Diabetes
Kimberly Ramnauth

What is Diabetes

Diabetes prevents the body’s ability to use the carbohydrates in food for energy.The result is elevated blood sugar. Over time this excess sugar raises the risk of heart disease, loss of vision, nerve and organ damage, and other serious conditions Symptoms

People with type 2 diabetes rarely experiences symptoms but when they do, it includes an increase in thirst. This often includes dry mouth, increased appetite, frequent urination and unusual weight loss or gain.

Warning Signs
One sign of diabetes is infections such as:
Cuts or sores that are slow to heal
Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections Itchy skin, especially in the groin area

Risk Factors You Can Control some health habits and medical conditions in your lifestyle can increase your odds of developing diabetes, including:
Being overweight, especially at the waist
A sedentary lifestyle
Smoking
A high diet in red meat, processed meat, high fat dairy products, and sweets

Uncontrollable Risk Factors
Risk factors that can’t be controlled include:
Race or ethnicity: Hispanics, African
Americans, Native Americans, and Asians have a higher than average risk.
Family history of diabetes: having a parent or sibling with diabetes boosts your risks
Age: Being 45 and older increases your risk of diabetes How Insulin Works
In a non diabetic, insulin helps turn food into energy. The stomach breaks down carbohydrate from food into sugars, including glucose. Glucose then enters the bloodstream, which stimulates the pancreas to release insulin in just the right amount. Insulin a hormone, allow glucose to enter cells throughout the body, where it is used to fuel the body.

Diagnosing Diabetes

A simple blood test can diagnose diabetes. The
A1C test gives a snapshot of your average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months.
An A1C level of 6.5% or higher may indicate diabetes Managing Diabetes
Controlling blood sugar levels by Changing your diet can reduce risks of complication, also monitoring carbohydrate consumption as well as total fat and protein intake.
Exercise which includes walking can improve the body’s use of insulin, lower