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Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. The body uses glucose from food as an energy source, just as a car uses gasoline as fuel. Insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas, moves glucose from the bloodstream to cells for energy. When you have diabetes, your body doesn't produce enough insulin (or stops producing it completely), or it doesn't use its own insulin as it should. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood and cannot enter cells to be used for energy.

Causes of Diabetes

There are many types of diabetes. Two of the main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas (called beta cells) that produce insulin. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but scientists believe that genes or environmental factors (such as viruses) may be responsible.

Type 2 diabetes is also caused by genes, as well as lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and not being physically active. The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight and aiming for at least 15 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

Who has diabetes?

About 30 million (9.4 percent) of Americans have diabetes. Anyone of any age can have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5 percent of diabetes cases. However, type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence. But again, adults also have type 1 diabetes. Risk factors for type 1 diabetes include genes from parents and environmental factors such as cold weather and viruses. Scientists believe that people who are breastfed as infants and presented with solid foods at a later age are less likely to develop type 1 diabetes.

There are more risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and it is more common than type 1 diabetes, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

- advanced age

- belong to certain racial and ethnic groups (African American, Native American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Pacific Islander)

- family history

- being overweight or obese

- have prediabetes

- having had gestational diabetes or a baby who weighs more than 9 pounds at birth

- polycystic ovary syndrome

- inactivity

Symptoms of diabetes include:

Announcement

- increased thirst and hunger

- frequent urination

- fatigue

- feebleness

- blurred vision

- numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

- cuts or sores that do not heal

- frequent yeast infections

- unexplained weight loss

- dark skin areas on the neck and armpits (called acanthosis nigricans)

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually appear very quickly, often within weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes tend to develop more slowly, even over many years. For this reason, some people do not notice any symptoms. In addition, many people who have type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all. They may find out if they have a diabetes-related health problem, such as blurred vision or a heart attack.

Diagnosis of Diabetes

Anyone with symptoms of diabetes should consult their health care provider for a proper diagnosis. Using a home blood glucose meter or going to a health fair for blood glucose monitoring is not a valid way to diagnose this condition.

Your health care provider may do one of the following blood tests to help diagnose diabetes:

- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG): This test is a blood test that measures the amount of glucose in the blood after fasting (not eating or drinking, other than water) for at least 8 hours. For this reason, it is easier for most people to get this test first thing in the morning. An FPG of 126 mg / dl or more may indicate diabetes

Random plasma glucose (RPG): This test is a glucose test that is done at any time. It is more likely to be used if you have symptoms of diabetes. An RPG result of 200 mg/dl or more may indicate diabetes.

 - A1C test (also called HbA1C or glycosylated hemoglobin): This is a blood test that measures your average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months. You can eat and drink before this test. An A1C result of 6.5 percent or more may indicate diabetes.

These tests are usually repeated on a different day before the diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed.

Sometimes it is not clear what type of diabetes a person has. In this case, your health care provider may order blood tests for autoantibodies and/or c-peptide; he or she may also check your urine for the presence of ketones.

Get checked for diabetes

Anyone with symptoms of diabetes should see their health care provider right away. Because type 1 diabetes runs in the family, family members of people with type 1 diabetes can be screened for the risk of developing type 1 diabetes years before symptoms appear through a study called TrialNet.

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Your health care provider should screen you for type 2 diabetes if you:

- are 45 years of age or older

- are between the ages of 19 and 44, are overweight or obese, and have one or more risk factors for diabetes

- is a woman who has had gestational diabetes

Children and teens may also have type 2 diabetes. For this reason, your child's health care provider should detect type 2 diabetes if your child:

- is overweight or obese

- had low birth weight

- have a mother who had diabetes during pregnancy

- have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Diabetes ABCs

 There is a lot to know and do to manage your diabetes. Learning as much as possible about your condition and making sure you have the support of your healthcare team, family and friends will be helpful to you.

Knowing your diabetes ABCs will help you control your blood glucose, blood pressure, and smoking. Keeping your "numbers" on goal can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and eye, kidney, and nerve damage. Quitting smoking is also very important.

- A is for A1C. The target for most people with diabetes is less than 7 percent. A1C is usually measured every three to six months.

B is for blood pressure. The target for most people is less than 140/90 mmHg. Your goal may be lower if you are younger or if you have kidney disease.

- C is for cholesterol. Your provider will measure HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Ask your provider what your goals are. If you are over 40, you may need to take a medicine called a statin.

- If you are over 40, you may need to take a medicine called a statin. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, eye disease and amputation. Ask your smoking cessation provider for help, or visit https://smokefree.gov for more information on how to quit smoking.

Talk to your health care provider or a certified diabetes educator about your "ABC" goals and how often you should check your numbers.

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Quick ways to poop you

The following quick treatments can help to induce intestinal transit within a few hours.

Following are the quick ways to poop.

1. Take a fibre supplement

Fibre supplements are readily available and effective in causing stool if a low-fibre diet is the cause of your constipation. They work by adding bulk or volume to your stool. This helps to push stool through your intestines and out of your body.

You can buy fibre supplements on Amazon. Here are some common examples:

   calcium polycarvophil (FiberCon)

   psyllium (Metamucil, Konsyl)

   methylcellulose (Citrucel)

. Eat a portion of high-fibre foods

Try these high-fibre foods:

   Oats

   whole grain bread or cereals

   fibrous fruits and vegetables

   rice and beans

Make sure you drink plenty of water with these foods, as it will help you push your stools through your system.

3. Drink a glass of water

Good hydration - generally at least eight 8-ounce glasses of clear liquid per day - is necessary for normal stools. If you are constipated and do not drink enough water, drinking a large glass of water or other clear liquid can trigger intestinal transit.

4. Take a laxative stimulant

Laxative stimulants are designed to force stools by compressing the intestines. Stimulants can be obtained at the counter of your local pharmacy. Some popular options include:

   bisacodyl (Dulcolax, Ducodyl, Correctol)

   senesennosides (Senokot)

 5. Taking an osmotic

Osmotic laxatives work slightly differently from stimulating laxatives. They are designed to help liquids flow through the colon. Some examples include:

   magnesium hydroxide (Phillips Milk of Magnesia)

   polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX)

   magnesium citrate

   lactulose (Kristalose)

With a doctor's prescription, you can obtain higher strength polyethylene glycol, also called PEG (Golytely, Nulytely).

6. Try a lubricating laxative

Lubricating laxatives such as mineral oil add a smooth layer to the walls of the intestine, allowing stool to move more easily through the colon and out of your body. Do not take mineral oil more than two hours after your evening meal. Expect results within six to eight hours.

7. Use a stool softener

A common cause of constipation is dehydration, which can cause hard stools. The use of a stool softener, such as sodium docusate (Colace) or calcium docusate (Surfak), can moisten the stool by drawing water from the intestines. This makes it easier for the stool to come out of your body.

8. Try an enema

There are several types of enemas that you can try. The enemas act by softening the stool sufficiently to produce intestinal transit. Some common types of enemas include sodium phosphate (Fleet), soaps and tap water. Discover the appropriate methods for administering an enema.

9. Try a suppositor

Rectal suppositories also help to encourage stool by softening stool. Try a glycerin or bisacodyle suppository, which you can find at your local pharmacy.

10. Put yourself in a stocky position to poop

Bring a small footrest to your bathroom the next time you have to poop. Placing your feet on a stool in front of the toilet while you poop (so your body is essentially squatting instead of sitting) can help you to move the stool effortlessly.

11. Get some exercise

Light exercises, such as walking or jogging, can help the intestine move by increasing blood flow to the abdomen.

12. Try the colonic massage

Massaging the colon can help stimulate the intestines.

Lifestyle changes that can help you poop

The above tips can help encourage a quick bowel movement to relieve short-term discomfort. However, some lifestyle changes can also help you keep your constipation longer. For consistency, try to incorporate these tips into your daily routine.

   Add more fibre to your diet, with fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, beans and whole grains. You must consume at least 14 grams of fibre per 1000 calories per day in your diet. If you need to take a fibre supplement for chronic constipation, start with a low dose and increase it according to your tolerance. For some people, a large amount of fibre can cause bloating.

   Exercise almost every day of the week by walking, jogging, cycling, swimming or any other form of exercise Light exercises help maintain good circulation and can keep the bowels healthy.

   Consume plenty of fluids - mainly water and other clear liquids - every day. Aim for at least eight 8-ounce glasses of clear liquids per day.

   Manage your stress.

   Never hold your stool.

When to see a doctor

Chronic constipation can make it difficult for a person to focus on their daily tasks and activities. If your constipation lasts more than a week and does not respond to treatment, it is time to consult a doctor to rule out serious causes. Consult a doctor immediately if your constipation is accompanied by dizziness, fatigue, cramps or spasms.