Diabetes has become a more common topic of discussion in health articles and websites than ever before. Recent studies show many more people being diagnosed with adult onset diabetes and that more children today than ever before are also falling victim to this chronic condition. Not only is diabetes a condition which requires your entire lifestyle to change, but it is also a condition which can prove dangerous, even fatal, if not managed properly.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which the body can not handle the insulin production on its own or it can also be a condition in which the body can not handle the sugar intake of the diet. In either case, the conditions can lead to two different scenarios:

• A person has too much insulin in their bloodstream – When this is the case and nothing is done, it can lead to diabetic comas and death.
• A person has too much sugar in their bloodstream – While not fatal in all cases, long term exposure to too much sugar can hurt the blood vessels of the body, leading to problems with circulation and blood flow.

Diabetes is diagnosed with a simple blood test without any restrictions or a blood test after fasting or drinking a sugary drink. Often, there are few signs that a person might have diabetes, until there is a major problem.


Some symptoms include:

• Rapid weight loss
• Excessive water consumption
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Tingling in the extremities

Those who have a family history of diabetes are more prone to developing the condition from birth, but it seems more people today are developing diabetes later in life – as a result of a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating choices.

Preventing Diabetes

For many people, diabetes is simply a part of life, but as science is beginning to recognise the connection between lifestyle and the presence of diabetes in society. There are some simple things you can do today to reduce your chances of diabetes:

• Lose weight – Just losing 10% of your body weight can decrease your risk significantly.
• Eat less refined sugar – Staying away from processed foods which contain sugar will help to keep blood sugar levels steady.
• Exercise more often – When you exercise, your body is able to use up excessive sugar stored in the bloodstream.
• Add more protein and vegetables to your diet – These foods help to stabilise blood sugar levels.
• Choose whole grains over white breads and pastas – Whole grains are harder for the body to break down, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable.

Simple steps you would normally take for your health are going to help you prevent diabetes.

In some cases, diabetes can be managed with diet and exercise changes alone – or even be ‘cured.’ Some types of adult onset diabetes seem to be directly related to lifestyle, but when that changes, the blood sugar troubles do too.

How to Manage Diabetes

Those who are diagnosed with diabetes do not have to suffer with complicated treatment regimens anymore. New prescription drugs help to control blood sugar which can not be controlled by diet and exercise, while insulin shots can be used in those who are insulin dependent. Modern blood testing supplies are painless and quick, helping you check your levels as often as your doctor might advise.

That said, there are some additional tips those which diabetes can follow to ensure no long term damage occurs:

• Go to your doctor frequently – You need to see your General Practitioner and perhaps a specialist on a regular basis to ensure no long term issues are developing.
• Follow your doctor’s orders – You need to follow the recommendations of your doctor in order to stay healthy.
• Watch what you eat – While it might seem restrictive at first, you do need to watch every single thing you eat and then test your blood sugar to see how it impacts you. Everyone is different, so finding out how different foods affect YOU is imperative.
• Exercise – Not only will exercise make you feel good, but it will also help you to manage your blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is not a death sentence anymore, nor does it mean that you need to change your life radically or stop doing things you love to do. However, you can not simply rely on drugs to help you handle your blood sugar.

Whether you have diabetes or not, it’s best to control your blood sugar now so that you can enjoy a happy and healthy life later.