Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the insulin produced by the pancreas is insufficient to break down the glucose from digested foods. As the level of glucose in the blood rises, the body loses its main fuel source. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, almost 8 percent of the people in the United States have diabetes.
Insulin-dependent or Noninsulin-dependent Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1, also known as insulin dependent, and type 2, or noninsulin dependent. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and usually occurs in adulthood. At least 90 percent of all diabetics are type 2, reports UMMC. Gestational diabetes is a high level of blood glucose in a woman who is not diabetic that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears following delivery.
Recognizing Symptoms of Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes are often missed because of the similarity to many other disease processes. Possible symptoms of type 1 diabetes include extreme hunger, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight gain and extreme fatigue. Type 2 diabetes may have no symptoms, any of the symptoms found in type 1, or other symptoms such as blurred vision, frequent infections, slow-healing cuts and tingling or numbness in the extremities, states the American Diabetes Association.
Risks For Developing Diabetes
Risks for developing type 1 diabetes, as reported by MayoClinic.com, include a family history of diabetes, genetics and geography. People in Finland have the highest rate of type 1 diabetes at about two to three times that of people in the United States. Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include obesity, family history, inactivity, a history of gestational diabetes, older than age 45 and race. The most likely races to develop type 2 diabetes, according to MayoClinic.com, are blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and American Indians.
Managing Diabetes With Food
Choosing the right foods will help in controlling the amount of sugar present in the blood. A balanced meal plan for diabetics, as noted by FamilyDoctor.org, recommends 40 to 60 percent of the calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent or less from fat and 20 percent from protein. In addition, the diet should be low in salt and cholesterol.
Carbohydrates include foods such as breads, beans, fruits and vegetables. Good sources for protein include fish, beans, poultry, meat and dairy products. Fat sources include butter, margarine and oils, as well as some hidden sources such as dairy products, mayonnaise and egg yolks.
