Diabetes and Natural Health

WHAT IS DIABETES? ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES?

Diabetes is a metabolic affection characterised by the low production of the insulin hormone in the pancreas, or by a bad use of it by the organism’s cells. As a consequence, glucose levels in blood increases. This phenomenon is also called hyperglycaemia.

WHAT TYPES OF DIEBETES ARE THERE?

•  Diabetes mellitus type 1 is an autoimmune disease that usually presents in children and teenagers. Insulin is not produced due to an auto-immune destruction of pancreatic cells, who release the hormone. It is treated with insulin.
• Diabetes mellitus type 2 (adult’s diabetes): the pancreas produces insulin, but its either insufficient or cells don’t use it well (insulin resistance). It shows in adults and is related to obesity. Usually, it is treated with oral antidiabetic drugs.
• Gestational diabetes mellitus: it appears during pregnancy. It is thought to be a resistance to insulin caused by the hormones released during pregnancy. Usually, it is treated with a good nutritional plan and physical activity, but some cases may need insulin.
• LADA Diabetes (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults): Patients who seem to have type 2 diabetes without overweight, but have positive antibodies (something characteristic of type 1 diabetes). It is usually treated with oral antidiabetic drugs, but, in the long-term, insulin is normally needed. Studies on this matter have started in the last years.

 SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

The main symptoms that can appear are:

• Increased quantity of urine (polyuria).
• Becoming thirstier.
• Excessive hunger (polyphagia).
• Weight loss with no apparent reason. 

Some complications may occur during diabetes. For instance, there may appear chronic affections of the heart, kidneys, eyesight... and some other may be acute (hypoglycaemia, ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar nonketotic coma), which are caused by a bad metabolic control.

WHAT CAN I DO TO CONTROL DIABETES?

 Controlling diabetes is mainly based on:

• DEIT

- Must be healthy and balanced, avoiding ultra-processed foods. Knowing the labels is important in this case. Often, sugar is hidden under other names such as agave syrup, fructose syrup, juice or honey made from cane, caramel, syrup, dextrose, maltodextrin, maltose, inverted sugar, barley malt... Knowing well the labels and becoming a good “sugar-free detective” is essential.

- Fruit is the key. Always eat the entire fruit and avoid juices. This is because, in juices, we lose the fruit’s fibre and make sugar absorption into blood faster. Better avoid compotes and jam, even homemade ones, or either reduce their intake to the minimum.

- Fiber-rich foods are highly beneficial, since they decrease the absorption of sugars and increases the speed of bowel transit.

- Proteins: meat, fish, eggs. They are needed to repair body tissues.

- Animal fats should be reduced and, in exchange, include “good fats” like olive oil.

- Keep a fixed time for meals and do smaller meals, but more frequently. This helps controlling glycaemia.

• PHYSICAL EXERCISE

- Physical activity increases insulin sensitivity and decreases glucose levels in blood. Moreover, doing exercise helps maintaining a healthy weight and improves your cardiovascular health.

• HEALTH SELF-CONTROL

- Periodical check-ups are essential to check your renal function, blood pressure, back of the eye, lipid profile and other analytic determinations and explorations.

- Self-control techniques in urine and blood: the patient should keep a “self-control diary” to allow them to assess their situation at every moment and allow the doctor to asses the patent when visiting.

- A good teeth hygiene is crucial, as well as visiting your dentist for regular check-ups.

•  NATURAL SOLUTIONS

Some plants like eucalyptus, cinnamon or centaury have been traditionally used to treat diabetes and metabolic syndrome. They stand out thanks to its hypoglycaemic properties. Furthermore, some trace elements like chromium helps keeping normal levels of glucose in blood.