The health topic that interests me and that I would like to learn more about is diabetes. I am well aware that there are a number of different types of diabetes such as type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. I’d like to learn a lot more about type 2 diabetes. There are many reasons why I’d like to know more about this. One reason is that my mom, who is sixty years old, has been diagnosed with it for many years now. She has had problems with keeping her weight down due to problems she’s had with her abdominal region, which required surgery. Therefore I’d like to know some ways she can control it, and not let it get in the way of things she enjoys doing. She doesn’t really know a lot about it because she doesn’t speak, read, or write in English. So I’d like to be able to educate her and others as well on the topic. I know that people with diabetes have to take medicine and insulin to maintain their sugar levels within a normal level. My mom is one of those people, she takes insulin to help her diabetes, but it doesn’t seem like it helps a lot, because she says her sugar levels are always high.
Through doing some research, I’ve learned that type 1 diabetes is found in children and teens and it occurs because their body doesn’t make the insulin the body needs for energy. Also, gestational diabetes occurs in women during their pregnancy and isn’t guaranteed that they will have it after they give birth or that they even had it before their pregnancy. I’ve also discovered that the reason a person is diagnosed with diabetes 2 is because they have excessive glucose in their blood, the body uses glucose as energy which comes from the food they eat. When a person has diabetes, glucose stays in the blood and is prevented from traveling to other areas of the body where it’s needed. Also, their body might not make an adequate amount of insulin needed in order for the body to get the energy it needs. I’ve learned that type 2 diabetes occurs mostly in people who suffer from obesity, also seems like it is more serious than I thought.
A person can suffer serious health issues if their diabetes isn’t managed properly. They can suffer problems in the heart, kidneys, nerves, and eyes and suffer death as well in some cases. To avoid these things from happening, you must take control of your diabetes by exercising often, eating healthy foods, and taking the medicine that you’re prescribed. You also have to be sure to check your blood sugar on a regular basis to make sure it’s within normal levels as well as your cholesterol and blood pressure. An increase in the level of these two things will lead to the danger of getting type 2 diabetes. If any of your family members have diabetes then you have the chance of getting it as well. If you suffer from obesity, are older than forty-five, have blood pressure or high cholesterol, or have given birth to a baby who was over nine pounds increases your chances of getting it as well.
With that said it is very important for you to take the necessary precautions in order to avoid type 2 diabetes. There are many changes that your body undergoes that are signs that you are getting type 2 diabetes. For example, if you always feel the constant need to eat and drink more than usual, as well as experience a decrease in your weight for no particular reason, or are always exhausted. If you find yourself going to the restroom more often than usual is a sign too. Experiencing no kind of feeling in your hands and feet, not being able to see clearly, or if your body doesn’t heal as fast as before is a sign as well. In, conclusion, I have learned a lot of things about diabetes that I can now share with my mom. I believe you should take every step that is necessary in order to live longer and healthier lives.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/definition/con-20033091
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/?loc=db-slabnav
