By Kemi Olatunde
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I lost someone so dear to me over 25 years ago and since then, I have always been on the look out for its symptoms.” these were the words of one of the beneficiaries of a free blood sugar screening by the Ondo State Ministry of Health a few days ago. Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar.

Without ongoing, careful management, diabetes can lead to a buildup of sugars in the blood, which can increase the risk of dangerous complications, including stroke and heart disease.

Different kinds of diabetes can occur, and managing the condition depends on the type. Not all forms of diabetes stem from a person being overweight or leading an inactive lifestyle. In fact, some are present from childhood.

Ttypes of diabetes.

According to the state Epidermologist, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi,  there are three major types of diabetes; Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type I diabetes: Also known as juvenile diabetes, this type occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. People with type I diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses insulin. While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. This is the most common type of diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and it has strong linkswith obesity.

Gestational diabetes: This type occurs in women during pregnancy when the body can become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational diabetes does not occur in all women and usually resolves after giving birth.

Doctors refer to some people as having prediabetes or borderline diabetes when blood sugar is usually between the range of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Normal blood sugar levels sit between 70 and 99 mg/dL, whereas a person with diabetes will have a fasting blood sugar higher than 126 mg/dL.

The prediabetes level means that blood glucose is higher than usual but not so high as to constitute diabetes.

People with prediabetes are, however, at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, although they do not usually experience the symptoms of full diabetes.

The risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are similar. They include: being overweight a family history of diabetes having a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level lower than 40 mg/dL or 50 mg/dL a history of high blood pressure having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a child with a birth weight of more than 9 pounds a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) being of African-American, Native American, Latin American, or Asian-Pacific Islander descent being more than 45 years of age having a sedentary lifestyle.

If a doctor identifies that a person has prediabetes, they will recommend that the individual makes healthful changes that can ideally stop the progression to type 2 diabetes. Losing weight and having a more healthful diet can often help prevent the disease

Doctors do not know the exact causes of type I diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin resistance, has clearer causes.

Insulin allows the glucose from a person’s food to access the cells in their body to supply energy. Insulin resistance is usually a result of the following cycle:

A person has genes or an environment that makes it more likely that they are unable to make enough insulin to cover how much glucose they eat.

The body tries to make extra insulin to process the excess blood glucose.

The pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demands, and the excess blood sugar starts to circulate in the blood, causing damage.

Over time, insulin becomes less effective at introducing glucose to cells, and blood sugar levels continue to rise.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance takes place gradually. This is why doctors often recommend making lifestyle changes in an attempt to slow or reverse this cycle

If a doctor diagnoses a person with type 2 diabetes, they will often recommend making lifestyle changes to support weight loss and overall health.

A doctor may refer a person with diabetes or prediabetes to a nutritionist. A specialist can help a person with diabetes lead an active, balanced lifestyle and manage the condition.

A healthy diet can help prevent, reverse, or manage diabetes.

Steps a person can take to embrace a lifestyle with diabetes include:

Eating a diet high in fresh, nutritious foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, and healthy fat sources, such as nuts.

Avoiding high-sugar foods that provide empty calories, or calories that do not have other nutritional benefits, such as sweetened sodas, fried foods, and high-sugar desserts.

Refraining from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol or keeping intake to less than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men.

Engaging in at least 30 minutes exercise a day at least 5 days of the week, such as of walking, aerobics, riding a bike, or swimming.

Recognizing signs of low blood sugar when exercising, including dizziness, confusion, weakness, and profuse sweating.

People can also take steps to reduce their body mass index (BMI), which can help some people with type 2 diabetes manage the condition without medication.

Slow, steady weight loss goals are more likely to help a person retain long-term benefits.

Insulin helps people with diabetes live an active lifestyle. However, it can lead to serious side effects, especially if a person administers too much.

Excessive insulin can cause hypoglycemia, or extremely low blood sugar, and lead to nausea, sweating, and shaking.

It is essential that people measure insulin carefully and eat a consistent diet that balances blood sugar levels as much as possible

Self-monitoring blood sugar levels is vital for effective diabetes management, helping to regulate meal scheduling, physical activity, and when to take medication, including insulin.

While self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) machines vary, they will generally include a meter and test strip for generating readings and a lancing device to prick the skin for obtaining a small quantity of blood.

Refer to the specific instructions of a meter in every case, as machines will differ. However, the following precautions and steps will apply to many of the machines on the market:

Make sure both hands are clean and dry before touching the test strips or meter

Do not use a test strip more than once and keep them in their original canister to avoid any external moisture changing the result.

Keep canisters closed after testing.

Always check the expiration date.

Older meters might require coding prior to use. Check to see if the machine currently in use needs this.

Store the meter and strips in a dry, cool area.

Take the meter and strips into consultations, so that a primary care physician or specialist can check their effectiveness.

Self-monitoring can be vital for moderating blood glucose.

A person who is self-monitoring diabetes uses a device called a lancet to prick the skin. While the idea of drawing blood might cause distress for some people, the lancing of the finger to obtain a blood sample should be a gentle, simple procedure.

Take the following precautions:

Clean the area from which the sample will come with soapy, warm water to avoid food residue entering the device and distorting the reading.