INTRODUCTION
According to the World diabetes Health Organization, a few decades back Obesity- Diabetes diabetes symptoms was an uncommon disease, in both developed and developing countries. Today, the story differs. It is currently estimated that over 143million individuals worldwide are affected by this disease. This figure is increasing, by 2020 over 220million people are expected to be living with diabetes, even if the present trend persists.
In the United States alone, there are 18.2 million people (6.3 percent of the population) living with diabetes. While another 13million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Regrettably, 5.2milion (or nearly one third) are unaware that they have the disease.
The figure for Nigeria isn't readily available, but it is estimated that more than 1.5million people have diabetes in Nigeria.
In developed countries, most patients of diabetes are more than sixty, but in developing countries, diabetes is found to affect people in their prime.
WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes Mellitus (or simply diabetes) is derived from the Greek word 'Diabeinein', meaning 'To pass through' describing copious urination, and Mellitus from the Latin word meaning 'Sweetened with honey'. These two words signify sweetened pee or sugar in urine.
Diabetes is a disease where the body doesn't produce or properly use Insulin. Insulin is a hormone that's required, in the entire body, to control the rate at which sugar, starch and other foods are converted into glucose required as energy for everyday life. The hormone is produced and released
Into the blood by an organ called 'Pancreas'. This insulin help to keep the blood glucose level within a normal selection. The World Health Organization (WHO) places this normal array between.
60 - 100mg/dl (Before carrying any food for the day, hence this value is called Fasting Blood Glucose). But in health, despite several demands for glucose in different situations, the blood sugar rarely exceeds this value.
After a meal the liver stores the glucose from the meal as glycogen and then releases it into the blood in between meals. The role of insulin is that the management of this storage and release of glucose. It ensures that the quantity of sugar in the blood in each specific period doesn't go beyond or below the normal selection.
INSULIN DEPENDENT/TYPE I : DIABETESThis type of diabetes was originally called Juvenile onset diabetes as it affects adolescents and young adults. It's caused by a sudden failure of the pancreas to produce Insulin. It is, therefore, a serious disease, presenting with thirst, polyuria (passing large amount of urine), diuresis and weight loss. Type I diabetes isn't common, it accounts for less than 10 percent of all diabetes cases.
NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT/ TYPE II DIABETES: This is the most common kind of diabetes, accounting for more than 80% of all diabetic cases. It is found in adults and the elderly. This sort of diabetes develops slowly over an extended period of time (unnoticed) and is characterized by insufficient insulin, deficient insulin in the bloodstream or the inability of the body to utilize the insulin resent (Insulin resistance). Due to its slow and gradual occurrence, it is mostly undetected until at least one of its long-term complications appear.
Unlike in Type I Diabetes, the Insulin in the blood of a Type II diabetic may be normal or even high, but lacks the desirable effect, as a result of insulin resistance, which can be prevalent among obese men and women.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES: This kind of diabetes occurs during pregnancy and disappears after delivery, within 3weeks. An estimated 3 percent of all pregnancies are accompanied by gestational diabetes and nearly half of those patients are vulnerable to developing permanent diabetes later in life.
Much like hypertension and other non invasive diseases, no clear cut cause(s) can be credited to the most prevalent kind of diabetes (Type II Diabetes, Type I diabetes being secondary to failure of the pancreas). However, some factors are known to increase one's likelihood of becoming diabetic and these are known as risk factors. By way of instance, indolent and well-fed inhabitants are 2 - 20times more likely to develop type II diabetes than active and lean population of the same race. Some other variables known to raise one chances of having diabetes include:
OBESITY: It is estimated that three quarter (3/4) of Type II diabetes patient are obese. Indolent and affluent lifestyles tend to bring about this. It is believed that a 10kg reduction of fat can reduce fasting blood glucose level by almost 50md/dl. An active lifestyle with regular exercise is known to increase Insulin sensitivity.
This value is derived by dividing the body weight (in Kilograms) by the square of height (in metres).
Notice: 1ft = 0.305metres.
25 - 29kg/m2 is deemed overweight and over 30kg/m2 is Obesity.
FAMILY HISTORY: A family history of diabetes increases one's chances of getting the disease. In this kind of situation, leading a wholesome lifestyle and constant observation of one's blood glucose level becomes extremely significant.
AGE AND RACE: Most Type II diabetes patient are over 40yrs in presentation of this disease. However, the proportion of gain in the incidence of this disease with age is higher for people who have a family history of diabetes, obese and likely those leading sedentary lifestyles. Additionally, diabetes tends to become prevalent among Africans, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans. Belonging to some of those races is a risk factor in itself.
HISTORY OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES: in a girl also increases her chances/possibility of developing permanent diabetes later in life.
YOU CAN PREVENT/DELAY DIABETES!
Diabetes have no permanent cure once it grows, it is handled al through life. However, you can stop ever falling into this life long pain. Before diabetes existing in individuals, it is nearly always preceded by a situation called PRE DIABETES. A situation where the blood sugar is higher than normal, but not yet enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Saddening, but you can't understand when you fall in to this category, if you have not being tracking your blood glucose regularly.
Pre Diabetes is a serious medical situation, however can nevertheless be reversed by making changes in diet routine and increasing physical activity. To determine the blood glucose a test called Fasting Blood Glucose has to be performed. This test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in a person's blood prior to taking any meal for the day.
A value below 100mg/dl is usually accepted to be normal, even though a value greater than 100mg/dl but less than 120mg/dl is not full diabetes yet, therefore it's regarded as Pre diabetes. An individual having a preexisting diabetes blood sugar level have to take urgent steps to lower his blood glucose or threat life long diabetes.
It needs to be emphasized, however, that the racial and genetic factors predisposing to diabetes continue to be beyond human understanding and control. It makes common sense, hence, to reduce all human controllable things to the barest minimum. Most of these factors have to do with societal occupational and diet habits.
The following tips can help Lower Your diabetes risk:
* Reduce weight. Obesity seems to be the single most significant factor in diabetes. Reducing body fat and weight and maintaining an average body weight is quite essential. To this end a body mass index (BMI) less than 25kg/m2 for males and not as 24kg/m2 for females is recommended.
* Increase Physical Activity. It's a proven actuality that diabetes is more prevalent among people that lead a sedentary affluent lifestyle. Simple dynamic exercises such as brisk walking for 30-50mins per day or 3-5times weekly has been shown to be very helpful. Exercise reduces fat and bodyweight, increases performance of the heart, reduces the chances of diabetes and promotes feelings and healthy living.
Alcoholic ingestion of more than 2units daily has been proven to adversely affect the entire body. Alcohol being an addictive drug makes it rather difficult to keep up a certain quantity of intake for quite a while. It is better so to try to cut out alcohol completely.
* Avoid Smoking. Cigarette smoke has been shown to comprise several poisonous substances. Marijuana smoking and alcohol are associated to many disease. Stopping smoking will surely lower the odds of different ailments aside from diabetes.
* Lean good eating habits, such as;
* Cut down on fatty foods and junks
* Garlic reduces blood pressure ; add it into your meal plan once every so often.
* Cut the amount of eggs you take to 3- 4 per week (better boiled than grilled).
* Reduce salt intake to less than 5.8g daily.
* Eat more of vegetables and fibre rich food, particularly fruits.
* Finally, constantly monitor your fasting blood glucose, since this is the only method to know when you're getting into difficulty.
CONCLUSION
Diabetes and Hypertension being interlinked requires a comprehensive plan of care, and this revolves round one's dietary habits, environmental and social elements. Several lifestyle changes like regular exercise, keeping a moderate body weight, reduction of fat intake and higher fibre diet helps live a normal healthier life. These steps are known to increase insulin sensitivity and also reduce blood pressure.