Diabetes- The Silent Killer
All’s well when our body functions well. It is survival of the fittest. In other words, being healthy and staying fit is the mantra. When we talk of health, one alarming fact of a killer disease that has affected the whole world and is still the silent killer is Diabetes. Harmless as it may sound but only when under control or else it will give rise to several other complications that can harm the body and its systems.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. Both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades. This is an alarming fact. So let’s find out more about this silent killer disease.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, like the heart, eyes, kidneys, especially the nerves and blood vessels.
There are basically three types of diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes is the deficiency of insulin production in the body and so a person requires daily administration of insulin. Sadly neither the cause of Type 1 diabetes nor the means to prevent it are known.
- Type 2 Diabetes being the common one results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. The majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.
- Gestational diabetes usually found in women is hyperglycemia with blood glucose values above normal but below those diagnosed with diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.
When we think of type 2 diabetes, it is a slow killer, develops very gradually. It is a lifelong disorder or disease that remains with you as the body isn’t able to effectively use insulin to bring glucose into your cells the way it should. This, in turn, results in a chain reaction of our body in search of an alternative source of energy in the tissues, muscles and other organs. Let’s find out the simple Cause of Type 2 Diabetes.
Some of the common cause of type 2 Diabetes might include:
- Carrying the extra weight: Being obese or overweight holds a high risk of Type 2 diabetes because of insulin resistance especially with all the weight around the torso(stomach).
- Genes: It has been found by scientists that DNA to some extent affects how your body makes insulin and have linked several gene mutations to higher diabetes risk.
- Sedentary Lifestyle: People with insulin resistance often have a group of conditions including high blood sugar, extra fat around the waist, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol and triglycerides also known as This is also known as metabolic syndrome. And this builds up due to a sedentary lifestyle with no exercise, physical activity and fitness.
- Too much glucose from your liver: Normally when the blood sugar is low and it’s the liver that makes and sends out glucose. Sadly in some people, the liver is not able to slow down the process and continues to make glucose resulting in excess of glucose in the liver.
- Age: Age can be one of the factors especially after the age of 45 or older.
Lifestyle changes for dealing with diabetes:
Lifestyle changes will help resolve many health disorders. Sticking to a healthy lifestyle can be tough. After all, what sounds more fun: walking or jogging around the block or going for a pizza party or late-night binging?
We’re all human, and sometimes we make less-than-healthy choices. But if you eat smart, exercise, manage stress, you’ll feel better and set the stage for an active and healthy future. People with type 2 diabetes are unable to regulate the blood sugar level on their own and need diet change, stress management, exercise, medication or insulin shots.
Type 2 diabetes can be best managed to keep the following things in mind
- Weight loss
Excess of anything is not good. Obesity is a cause for various illnesses so if you fall in the bracket of being obese, you really need to work on a weight loss plan which will benefit you and keep you away from illness and other health-related issues.
- Healthy eating
Mindful and healthy eating works wonders. Eat four small, healthy meals throughout the day to stave off the desire for sugar. And since your body has enough nourishment to use as energy, your craving for sugar can reduce.
- Balanced diet
In your dietary plan it has a balance of all the vitamins, nutrients you are eating healthy and giving no extra place for sugar cravings. Diet is powerful. When it comes to eating healthy, variety is the spice that will keep you on track. So explore the balanced healthy platter best for you.
- Exercise/yoga
A healthy body works well if it is fit, so including a daily dose of physical fitness, yoga, exercise, meditation can really bring about the change in your health as well.
- Ayurvedic approach
Ayurveda, too, suggests avoiding excess intake of sweets and simple carbohydrates. According to this approach, it is very important to include more green and leafy vegetables. Some bitter and healthy herbs like Aloe-vera, Tulsi are also instrumental in managing diabetes.
Reason for sugar craving for a Diabetic
Most of us have a sweet craving, especially after lunch or dinner and it is very natural. Our bodies need energy to function and sugar is one of the primary sources of this energy. Sweet food certainly acts on the reward systems in our brains, and, for most of us, sweet food has a positive impact on mood, at least in the short-term and hence the craving. But for healthy eating and for type 2 diabetics, it is important to be mindful of the sugar intake. When the sugar level dips in the body, that when the cravings begin.
How herbs can stop sugar craving
Ayurveda has always been the age-old and ancient treatment for many ailments with positive results. According to Ayurvedic study, our body is primarily made of 3 dosha’s namely Pitta, Kapha and Vata. For healthy living, it is very important to have a perfect balance between all these doshas. Ayurveda expert Dr Vasant Lad explains diabetes development as a result of the “diminished functioning of Agni (digestive fire), which may trigger high blood sugar levels. But traditionally there are quite a few herbs which can help the imbalance of these doshas and the sugar cravings which occur in type 2 Diabetes.
Want to know some of our natural herbs and remedies that can combat your sugar cravings, wait for part II of our article where we come across some great simple remedies with herbs that can help ease our sugar cravings.
This article is originally published at Aryan Herbals blog.
Image Source: Pixabay
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