4/09/2013

Unlike many illnesses that are put down to a "Western Lifestyle" these days, diabetes has been around for thousands of years, with the disease referred to in writings in China and India 2,000 years ago.



The full name for the disease is "diabetes mellitus" and is a combination of Greek and Latin words. "Mellitus" means "sweet" and refers to the sweet taste of the urine of someone with the disease; the Romans actually tasted the urine of a suspected sufferer.



"Diabetes" is the Greek word for "siphon" and refers to the need of an untreated diabetic to urinate frequently combined with a raging thirst, making the person act like a siphon.



There are 3 main treatment s for type 2 diabetes.



1. Diet.



Because diabetes is a disease resulting in high levels of glucose in the blood, it is important to eat a balanced diet and avoid eating those foods containing empty carbohydrates and sugars. There is much debate these days over what constitutes a healthy diet, however, it is a fact that 4 out of every 5 people who contract diabetes 2 are overweight.



Therefore, in the majority of cases, consulting a dietician with a diet that's right for you to help you lose weight is a good idea. The author of this article uses a low carbohydrate diet, which, whilst controversial, works for him and his doctor approves.



2. Exercise.



Basically, given that most people are overweight when diagnosed with diabetes, the goal of exercise is to combine with diet to help lose weight. But it's more than that.



When you exercise, you use energy. In a type 2 diabetic, that has the effect of lowering blood glucose levels.



Exercise also releases endorphins into the brain which are the "feel good" hormones. This also helps people maintain a positive mental attitude in dealing with their diabetes.



3. Medication.



Medication consists of various oral drugs which may include those which make the insulin you produce work harder, or stimulate the production of insulin, or they may be drugs to help lower "bad" cholesterol.



Leading on from those is insulin. This is usually a last resort, and involves the patient injecting themselves several times a day.



The key with diabetes treatment is to keep a close monitor on blood glucose levels and act accordingly. Over time you will discover what effects different foods and levels of exercise have on your blood sugars, but only if you monitor yourself frequently.
Posted by Admin On 9:49 AM No comments

0 comments:

Post a Comment

  • RSS
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Labels