The effects of diabetes are extremely harmful. It is a leading cause of glaucoma, amputations, renal failure, cardiovascular disease and dementia. We have the highest diabetes rates in Africa, and these numbers are only expected to rise as people abandon their once-healthy indigenous diets and habits in favor of the less bad ones.
What is Diabetes?
When someone has diabetes, they have trouble metabolizing glucose, which is the body’s major energy source. It occurs when insulin, a protein necessary for proper glucose metabolism, is either absent or insufficient. Insulin facilitates glucose entry into cells, which provides energy for vital bodily processes including respiration and rigorous exercise activities.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed for a while because its symptoms are subtle. An accurate diagnosis is usually achieved at a regular examination or if a crisis arises from the condition. However, there are certain red flags:
- Extreme dehydration
- Rapid weight loss with no diet or exercise
- An inability to maintain a healthy energy level
- Slowly recovering injuries
- Continual need to urinate
- Insatiable Appetite
- Vision impairment
Reducing Your Risk of Becoming Diabetic
Although diabetes is a life-threatening disease, the best part is that it can be avoided or at least managed to postpone the disease’s onset. This can be achieved by:
Lose Weight: Those who are overweight may benefit from losing 5-7% of their current weight. Avoid fast cures and crash diets if you really want to lose weight. Rather, focus on making gradual, well-considered adjustments to your eating and exercise habits.
Be fit and healthy: do aerobic exercise for 30 to 45 minutes on at least three to five days a week. Select an exercise and intensity level for your exercise that causes you to become so winded that you can’t keep up a discussion.
Eat a varied and balanced diet: Eat plenty of colorful produce and stay away from processed, oily, high-fat, or sugar-added items. Eat in more often and cook at home to save money and have more say over what goes into your meals.
Avoid Bad Habits: to avoid diabetes as well as other complications that come with bad lifestyles, you need to look at some habits you have and try stopping them. You need to disengage with habits such as:
- Smoking
- Not getting at least 8 hours of good rest
- Stressful and depressing activities
Know your figures: Getting medical attention quickly enough to prevent diabetes and the resulting complications is the key to excellent prevention and management results. Make regular appointments with your doctor and listen to their recommendations for improving your nutrition and way of living.
Bottom Line
Last but not least, it is important to remember that diabetes is not fatal. A well-planned diet and regular exercise can help people with diabetes lead normal, happy lives. Also, listen to the recommendations of your healthcare providers. You can prevent diabetes and even if you have it already, it is not the end of the world. You can live healthily and enjoy all that life has to offer.
