What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. This occurs when the body does not make or use insulin correctly, and as a result, it can have severe effects or damage to the kidney, nerves, eyes, and other body organs.

In this article, we will discuss 20 major risk factors of diabetes and its natural treatment.

Types of Diabetes

There are 3 different types of diabetes, they include:

1. Type 1 Diabetes: This is when the immune system attacks and eliminates cells in the pancreas because the body makes no insulin or does not have enough insulin in the hormones. According to American Diabetes Association, 5% of people with diabetes encounter this condition.
2.  Type 2 Diabetes: occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, and there is much sugar in the blood. Once blood sugar is permanently high, that results in type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is very common, about 90-95% of people living with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
3.  Gestational Diabetes is when the placenta produces insulin-blocking hormones which lead to high blood sugar. This type of diabetes mainly occurs in pregnant women.

20 Risk Factors of Diabetes

There are 20 risk factors for each type of diabetes;

1. Age: According to the National Library of Medicine, type 1 diabetes is one of the most chronic sicknesses that develop in younger adults and children and it can also occur at any age.
2. Family:  type 1 diabetes can become a risk factor if a person has a sibling or parent that has the same sickness.
3. Genetics: A person who carries some specific genes that are traced to the sickness can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes.
4.  high levels of fat in the body
5. high blood pressure for people with type 2 diabetes
6. heart disease and stroke(type 2 diabetes)
7. Inactive physical exercise
8. overweight
9. unhealthy diet.
10. depression
11. people that are 45 years above
12. history of gestational diabetes in the family
13. race and ethnicity i.e Black, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than white people.
14. developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
15. acanthosis nigricans (a condition where the skin is darkened mostly in the armpit).
16. prediabetes
17. having a baby weighing more than 9 pounds(gestational diabetes)
18. obesity
19. having a family history of type 2 diabetes
20. polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Symptoms of Diabetes

The main symptoms of diabetes are caused by high blood sugar levels. Other general symptoms include:

• blurry vision
• weight loss
• fatigue
• increased in hunger
• frequent urination
• increased thirst

For gestational diabetes, there are usually no symptoms. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are often detected when healthcare professionals run a blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test during the 24th and 28th weeks of their pregnancy.

Symptoms in women

Symptoms of diabetes in women include the following:

• dry, itchy skin
• vaginal dryness
• yeast infection
• urinary tract infection

Symptoms in men

Men with diabetes have the following symptoms:

• low sex drive
• erectile dysfunction

Causes of Diabetes

There are different causes for each type of diabetes;

Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers and doctors are uncertain about the actual cause of type 1 diabetes. But the body’s immune system has a vital role to play. Instead of fighting bacteria and viruses, it destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Other causes include; genetics and exposure to environmental factors and viruses.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is caused by two factors;

• when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to manage blood sugar level
• Being overweight i.e being overweight makes the cell resistant to insulin

Gestational Diabetes

Doctors are uncertain of the reason some women get gestational diabetes and others don’t. But during pregnancy, the hormones change, making it harder for blood sugar to be processed efficiently in the body.

Diabetes Prevention/Treatment

Diabetes treatment depends on the type of diabetes a person has. Below are various treatments for each type of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes

The main treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin. It replaces the hormones your body can’t produce on its own. Other natural ways to treat type 1 diabetes are:

• eating healthy food
• counting fat, carbohydrates, and protein
• monitoring your blood sugar regularly
• exercising regularly
• drinking natural herbal tea i.e Twinings Synergy Diabetes Control Tea, GREATEA Anti-Diabetes Herbal Tea, and Gotea Anti-Diabetes Herbal Tea.

All the above steps help keep your blood sugar normal to avoid any complications, especially drinking natural herbal tea.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be managed or treated through the following steps:

• exercising regularly
• healthy diet
• watching your weight
• monitoring blood sugar level
• drinking natural herbal tea i.e  Nozie Holistic Anti Diabetes Tea, Gotea Blood Sugar Balance Tea, GREATEA Ginseng Root Tea, and Gotea Mistletoe Tea.

It’s easy to keep your blood sugar levels normal with these steps especially the 5th point that talks about taking natural herbal teas. These cited teas have proven to treat so many people both young and old diagnosed with diabetes. You should give it a try if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes treatment includes:

• monitoring blood sugar level
• lifestyle changes
• limit sugary meals and drinks

To keep you and your baby healthy as a pregnant woman, you need to follow these natural treatment processes.

Summary

Diabetes is one of the most widespread health problems across the world.

Delays in treatment can cause complications like kidney failure, stroke, blindness, and heart disease, and can even reduce one’s life span.

Sometimes diabetes symptoms come later than in the early stage, but once it is noticed do not hesitate to do all you can to treat it to avoid complications. Visit a professional healthcare center for better advice and have your blood sugar tested.

Most importantly, remember to always have your blood sugar monitored.

Written by Mary E. Linus