed with this type of diabetes when they become older. Most of the adults think that they cannot get Type 1 Diabetes once they grow old but this is a long held myth. However, when there is an onset of Type 1 Diabetes in adults, their body keeps producing insulin at a lower rate and they may not need additional insulin to supplement their body.

Sometimes when you are getting diagnosed for diabetes, your family history can mislead your doctor. Although your family has a history of Type 2 Diabetes, you may still get Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes in Children

Most of the Type 1 Diabetes signs and symptoms will be found in children and young adults. Thus, it is also known as Juvenile Diabetes. If your child suffers from Type 1 Diabetes, then he or she will get it for the rest of his / her life and only good diabetes treatment is something you can ensure as a parent.

In most of the cases, your child will need daily insulin injections or other kinds of insulin pumps so that the blood sugar range stays as low as possible. In some cases, treatment without insulin is also possible if the body keeps producing a certain amount of insulin to get things going. If you don’t seek proper treatment, huge complications can rise in the future for your children.

Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy

Many kinds of pregnancy complications can rise if you are pregnant with Type 1 Diabetes. Once you get to know that you are pregnant, you must get your blood sugar levels checked and strive to maintain them during the tenure of pregnancy.

Even after the birth of your baby, breastfeeding is necessary. Hence, only having control over diabetes will lead you to be able to take care of your new born baby in the best possible way.

Prevention of Type 1 Diabetes

The best way to prevent diabetes is to have a good lifestyle and eating habits. If you strive to stay healthy, such complications may not arise. Even avoiding smoking and drinking can go a long way in keeping yourself in good health and preventing Type 1 Diabetes. Make sure that you get all kinds of vaccines on time as well as adhere to your exercise prescription.

Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Drugs and oral medications are used for the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes but there are various natural cures for it as well.

• You must get a diet chart and try to follow a healthy & balanced diet.
• Many people also believe in cure through Yoga and if we check facts, it has been proven to lower blood sugar levels to a certain extent.

Although there are many home remedies for the treatment but since the risk factors are high, you must consult a doctor. However, if you wish to seek home remedies, below are a few things that you can try.

Home Remedies of Type 1 Diabetes

• Honey as we all know has many medicinal properties and it can help in regeneration of cells which can help in treating Type 1 Diabetes.
• Stevia leaves are another food item which you can consume as it has anti diabetic properties.
• Eating Avocado can help in managing your blood sugar levels and thus provide relief from Type 1 Diabetes.

Once we find the causes of diabetes, it gets easier to find the cure and know the reason behind it. There are a set of practices and food habits you need to follow once you are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Let’s see the various causes that are influential in the onset of diabetes in most of the people who suffer from diabetes.

What Causes Diabetes mellitus?

The major phenomena in which men or women are diagnosed with diabetes is when there is low production of insulin by the body or if the body is not responding to the insulin produced.

Many people wonder that does sugar causes diabetes?

Most of the people will answer ‘Yes’ but it is not completely true. Because it is true that sugar is important for the body to create energy but it is also a fact that excessive of sugar can be a diabetes cause.

There are various other factors that play a significant role in causing diabetes. In this disease, usually a person suffers from high blood glucose which is also known as ‘Hyperglycemia’.

Most Common Causes of Diabetes mellitus

Although many factors lead to diabetes but some of the factors are so common that they are usually found in all those who suffer from diabetes. Some of the causes are quite common whereas some are triggered by having a certain type of food. All of the most common causes of diabetes mellitus are as followed.

• Autoimmune Response: Low production of insulin by the pancreas is one of the main causes of diabetes.
• Age: The risk of having diabetes increases with age, especially for older age (40+) people.
• Genetic Predisposition: Hereditary problems where the ancestors or someone in the family suffered from diabetes can be a common cause.
• Insulin Resistance: No response by the body to the insulin that is produced sufficiently.
• Unhealthy Diet: Eating junk foods on a regular basis (bad eating habits) can lead to heart disease and diabetes.
• Fat: Obesity or overweight is also the major cause of diabetes mellitus.
• A Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of any physical activity, doing nothing and sitting for long hours can be a major cause of this “Sugar Disease”.
• Other Factors: Various environmental factors play a huge role such as the virus or toxins present in the environment can also cause diabetes.

Does Sugar Cause Diabetes?

There is a widespread notion that having sugar causes diabetes but it is not exactly true. However, excessive consumption of sugar can lead to obesity and weight gain in a short period of time. This increase in weight can then cause diabetes.

Thus, if we notice, sugar indirectly causes diabetes but you can’t totally stop consuming sugar because it is necessary for our body to produce energy too.

It has also been proved that no matter how much sugar you consume in your diet, you can’t get Type 1 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes can be caused indirectly by sugar but it has no direct effects on causing diabetes.

What Food Causes Diabetes?

Wrong eating habits is said to be one of the major causes of diabetes. There are some food items that are provocative to diabetes and they can prove harmful for your health. Below are the types of foods that you must certainly avoid as they can cause diabetes:

• Highly processed carbohydrate foods are extremely harmful for our body and along with diabetes. They are the causes of several other diseases too. You must completely eliminate such food items from your diet to lead a healthy life.
• Sugar sweetened drinks or soft drinks are also responsible for making us obese which is one of the major causes of diabetes.
• There are food items which are high in calories but lack in almost all kinds of nutrients, such foods must be avoided altogether as well.
• Saturated and Trans fats need to be avoided as well. They are mostly food items from the bakery and various packaged goods which are oily too. These food items also pose a risk of high cholesterol which can lead to heart diseases.
• Red and processed meats are also very bad for health and may cause diabetes. They are quite rich in sodium as well as nitrates which are harmful for our health. Small portions are fine when included in a balanced diet but anything more can be unhealthy.

Causes of Diabetes during Pregnancy

It has been found that even pregnant women can be diagnosed with diabetes due to certain changes in their body during pregnancy. There are various causes of gestational diabetes and some changes in lifestyle can prevent it from happening.

When a woman is pregnant, the placenta in her body produces a hormone which further increases the build-up of sugar in her body. Usually, the female body is made to handle that amount of sugar, but in case if it can’t, then it leads to Gestational Diabetes.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes mellitus

Unlike many other diseases, detecting the early symptoms of diabetes can be really difficult. They can be so silent and hideous that you might not recognize them at all. However, if you pay enough attention to the changes in your body and behaviour, you can identify the first signs of diabetes which will then help you in combating the disease in a better way.

Some of the early signs which you can spot if you are suffering from diabetes are listed below:

• Increased hunger, no matter how much you eat.
• Increased thirst, which is then followed by an increase in the frequency of urination.
• Feeling tired all the time.
• Frequent changes in the mood and feeling grumpy.
• Vision starts to become blurry even though you don’t have any eye disease.
• Your wounds are taking too long to heal than the normal time required.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Men

From different types of diabetes, Type 2 is very common in men and it affects around 90% to 95% of the men who are suffering from the disease. However, there are some diabetes symptoms in men which if ignored can turn harmful and lead to far off consequences.

If you notice the below symptoms in your body and think that it has become a pattern, then waste no time in consulting your doctor:

• An unusual increase in thirst frequently.
• The increase in hunger even after just eating a meal.
• Dry mouth with low saliva.
• Feeling nauseous and occasional urge of vomiting.
• Frequent urination, more than the normal frequency.
• Feeling fatigue, extremely tired, lethargic and weak throughout the time without indulging in any activity.
• Blurry vision is also one of the warning signs of diabetes.
• Numbness in the hand or feet, sometimes a tingling feeling on both.
• Infections of skin or urinary tract can also signify one of the diabetes mellitus symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Women

A lot of women are suffering from this sugar disease and many of them suffer from it during their pregnancy. Diabetes symptoms in pregnancy may not be fully visible but it usually occurs in women who are overweight before pregnancy, have a history of diabetes or have a high sugar level. Gestational diabetes symptoms occur during the time of pregnancy and proper care must be taken to avoid them.

The most common diabetes symptoms in women are as follows:

• Increase in thirst and hunger.
• Wounds of all kinds including cuts and bruises heal relatively slow.
• Unusual weight loss in a short period of time, even when eating sufficiently.
• Difficulty in vision which might look blurry at times.
• Sexual problems including lack of sex drive and low vaginal lubrication.

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Children

Diabetes symptoms in children are hard to identify as they can’t articulate as nicely as adults. Thus, as a parent, it is your responsibility to look after diabetes insipidus symptoms in babies and begin with the treatment as early as possible. If you want to know whether your child is showing early signs of diabetes, you must look out for some behaviour symptoms that indicate the onset of diabetes.

Some of the first symptoms of ‘Juvenile Diabetes’ that you must look out for in children are following:

• The increase in thirst and hunger, especially after drinking and eating enough.
• Female children or babies developing a ‘Yeast Infection’ can be an early sign of juvenile diabetes.
• Having an itchy skin for a prolonged period.
• Fast heart rate and headache.
• Feeling nauseous frequently or occurrence of vomiting.
• Quick weight loss in a short amount of time.
• Wetting the bed frequently or excessive urination.

The Different Types of Diabetes

1. Type 1 Diabetes is caused because of pancreatic failure to produce enough insulin.
2. Type 2 Diabetes begins with insulin resistance. It is a condition where body’s cells fail to respond to insulin properly.
3. Type 3 Diabetes, also called as Gestational Diabetes mellitus occurs when a pregnant woman without a prior history of diabetes develops high blood sugar level.

Signs and Symptoms

Many wonder about what are the first signs of diabetes to detect whether they are suffering from it because it is quite important to know about the early signs of diabetes and to recognize the symptoms of Diabetes correctly.

• The first signs of diabetes can be identified by weight loss, an increase in urination, thirst, and even hunger. But these symptoms usually develop slowly and can be absent in Type 2 Diabetes.
• Several other signs and symptoms in addition to the above ones include blurry vision, headache, fatigue, slow healing of cuts and itchy skin.

Diabetes Categorization – A Complete Guide

There are three major types of Diabetes with varying symptoms, effects and treatment methods. The two types of diabetes along with gestational diabetes mellitus (Type 3) are explained in detail below so that you have a sufficient knowledge about all of them.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes results from the failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin. This type of diabetes is due to loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, leading to insulin deficiency. It can be further classified as immune-mediated or idiopathic. Most affected people are quite healthy when the first symptoms occur.

Type 1 Diabetes can affect both children and adults equally. It was traditionally called as “Juvenile Diabetes” because the majority of Type 1 Diabetes were found only in children. Signs of juvenile diabetes must be tracked and immediately acted upon for cure. These are some of the most prevalent diabetes symptoms in children.

One should know about symptoms of diabetes in children to take preventive measures before it strikes. Type 1 Diabetes can be accompanied by irregular and unpredictable high blood sugar levels, frequently with ketosis and sometimes low sugar levels. It is basically incurable but insulin injections will help in survival.

Signs of Type 1 Diabetes: Increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue and blurred vision.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, a condition where body cells fail to respond to insulin properly. The insulin receptor is believed to be involved in defective responsiveness of body tissue to insulin. It is said to be the most common type of Diabetes mellitus.

The major causes of Type 2 Diabetes are lifestyle factors and usually genetics. Obesity, lack of physical activity, poor diet, stress, and urbanization are known to be the developing factors for Type 2 Diabetes.

Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and saturated fats are responsible for this type of diabetes. Cutting down on white rice can also help in the prevention. The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes is that former one can occur at a young age whereas the latter one can strike in adulthood, the first signs start to develop mostly after the age 30.

Signs of Type 2 Diabetes: Excessive hunger, fatigue, or increased thirst, blurred vision, frequent urination, poor wound healing, or weight gain

Type 3 Diabetes

Type 3 Diabetes, also called as ‘Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM)‘ is a condition when a woman without any history of diabetes develops high blood sugar level during pregnancy. Type 3 Diabetes occurs to 2-10% of pregnant women and may improve or disappear after delivery.

Gestational Diabetes mellitus is fully treatable but it requires careful medical treatment and supervision throughout the tenure of pregnancy. If left untreated, it can cause severe and even fatal consequences.

Born babies to mother with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of being overweight, low blood sugar levels and jaundice. It can also result in stillbirth at times. In the long run, born babies can develop Type 2 Diabetes as well.

Gestational Diabetes mellitus is majorly caused by insufficient insulin in setting insulin resistance. Type 3 Diabetes can be prevented by maintaining a healthy diet and regular moderate exercise.

Signs of Type 3 Diabetes: Memory loss, dementia, and confusion. There may be no symptoms at early stages but the causes of diabetes for this type can be devastating.

Uncommon Types of Diabetes

There are also some uncommon types of diabetes that occurs in certain individuals with distinct symptoms as compared to Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. These diabetes types are even termed as ‘Rare Types of Diabetes‘.

Prediabetes

It indicates a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but is not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA):

It is an autoimmune condition that usually develops in adults, often after the age of 30. This type of diabetes develops slower than normal Type 1 Diabetes.

Some cases of this diabetes are also noted where body’s tissue receptors do not respond to insulin even when insulin levels are normal, which is what separates it from Type 2 Diabetes.

This form of diabetes is quite uncommon as it has characteristics of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, it is generally known as ‘Type 1.5 Diabetes‘.

Congenital Diabetes

The different forms of Diabetes mellitus also include Congenital Diabetes, which occurs due to genetic defects of insulin secretion.

Cystic Fibrosis-related Diabetes (CFRD)

It is a distinct type of diabetes that has been identified by relative insulin deficiency. Sometimes, it develops due to certain medications. This type of uncommon diabetes is also called as ‘Secondary Diabetes’.

It is a genetic disorder that normally occurs in individuals with cystic fibrosis. It results in the formation of thick mucus in lungs and other organs of infected person. This thick mucus can further damage the pancreas and bring down its ability to produce insulin that leads to diabetes.

Steroid-induced Diabetes mellitus

This type of rare diabetes is defined as the unusual increase in blood glucose that is induced by high doses of ‘Glucocorticoids‘ in a patient. It occurs in an individual who has or hasn’t a previous history of diabetes mellitus in its family.

Monogenic Diabetes

Single gene mutation is the main cause of Monogenic Diabetes. It majorly impacts on how the body uses or produces insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. This type of diabetes comes under the category of ‘Atypical Diabetes’. It is categorized into two rare forms of diabetes that are as follows:

1. MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young): This type of diabetes generally occurs in young adults or teens before the age of 25. It is inherited from any of the parents and distinguished by a genetic mutation that affects the production of insulin in the body.
2. Neonatal Diabetes mellitus (NDM): This rare form of diabetes develops in infants or new-borns, especially in the first six months of life. It can be either permanent or temporary that totally depends on various factors.

Type 4 Diabetes

The ‘Type 4 Diabetes‘ is proposed but it has not received an official status yet.

One should know all about diabetes and even the major diabetes signs which will help in taking preventive measures in future.

What is Diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes is basically a metabolic disorder that is often caused by an increase in blood sugar level or blood pressure. The disease is non-infectious but may turn out to be hereditary in some cases. If a patient is not given a proper diabetes treatment, it may lead to multiple organ failures or many other complications in patient’s body.

A diabetic patient must take care of the food diet and often avoid too much sugary food. The food that contains an excess of carbohydrates/starch or sugar is unhealthy for a diabetic patient.

Diabetes symptoms are often detected at early stages. So, the treatment must be started there and then to avoid any medical complications. The doctors must recommend a diabetic diet plan to the patient. Go ahead to learn how is diabetes caused and what can be done to cure diabetes.

History of Diabetes

Diabetes was one of the first diseases to be described through Egyptian manuscript from 1500BC with mentioned ‘too great emptying of the urine’. This case was believed to be Type 1 Diabetes. The Indian physicians around the same time also identified this disease. They named it as ‘Madhumeha’ or ‘Honey Urine’ as the urine of diabetic patient attracted ants.

The term – “Diabetes” or “to pass through” was used in 250BC by a Greek Apollonius of Memphis. The Indian physicians – ‘Charaka’ and ‘Sushruta’ discovered Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to be the separate conditions between 400 to 500AD. Diabetes Type 1 was associated with youth while Type 2 Diabetes was associated with obesity. The term “Mellitus” was added to diabetes by Thomas Willis in late 16^th century, as he coined it from honey.

What are the Causes of Diabetes mellitus (DM)?

The causes of diabetes are varying which depends on your genes, family history, ethnicity, health, and environmental factors. There are no common causes of diabetes mellitus that might fit every type of diabetes. The reason why there are no particular causes of diabetes is only that it depends on the individuals.

Still, we can accommodate some of the common causes of diabetes that are seen in most of the cases. The long bacterial infection, the chemical toxin in food, unidentified component causing an autoimmune reaction, poor diet, obesity, increasing age is among few of the causes of diabetes.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes?

As we all know, diabetes is a metabolic disorder, so it is obvious to observe common symptoms in diabetic patients. But a diabetic patient may be identified with different types of diabetes. Before we move on, let us learn about different types of diabetes that might occur in a human being.

Major Types of Diabetes

There are two major types of Diabetes that are often found in a diabetic patient. The first is Type 1 diabetes, commonly found in youth while the second one is Type 2 diabetes, commonly found in people above 35 years of age. Though, there are patients suffering from Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes is very common diabetes types found in most of the diabetic patients.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is caused due to immune system failure where the immune system itself destroys the body cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. It is basically the autoimmune reaction where the body is attacking itself. This type of diabetes is commonly observed in children and youth.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is often caused due to the involvement of multiple factors causing diabetes. Often the family history and genes lead to this type of diabetes. It is commonly found in people above 35 years old age group.

Gestational Diabetes (Type 3)

Most of the women in the 24^th week of their pregnancy develop gestational diabetes. This doesn’t mean that they had diabetes before the pregnancy or they will have it after giving birth. It is the phase which can be neutralized easily with doctor’s mere advice.

Though the symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are a bit different, but we have clubbed a few of them together as these signs of diabetes are common in most of the patients. The most common signs and symptoms of diabetes that people must notice to identify diabetes at an early stage in order to reduce its impact are as follows:

• Constant thirst
• Feeling tired
• Unplanned weight loss/gain
• Regular irritation and mood changes
• Too frequent urination
• Blurry vision
• Nausea
• Numbness in hands or feet
• Wounds don’t heal easily
• Increased hunger

Is there a Cure for Diabetes?

Now, the common question arises here – ‘Is there a Cure for Diabetes’?

Yes, there is a cure for diabetes – both through natural and Allopathic treatment. Being physically active is one of the ultimate solutions to cure diabetes and prevent it from expanding.

A diabetic patient must prepare a nutritional diet for diabetes so that adequate amount of food nutrients are consumed and blood sugar levels are maintained. It is highly recommended to people suffering from diabetes to consult a doctor after every six months and go for regular blood sugar test.

The diabetic patient must do regular blood test every week after buying a diabetes starter kit which has all the tools for easy testing of blood glucose levels. In this way, the patient can stay informed about any rise or downfall in blood glucose level. One must buy the Diabetes starter kit for regular monitoring.

Yoga is also considered as the natural cure for diabetes. Yoga is the ancient art form that originated in India and now has spread throughout the world because of its power to heal the diseases, let them be metabolic or life threatening. There are different yoga exercises that must be done by diabetic patient regularly to stay fit and control the low blood sugar levels developed due to diabetes.

The Treatment Methods for Diabetes

As discussed earlier, doing regular physical activity is the ultimate treatment for diabetes. Though Diabetes is a lifelong condition and is really difficult to be cured, but it can be controlled to a large extent.

A regular physical activity is advisable to the diabetic patient because its helps the body to use insulin in a better way. The insulin released by the body converts glucose into energy, which is required by the body cells to function properly.

People suffering from Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections on a regular basis. Some patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are also recommended to take these insulin injections. Generally, the patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes are advised to take oral medicines that help their body produce an adequate amount of insulin.

There are people, who are able to control Type 2 Diabetes without medication by taking the adequate diabetic diet. Type 2 Diabetes diet must be planned in such a way that the right amount of food is taken at the right time of the day. So, it is advised to concern an expert for preparing your meal chart if you are suffering from diabetes Type 2.

Medical Advice to Diabetic Patient

Here are certain things that are advised to a diabetic patient and the patient must follow this advice sincerely to avoid any complications in near future.

• Avoid eating food with access to sugar content except for fruits.
• A diabetic patient must concern a diabetes specialist half yearly.
• A diabetic patient must concern a dietitian for a proper diabetic meal plan.
• An exercise physiologist must be concerned to teach the exercises to boost the physical activity.
• An eye specialist must be concerned if you start seeing the things with blur.
• Keep a regular check on normal blood sugar level and you must keep it under control.

Other Problems that might be the Result of Diabetes

Diabetes might bring many other complications or health problems with it if not looked after carefully. It is really necessary to maintain the blood glucose levels to normal. Some of the problems that might be faced by diabetic patient if he/she is not keeping a check on blood glucose level are:

• Heart Attacks
• Kidney Failure
• Blindness
• Blood Vessel Disease
• Strokes
• Nerve Damage
• Impotency in Men

According to a study conducted throughout the world for over 10 years, it was revealed that if people maintain their blood sugar level close to normal, they can surely reduce the risk of adopting these health problems to about 50%.

Prevention of Diabetes

One of the hard to digest facts about diabetes is that you cannot prevent it. A study recently revealed that nearly 70% of world population is prone to have diabetes. No research has ever claimed it that prevention of diabetes is possible.

Though, the onset of diabetes may be delayed in the adults who are at really high risk of getting this disease. But as the technology is advancing, the ways have been innovated to control diabetes and the day is near when doctors will be able to treat the diabetic patient successfully so that he/she never develops diabetes again.

Useful AntiDiabetic Plants (Herbs) to Control Diabetes

Though diabetes is an incurable disease, but it can be controlled to large extent by taking care of your food diet. Eating herbs can be really beneficial. Most preferable list of antidiabetic plants has been mentioned below. These top natural antidiabetic herbs have shown some promise in lowering blood sugar, boosting insulin sensitivity and reducing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and all.

Gymnema Sylvestre (Gurmar or Miracle Fruit)

Gymnema sylvestre known as Gurmar is one of the most powerful herbs for controlling blood sugar. Sugar crusher/destroyer, translating it in Hindi, is well known for reducing the ability to detect sweetness. It boosts the activity of enzymes helping the cells use glucose. Thus the sugar level decreases or it stimulates the production of insulin. Though, all its effects or possible side effects still hasn’t been studied extensively, but no report of serious side effects has been found.

Azadirachta Indica (Neem or Indian Lilac)

Azadirachta indica, popularly known as Neem is widely popular as one of the best medicinal plant used for treatment of diabetes. Since immemorial time, this has been used as an antidiabetic plant, even mentioned in the early Vedic text. It is used alone or combined with other antidiabetic herbs for decreasing the sugar levels. But in some cases it is found that the blood sugar level went too low due to the use of neem. So it is advised to monitor your blood sugar level regularly while using neem as an antidiabetic herb and change the dose of it according to the need.

Morus Indica (Mulberry)

Morus indica or mulberry leaves are recommended by ayurvedic medics to decrease the sugar level and fight against diabetes. According to the research, it is found that using mulberry for at least 15 days on a regular basis with recommended dose will reduce the sugar level almost 38 to 40 %. Correcting lipid abnormality using mulberry leaves is also popular. Diabetic patients can use this plant for the protection from oxidative stress as it improves the antioxidant defence system of the body. No report of side effects has been found.

Momordica Charantia (Karela or Bitter Gourd)

Also known as Bitter Gourd, Momordica charantia has set a good example as a natural remedy for diabetes and also used extensively in ayurvedic medicines. It helps fighting diabetes by increasing the insulin secretion hence improving the function of beta cells of the pancreas. Bitter gourd fruit pulp helps in increasing the number of beta cells in the pancreas.  No serious side effect has been reported.

Eugenia Jambolana (Jamun or Java Plum)

It is known to us that diabetes makes it harder for the body to heal a wound. Eugenia Jambolana seed extract makes wound healing process faster for a diabetes patient. This is the reason of it being a preferable herb in the list of antidiabetic plants. Its fruit and seeds reduce the sugar level effectively by stimulating the secretion of insulin. It also helps in reducing the risk of kidney dysfunction in diabetes. It has no side effects.

Curcuma Longa (Haldi or Turmeric)

Studies have found that Curcuma longa lowers plasma glucose level. It is a promising ingredient in functional food aiming at preventing different kinds of diabetes. It raises the secretion of insulin and thus glucose level stays in control. It has no side effects. It even helps in fighting different other diseases as well.

Tinospora Cordifolia (Guduchi or Heart-Leaved Moonseed)

Tinospora cordifolia is an herbal bush found usually in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Its leaves, stems and root have different uses in Ayurveda. This plant not only reduces high cholesterol and allergic rhinitis, but also very useful in controlling diabetes. It has antioxidant effects. Tinospora cordifolia also helps in improving the immunity system and fight against diabetes. No noticeable side effect has been recorded. It is not only a medicinal plant used for treatment of diabetes but also cures diseases like Cancer, RA, and PUD too.

Best Diabetes Checking Machines (Glucometers)

These are the various glucometer machines which are easy to use, less painful than others and highly accurate. You can choose the one your doctor recommends or check the features to see which machine aligns with your priorities and then make a choice.

Accu-Chek Active Glucometer

Accu-Check is an easy to use Diabetes machine and is less painful than other similar machines. To check your blood sugar level, you simply need to prick a finger and take a tiny droplet of blood on the provided strip. The strip is then inserted into the machine and the time taken to show the result is nearly 5 seconds. The accurate result is displayed on the digital screen. It also has a customized test reminder feature which is quite useful.

One Touch Simple Glucometer

One-touch simple glucometer is a complete Diabetes testing kit as it comes with a good number of strips as well as lancets along with the machine. It doesn’t require coding and the result displays instantly within a second on screen. An alarm rings when you have low, high, or extremely high blood pressure. The machine is blazingly fast and probably the fastest blood glucose meter available in the market.

DrMorepenGluco One BG 02 Glucometer

DrMorepenGluco One is an amazing glucometer and no coding is required to check your blood sugar level. It is small in size with a big display and has a capacity of 450 recordings along with date and time. Only 0.7 microliter blood is required and within 7 seconds, the results are displayed. The kit contains 25 strips and 10 lancets which are enough for a few days. DrMorepen glucometer is available quite easily at online shopping sites.

Omron HGM 112 Glucometer

This glucometer from Omron is quite light in weight and is ideal for a Diabetes test at home. Only 0.1 microliter blood is required and the result appears in less than 5 seconds. It helps you in monitoring your sugar level with great ease. The Diabetes blood test machine indicates when the strip is damaged, reused or expired when inserted in the glucometer. It also has a facility of pre-meal and post-meal marking. The kit comes with 10 strips and 10 lancets.

OneTouch Ultra

OneTouch is among the finest blood sugar monitoring devices available which require a small sample and is quite accurate as well. There are 50 strips included in the packet which is more than enough for a long period of time. Most doctors recommend using OneTouch’s Diabetes blood test machine as it is quite reliable and trustworthy.

Truworth G 30 Glucometer

Truworth G 30 Glucometer is less painful and pretty quick. Only 0.5 microliters of blood is required and in less than 5 seconds, you will get to know whether the blood sugar level has increased or decreased. It also has pre and post meal facility. Around 450 test memories are saved with date and time for you to check at a later stage. The results are easily transmitted to computers or smartphones which you can show to your doctor during your Diabetes check up.

Dr. Gene Accusure Glucose Monitor

If you are looking for an affordable solution with around 25 strips and 10 lancets, the Dr. Gene Accusure Glucose Monitor is the perfect machine. It is widely trusted for being long lasting and for its accuracy.  The Diabetes checking machine is equipped with a strip ejection feature which makes sure that it prevents all kinds of blood contaminations.

Arkray Glucocard 01-Mini Glucometer

Arkray is a reputed brand among the various blood sugar testing machine brands available in the market. The blood sample required for measuring in the machine is extremely low at around 0.3 micro-liters. This is far less than the sample required by other machines available in the market. You can get your results in just 5 seconds by taking this Diabetes test at home.

Important Diabetes Tests

Here are various blood tests which can be conducted for the diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes but one can also do a Diabetes test at home. You can use a Diabetes checking machine to check your blood sugar level and know what the results are, almost instantly. If you want to know your insulin levels, you can simply carry out an insulin test for Diabetes. Check them out –

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

The Oral glucose tolerance test is a diabetic test which is majorly performed on women during pregnancy. It is accurate in letting us know if a pregnant woman is suffering from Gestational Diabetes. In this test, the blood is normally taken for test once to know the average blood sugar level and later, you will be given a syrupy glucose solution. After this, your blood is taken every 30 to 60 minutes for the next 3 hours to see how your blood is handling the surge in sugar. The results for this Diabetes blood test can vary depending upon the grams of glucose in the solution.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test

When we talk about test for patients with Type 2 Diabetes, the most common Diabetes test name that crops up is the Fasting Blood Sugar test. This medical test is extremely easy to perform and thus, is highly preferred by all. One needs to fast overnight in order to take this test in the morning. Usually, a normal blood sugar level from this test ranges from 70-99 mg/dl or less than 5.5 mmol/L. Many also use a Diabetes machine to conduct this test.

Two Hour Postprandial Test

The blood sugar level is also reflected accurately after a meal and the two hour postprandial test does that. You need to have a normal meal and then wait for two hours to get this test done. If your blood sugar level is 70-145 mg/dl or less than 7.9 mmol/L then this is the normal range, and you can be worry free. If the test indicates otherwise, you need to immediately go to a doctor for getting a Diabetes check up.

Random Blood Sugar Test

The random blood sugar test just like its name says is done randomly to measure the blood sugar level irrespective of the time as well as the meals had prior to the test. The normal range for the random blood sugar test spans from 70-125 mg/dl or less than 7.0 mmol/L. If it is anything higher than that, you are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1C Test

This is the only Diabetes test which measures the amount of sugar which is stuck in your red blood cells. These cells have a span of just 3 months but it can indicate your level of blood sugar in the recent months. It is a test which can also be conducted for diabetics to see how their recent blood sugar level is performing. If the results for this test are higher, you can make certain lifestyle changes to bring it back to normal. This test cannot be performed through a Diabetes machine.

What is Blood Sugar Level?

We all have a certain amount of sugar in our bodies and the quantity of blood sugar or glucose in blood is known as the blood sugar level. If these levels rise, a person may suffer from Diabetes. There are various tests to measure these levels and are used for diagnosis of Diabetes. Some tests are conducted after eating whereas some of them are conducted before eating and the blood sugar level for both of them differs.

National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended target blood glucose level ranges

**The non-diabetic figures are provided for information but are not part of National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Blood Sugar Level of Diabetic Patients

After a certain limit, the level of blood sugar is known as the diabetic blood sugar level which would mean that you are suffering from Diabetes. The blood glucose level differs as per age as well as gender along with other conditions such as pregnancy. Let’s see how the range differs for each type of person based on the Diabetes blood sugar levels chart.

Kids

There are many tests to determine the blood sugar levels in kids. The most common test that doctors recommend is the ‘Fasting Blood Sugar Test’. If your child has a 100 mg/dl of blood sugar level in a ‘Fasting Blood Test’ then he or she is perfectly fine and is in the normal range. But if it exceeds from that level and is below 125 mg/dl, your child is suffering from Prediabetes.

Finally, if your child has a blood sugar level of more than 126 mg/dl, he or she is suffering from Diabetes. These levels can be different for various tests and you must refer to your doctor to know whether your child is suffering from Diabetes.

Adults

Adults have a slightly higher range of normal blood sugar level as per the blood glucose chart. The normal range of blood sugar as per the ‘Fasting Blood Sugar Test’ is below 108 mg/dl. Anything which is significantly lower than this level is considered to be a low blood sugar range.

The range between 108 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl is said to be a state of Prediabetes which is an onset for the Type 2 Diabetes. The high blood sugar range for adults is above 126 mg/dl which is termed as Diabetes. You must constantly keep your blood sugar level in check by frequently referring to the blood sugar level chart.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through a lot of vital changes and the blood sugar level is impacted to a certain level. However, the normal blood sugar range for pregnant women without Diabetes is from 69 mg/dl to 75 mg/dl on a ‘Fasting Blood Sugar Test’.

For women who are suffering from Gestational Diabetes, the blood sugar level is higher than 95 mg/dl. Multiple blood tests are required during the tenure of pregnancy to diagnose Gestational Diabetes.

Blood Sugar Level

The major differentiator through which we classify both the diseases is the blood sugar level. Usually, the diabetic blood sugar level is above 126 mg/dl when tested through a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test. If it is higher, a person is said to have Type 2 Diabetes and necessary measures are taken. However, if the blood sugar level is lower than 126 mg/dl but more than 100 mg/dl, a person is diagnosed with Prediabetes. This is the prime differentiating factor through which we can label a person’s condition as Prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes.

Symptoms

Usually, a sugar disease like Diabetes doesn’t depict any kind of symptoms but people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes often experience increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and fatigue along with a few other symptoms. Whereas people suffering from Prediabetes often show no symptoms and it can only be diagnosed through a blood test for measuring blood sugar level.

It is recommended to go through diabetes check up for screening your blood sugar level. The mild symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be seen in Prediabetes but most of the times there are no symptoms. This is how one can differentiate Prediabetes from Type 2 Diabetes based on the symptoms they show.

Treatment

Treatment for both the conditions differs to a certain extent. Although some treatment methods such as a change in lifestyle, exercising as well as diet plan are necessary for both, medication can differ. Insulin injections can be prescribed for Type 2 Diabetes but it is not needed for people with Prediabetes. Since the blood sugar level is lower in Prediabetes than in Type 2 Diabetes, the treatment mode and techniques relatively differ for both of them. But as the nature of diagnosis is similar in both, some of the treatment prescribed by the doctor can be similar in some cases.