Tips On Preventing Diabetes

Most of the food we consume is broken down into glucose in the blood. It is the main source of fuel for the body. Cells use this for growth and energy. Insulin must be present for glucose to be moved into the cells. Insulin is produced by the pancreas in the required amount in normal people.

But in diabetic patients, either the pancreas produces too little or not enough insulin, or the cells do not respond to the insulin produced.

There are two main types of diabetes -- Type 1 and type 2. In type 1, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells. A person who has this type of diabetes must take insulin everyday for growth and survival. Type 2 diabetes is more common. It is associated with obesity, physical inactivity and is genetic. Measures can be taken to prevent it occurring by changing one’s lifestyle.

The following measures help to prevent diabetes:

A half hour of exercise everyday is vital. Vigorous walking is essential to step up the heart rate and stimulate circulation. When the body is worked to a sweat, weight is lost and the risk of developing diabetes is cut down to 50 percent. Exercise builds muscle and bone, burns fat, raises metabolism and avoids stress.
Weight loss is vital too. About 80 percent of diabetics are overweight, the root cause of diabetes. Just losing weight and exercising can control all symptoms of diabetes.
Avoid trans-fats of any kind. They contribute to heart disease and also to diabetes type 2.
Limit the intake of foods made with sugar, white flour and refined carbohydrates. Processed and fried foods are unhealthy. Restrict high glycemic index foods which rapidly raise blood glucose levels.
Do not smoke. It is associated with diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.
Avoid alcohol, which contains quickly absorbed carbohydrates. This can bring about Type 2 diabetes by quickly raising blood sugar to high levels.

In short, prevention is better than a cure.

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Tips On Preventing Diabetes