Classic list

Diabetes is a huge illness that plagues the entire population. In the 21st century itself, the number of diabetic people has increased significantly compared to other centuries. It is a clear trait that the rapidly changing lifestyle is one of the biggest reasons for this to happen.

When it comes to Diabetes, three major types cause trouble to everyone:

• Type I Diabetes
• Type II Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes

When it comes to Type I as well as Gestational Diabetes, there is nothing someone can do to avoid it. It either happens or it doesn’t. Gestational Diabetes is a situation where women going through pregnancy get it.

In the case of Type I diabetes, the pancreas in our body stops producing insulin altogether. However, Type II Diabetes is a case where our lifestyle results in troubles. At the same time, diabetes isn’t the only thing that positively affects our lives

It leads to troubles in other internal organs as well. Multiple organ failures are very common in diabetic patients in extreme cases.

Common Diabetic Complications

Diabetic Complications may range from being acute to being incredibly chronic. The most commonly affected due to diabetes is certainly the kidneys. Kidneys help in purifying our blood from excessive salts and other minerals.

Thus, purifying the already glucose-abundant blood consistently takes a toll on both organs. Apart from that, here are the common diabetic complications associated with the human body:

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Nerve Damages
• Kidney Failures
• Eye Damages
• Limb Troubles
• Skin Troubles
• Depression and Stress etc.

These range from being acute to chronic, as mentioned above. However, the common factor among all of these is that most of them are irreversible. It is important to check our blood sugar as well as insulin levels in times like these.

Being careless about the same will lead to severe life-threatening diseases which will not only immobilise you but increase your hospital bills significantly. Even for people who are already diabetic, keeping the levels under check should be the first priority so that they don’t have to face anything incredibly difficult in the future.

Diabetes has been a massive problem for the global population, irrespective of which corner of the planet you hail from. People go through multiple troubles to detect whether their bodies will be susceptible to diabetes in the future.

The entire process boils down to the efficiency of the pancreas, a gland situated right near the stomach as well as the liver in our bodies. It produces the vital hormone known as insulin which helps in regulating the glucose levels in our blood.

The food that we ingest is generally absorbed right from our mouth to the small intestine. The absorbed food is turned into glucose beforehand so that the cells of our body don’t have a tough time going through the process of glycolysis or breaking down the glucose molecules to produce energy.

Insulin, on the other hand, facilitates the movement of these glucose molecules into the cells of our body. This hormone is directly released into our bloodstream by the pancreas. Thus, to make sure that our body isn’t devoid of an adequate amount of insulin, we have to protect the pancreas or just reduce the foods ingested loaded with carbohydrates.

Manage Diabetes on Your Own Will

Now, there is a multitude of techniques that essentially help people get rid of fluctuating blood sugar levels. However, the catch is that only Type II Diabetes is preventable. Every other type needs added management.

The common basics that you need to know of are:

1. Food: Make sure you eat well-balanced food loaded with fibre and as little carbohydrates as possible. Avoid sweetened beverages as much as possible.
2. Exercising: Consistent workout is the best way to keep diabetes away. Sedentary lifestyles are brutally troublesome.
3. Medication: Follow your insulin levels closely. Make sure to consult your doctor if the blood sugar levels are fluctuating more than normal.
4. Alcohol: Don’t drink Alcohol carelessly & try to keep a check on the amount and frequency that you are consuming.

These are a few of the basic points that you need to follow to keep your blood sugar levels intact.

Diabetes is a considerably permanent illness if it is once seen in people. There is nothing really to do after that except for trying to keep both the insulin levels as well as the blood sugar levels in check. However, one type of diabetes is certainly preventable.

As we all know, there are different types of diabetes in human beings such as:

• Type I Diabetes
• Type II Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes

As for Type I as well as Gestational Diabetes, there is no real way to avoid it. People either have it or not. Type I Diabetes is a condition where the Pancreatic cells are attacked by our immune systems by mistake and insulin isn’t produced at all.

In the case of Gestational Diabetes, women going through pregnancy are the ones that are solely affected. Gestational Diabetes is not permanent all the time, however, they are susceptible to Type II Diabetes in the future.

When it comes to Type II Diabetes, things can be handled better than the other two types. Type II Diabetes is the most common type that affects the global population. It purely boils down to the lifestyle that the concerned person has which leads to them having this type of diabetes or not, in the future.

Common Preventive Measures for Type II Diabetes

Type II Diabetes is a condition that happens when the pancreas in the human body don’t end up secreting the adequate amounts of insulin necessary. Mostly, the amount of insulin that is required is produced less than the adequate amount.

The most common preventive measures for people who want to avoid Type II Diabetes in the future are as follows:

• Reduce Sugar and Refined Carbs from the Diet
• Consistency in Workouts
• Staying Hydrated & Drinking Water as the primary beverage
• Maintaining Body Weight
• Quitting Smoking
• Following a Diet with low Carbohydrates
• Reducing Portion Sizes Significantly
• Embrace an Active Lifestyle
• Consuming a High Fiber Diet
• Checking on Vitamin D Levels etc.

There are multiple other things to follow however these are the most common preventives measures one needs to take care of to avoid Type II Diabetes in the future.

Diabetes, as we all know, is a rather troublesome illness that many people face in their lives. Irrespective of the age group that we are talking about, diabetes affects almost everyone on this planet. There are multiple reasons why diabetes exists in the first place.

However, when it comes to types of diabetes, there are only a few to mention. Diabetes is usually the situation where the glucose levels in our blood are higher than the normal limit. In simple terms, we mention the same as blood sugar levels.

With the help of a glucometer, we can find out the blood sugar levels that we have based on certain timings in a day. Accordingly, we can take care of the glucose levels before it goes way too crazy. When it comes to handling diabetes, there is no legitimate permanent cure to it.

However, several lifestyle changes can help reduce the effect of diabetes significantly. We can actively prevent diabetes from happening in the first place. However, there are types where basically, we can’t do much without external support.

Type I & Type II Diabetes

As far as Type I Diabetes is concerned, it is pretty much an autoimmune response. Due to certain unknown factors, our immune system ends up attacking the beta cells in our pancreas. This leads to no production of insulin.

Without even a little bit of it, people who suffer from Type I diabetes have to take insulin throughout their entire life. If not so, they won’t be able to survive. The increased blood sugar levels will be extremely fatal to them by damaging other vital organs in their bodies.

When it comes to Type II Diabetes, things are a bit different. Due to developed insulin resistance, the pancreas first ends up creating a lot of it and simultaneously, as time progresses, it loses its ability to produce insulin according to the body’s needs.

It leads to a high blood sugar level. These are the two common types of diabetes. There is another type known as Gestational Diabetes which only happens in women at the time of pregnancy.

Our human bodies are built in one of the most complex yet fascinating ways possible. 11 major organ systems help us get through our lives with an additional set of organs that work on their own. However, diseases are imminent yet an important part of our life.

Diseases are usually caused by the irregularities caused by the processes run through these particular organs that have been mentioned above. A system for the system, our immunity, helps gather information and fight pathogens & get our bodies back in shape.

In some cases, it is not that easy to deal with since many prerequisite factors change the entire equation of any prevention or cure. Diabetes is one such illness where there is no real permanent cure to it, for now. However, people can go ahead with certain lifestyle changes and prevent them.

Diabetes can be defined as an illness where the glucose in our bloodstream is not absorbed by the cells in our bodies for a multitude of reasons. The human digestive system plays the main part in the creation of this glucose.

Diabetes & Digestive System

Our digestive system starts right from our mouth & ends at the anus. At almost every part of the chain except for the food pipe, ingested food gets absorbed. All of the absorbed food gets converted into glucose by our body.

This glucose is then sent through the bloodstream to various parts of our body. The glucose molecules are absorbed by our cells which leads to the process of oxidation, also known as glycolysis.

Glycolysis helps gather up energy which is then used by the cells in our body for our daily life functions. The absorption process is generally carried out by insulin. In some cases, the pancreas either produces less or no insulin at all or the insulin isn’t able to make our cells absorb the glucose molecules.

In such cases, the glucose levels in our bloodstream, and simultaneously, our body increases which lead to high Blood Sugar Levels. To get this in check, people have to either check their sugar intake or understand what their insulin levels are.

Diabetes, as an illness, has a lot to offer when it comes to shifting lifestyles as well as handling our internal systems. It is very important to note that there is no permanent cure for diabetes. The situation can be turned to not make our bodies succumb to it.

Diabetes happens when our bodies ingest food and convert it into the much-needed glucose & are unable to make the glucose reach our cells for glycolysis. This is facilitated by two major factors.

Type I Diabetes is a situation where our immune system attacks our pancreas which leads to no creation of the insulin hormone. In such cases, the people suffering from it will have to take insulin to balance their blood sugar levels for the rest of their lives.

However, in Type II Diabetes, the insulin produced by our pancreas is either not enough or simply abundant, based on our various lifestyle choices. In such cases, we can alter our habits significantly as well as take medication to keep our insulin levels and blood sugar levels normal.

Common Symptoms among Diabetic Patients:

It is not at all surprising that multiple symptoms let people know it is time for them to either alter their lifestyles or simply start consuming the required amount of insulin altogether. The most common symptoms that can be spotted among diabetic patients are as follows:

• Frequent Urination, especially at night
• Very Thirsty
• Extreme Appetite Changes
• Fatigued Body
• Losing Weight without trying anything
• Dry Skin
• Frequent Infections & Recovery Times etc.

Some of the ones mentioned above are pretty self-explanatory. The excessive presence of glucose in our bloodstream makes the kidneys flush out whatever excess amount is there. This leads to frequent urination in both men & women and it could lead to urinary tract infections.

Due to the inability of the body’s cells to absorb the glucose molecules, people start feeling super tired and feel the change in their appetite rather swiftly. The need to drink water increases, putting more pressure on the kidneys.

If any of the symptoms are felt by you, it is strictly advised that you get your blood sugar levels checked for any kind of surges or plunges.

Hormones are so much more interesting than what we’re taught in health class. So we’ve created a guide to aaaall of the hormones. Here’s everything you need to know about estrogen, progesterone, androgens, progestins, synthetic estrogen, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

Top things to know:

• Hormones tell your body how to breathe, grow, drink, and eat

• If you have a menstrual cycle, your reproductive hormones are constantly shifting throughout your cycle—unless you take certain types of hormonal birth control

• Hormonal imbalance can be caused by conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, and PCOS

What are hormones?

Hormones are molecules produced by the endocrine system that send messages to various parts of the body. They help regulate your body’s processes, like hunger,  blood pressure, and sexual desire. While hormones are essential to reproduction, they are fundamental to all the systems of your body.

Hormones are released from glands in your endocrine system. They tell your body how to breathe and how to expend energy.

Hormones flow through the whole body, but only affect certain cells designed to receive their messages. Hormones and hormone receptor sites work together like a lock and a key (1).

What do hormones do in my body?

All bodies experience hormonal shifts constantly throughout the day.

When you eat a meal, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin to help regulate blood sugar. As you slam on the brakes to avoid a car collision, your adrenal glands pump out the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine) to help you act quickly. Your pineal gland works to produce the hormone melatonin to help you get restful sleep at night (1).

When hormones aren’t balanced correctly, an endocrine disorder can be to blame. Having too much of a hormone (also known as hyper-function) or not having enough of a hormone (known as hypo-function), can cause problems.

Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalance can be caused by health conditions. Some of them include:

• Diabetes

• Thyroid disorders (e.g. hypothyroidism, hyperthyrodism)

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (2, 3).

Tiny but mighty, our bodies depend on hormones to function. Some people are more sensitive to hormones than others. This might explain why some people suffer from premenstrual syndrome (4) or postpartum depression (5), while others aren’t bothered at all by the hormonal changes of menstruation and pregnancy.

Which hormones are responsible for what?

Each hormone-producing gland in the body makes a hormone with a very specialized purpose (6).

• Hypothalamus: regulates body temperature, hunger, mood, thirst, sleep and libido

• Pituitary: is the “Wizard of Oz” gland, controlling other glands behind the scenes.

• Parathyroid: regulates calcium.

• Pancreas: produces insulin to help use food as energy.

• Thyroid: regulates heartbeat and how calories are used.

• Adrenal glands: produce stress hormones.

• Pineal gland: produces melatonin to regulate the body clock.

• Ovaries: secrete sex hormones for use in the reproductive cycle.

• Testes: produces testosterone and sperm (7).

How do hormones affect sex and reproduction?

Reproductive hormones are made by the ovaries and the testicles. The ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone, and androgens, while the testicles produce androgens like testosterone (9).

Puberty, development of breasts, ability to become pregnant or produce sperm, and body hair growth are all influenced by reproductive hormones. The levels of these hormones fluctuate throughout a person’s life, generally declining as a person ages (10).

For women and people with cycles, these hormones shift throughout the menstrual cycle during the reproductive years, unless you introduce hormones into the body with hormonal birth control.

Pregnancy is the time of the most dramatic hormone shift. The body even creates a new organ called the placenta that secretes progesterone (8).

What you need to know about reproductive hormones

The menstrual cycle is more than just your period – it’s a complex ebb and flow of hormones that make your reproductive system function. Without hormones, your reproductive organs would be stagnant. You wouldn’t be able to become pregnant and might not experience the desire to have sex.

While the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone are powerful, they need help from a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) to function properly. SHBG is like a chaperone that grabs a specific sex hormone, removing it from direct circulation in the body and transporting it to the necessary tissue (11). (You can read more about SHBG and its effect on your body, in depth, in this article.)

The reproductive hormones include:

Androgens

Androgens are made from cholesterol and produced in the adrenal gland and the ovaries (9, 11). Women and people with cycles who have higher levels of androgens than normal can experience symptoms like excess hair growth, acne, irregular or absent periods and infertility (12,13).

Conditions that cause androgen excess include:

• PCOS

• Adrenal tumors

• Ovarian tumors

• High levels of prolactin

• Cushing’s disease (12,14,15)).

(You can read more about androgens and their effect on your body, in depth, in this article.)

Progesterone

Progesterone is the major hormone that promotes pregnancy. It’s easy to remember if you think the word progesterone as “pro-gestation”(15).

During the menstrual cycle, progesterone is low until ovulation. Then, levels rise. Progesterone changes the structure of the endometrium so that a fertilized egg can implant (16).

During pregnancy, progesterone is the primary hormone of the first trimester (15). It also helps to develop breast tissue called mammary glands that are essential for lactation (17).

(You can read more about progesterone and its effect on your body, in depth, in this article.)

Estrogen

Estrogen is associated with menstruation, but it also impacts a number of bodily functions, including bone development and brain, cardiac, vascular and urinary tract health (18).

Perhaps more than any other hormone, estrogen impacts the way we look. It impacts body fat composition and even the health of skin and hair (19).

(You can read more about estrogen and its effect on your body, in depth, in this article.)