Diabetes
Over the past 20 years the number of people with diabetes being diagnosed has increased, currently 1 in 10 Americans are afflicted by this disease. Additionally, more than 1 in 3 have prediabetes. Because early symptoms can be mild, many people do not realize they are dealing with diabetes at first. You may know people who do not know they are diabetic, or you could be diabetic without realizing it yet.
In the news, you read about diabetes screening or treatment. We hear that early symptoms can be mild but will grow severe if the disease progresses without treatment. But, what exactly are diabetes and prediabetes? How do you know if you may have or be at risk for developing these diseases? And most importantly, what can you do to be healthier and better able to deal with either pre diabetes or diabetes, or help a loved one, once you have received the diagnosis?
Pre Diabetes Symptoms
Pre-diabetes is diagnosed through medical screening. It is categorized with blood sugar that is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. 1 in 3 adults has pre-diabetes but 80% of them are unaware of this.
If you are concerned that you might be at risk for developing prediabetes, certain factors can increase the risk of developing pre-diabetes:
Considered overweight
45 years of age or older
Being active less than 3 times per week
Having a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes
Having a diagnosis of PCOS
Having a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
If you have any, or several, of the above risk factors you may want to reach out to your medical doctor to discuss whether you should be screened for prediabetes. If you are diagnosed, treatment is the next step.
Pre Diabetes Treatment
Prediabetes treatment can include such lifestyle changes as increasing activity and decreasing weight as well as dietary modifications. There are several M’lis products that can help you with dietary changes that can lead to you being more active as well as losing weight.
Sweet All-Natural Fiber Sweetener is one supplement that can be considered as an addition to your diet. Cutting down the amount of sugar is important when managing diabetes, but giving up something sweet can be challenging for many. This product is a sweetener that does not contain sugar, but does contain fiber and will provide multiple health benefits.
Slender-Aid Appetite Appeaser Supplement is another supplement to consider. Not only does it help suppress appetite which can aid in weight loss when needed, it also helps to balance blood sugar. Well controlled blood sugar is a necessity, but can at times be difficult to maintain, when dealing with diabetes.
Meal Replacement Powder is a third consideration. Being overweight increases the risk for pre-diabetes. Using this meal replacement powder provides necessary nutrition as well as boosting your immune system. If you like this idea but prefer a plant based option or choose a vegan lifestyle, there is an option for you as well in the M’lis Vegan Meal Replacement Powder. It can replace up to 2 meals a day and is completely plant based.
Treatment and lifestyle changes will be necessary and beneficial, and the good news is that pre-diabetes does not always lead to type 2 diabetes. Recognizing the symptoms or screening for it early because of risk factors is important, but making healthy changes to your lifestyle is an equally important decision. Scheduling a wellness appointment can help you determine alternative treatments that will help you to become healthier.
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What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is defined as chronic and long lasting, it affects how the body turns food into energy. Food is broken down into glucose and the body makes insulin which is needed to allow the sugar into the body’s cells. With diabetes the body either does not make enough insulin, or the body cannot use the insulin that it does make when the cells do not respond to it.
What are Symptoms of Diabetes?
There are several symptoms of diabetes:
Extreme thirst
Urinate often and often at night
Extreme hunger
Blurry vision
Numb or tingling hands
Dry skin
Tired without another explanation
Sores heal slowly
More infections than usual
There are 3 types of diabetes- type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will determine which type and treat you accordingly.
Additionally, there are alternative treatments that can strengthen your immune system as well as help you manage your diabetes. A new diagnosis can leave you feeling that you lack control in your life. Making the choice to schedule an appointment to learn how to manage your diabetes can help determine what would be beneficial to you and give some of that control back.
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Complications of Diabetes
Like other diseases, there are complications associated with diabetes. They include:
● Heart and blood vessel damage
● Nerve damage
● Kidney damage
● Eye damage- this can lead to blindness
● Damage to the feet
● Skin and mouth conditions
● Osteoporosis
● Alzheimers and dementia
These complications primarily occur when the disease is not treated. That is the bad news. The good news is that if diabetes is well controlled and well managed, these complications may be preventable. Alternative treatments can help you to properly manage your diabetes and decrease your chances of developing any of the above severe complications.
A new diagnosis can bring feelings of fear and uncertainty. If you are unsure what you can do to work towards better health, managing your diabetes and potentially avoiding the development of complications, a great first step is to schedule a wellness consultation. This will help you learn about what your body needs, to make healthy lifestyle changes and choices, giving you back some control and bypassing some of the trial and error that normally occurs when dealing with a new diagnosis. A wellness consultation appointment, as well as the healthy products from M’lis, can help you begin your journey towards being in charge of your health.