Diabetes and Exercise

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease of the metabolism – the way our bodies process and distribute food for energy. It’s our bodies main source of fuel and it comes from the food we eat. It occurs when the blood glucose levels are above normal.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which blood glucose – often called blood sugars – are above normal levels. We need glucose in the blood to provide the body with energy. This is primarily obtained from the food we eat but it is also produced in the liver and muscles. 

Glucose is transferred to the body’s cells by a hormone called Insulin.

Diabetes Type 1

Diabetes Type 1 ( normally diagnosed before the age of 20) Is a condition by which the body loses the ability to produce Insulin for some unknown reason. Type 1 diabetes is not related to lifestyle or dietary reasons and is genetic.

Note: If you have Type 1 you can still exercise! Here is a helpful link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-1-diabetes/exercise-and-sport/.

Damage due to Diabetes

90-95% of people with Diabetes have the type 2 version. High blood sugars are very damaging to the body: 

1. Blindness
2. Stroke
3. Heart disease
4. Kidney disease
5. Nerve damage.

The deleterious effects of Diabetes in detail are as follows:

1. High blood sugars damage your brain making Dementia much more likely.
2. You are 2-4 times likely  to have a heart attack.
3. They damage the kidneys and eyes leading to blindness. High blood sugars are the leading cause of blindness in those from the age of 20 – 70.
4. In addition they damage your nerves causing muscles pain in hands and nerve damage and poor circulation can lead to amputations. 60% of amputations are not caused by accidents but are diabetes related.

An Increasing Problem?

In 2013 the estimated diabetes prevalence for adults in Europe between the age of 20 and 79 was 32 million people and it is expected to affect 38 million people by 2035!

271,300 people in Europe died from a diabetes related diseases in 2013. It’s the 4th leading cause of death in Europe.

It is estimated that 9.5% of the European population, – 42 million people – have undiagnosed impaired glucose tolerance ( a state of increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes) according to the International Diabetes Federation.

In 2013 the estimated diabetes prevalence for adults in Europe between the ages of 20 and 79 was 32 million people, and that is expected to rise to 38 million by 2035!

In the United States of America, 1/4 of the population over the age of 60 have diabetes and many don’t even know it!

Diabetes Type 2

Diabetes Type 2 is a totally preventable form of Diabetes and is related to lifestyle: overweight and obesity. The hormone Insulin is still produced but its no longer sensitive to glucose. This means that glucose is ineffectively transferred to the cells resulting in high blood sugar levels.  

Type 2 Diabetes is almost entirely avoidable and a major factor at increasing the risk of death with Covid 19.Enter your text here...

Early Warning Signs and Symptoms

1. Frequent urination

When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys try to remove the excess sugar by filtering it out of the blood. This can lead to a person needing to urinate more frequently, particularly at night.

2. Always feeling hungry

People with diabetes often do not get enough energy from the food they eat.

The digestive system breaks food down into a simple sugar called glucose, which the body uses as fuel. In people with diabetes, not enough of this glucose moves from the bloodstream into the body’s cells.

As a result, people with type 2 diabetes often feel constantly hungry, regardless of how recently they have eaten.

3. Slow healing of cuts and wounds

High levels of sugar in the blood can damage the body’s nerves and blood vessels, which can impair blood circulation. As a result, even small cuts and wounds may take weeks or months to heal. Slow wound healing also increases the risk of infection.

As a result, people with type 2 diabetes often feel constantly hungry, regardless of how recently they have eaten.

4. Patches of dark skin

Patches of dark skin forming on the creases of the neck, armpit, or groin can also signify a higher risk of diabetes. These patches may feel very soft and velvety.

This skin condition is known as acanthosis nigricans.

5. Increased thirst

The frequent urination that is necessary to remove excess sugar from the blood can result in the body losing additional water. Over time, this can cause dehydration and lead to a person feeling more thirsty than usual.

6. Feeling very tired

Type 2 diabetes can impact on a person’s energy levels and cause them to feel very tired or fatigued. This tiredness occurs as a result of insufficient sugar moving from the bloodstream into the body’s cells.

7. Blurry vision

An excess of sugar in the blood can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, which can cause blurry vision. This blurry vision can occur in one or both of the eyes and may come and go.

If a person with diabetes goes without treatment, the damage to these blood vessels can become more severe, and permanent vision loss may eventually occur.

8. Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands or feet

High blood sugar levels can affect blood circulation and damage the body’s nerves. In people with type 2 diabetes, this can lead to pain or a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.

This condition is known as neuropathy, and it can worsen over time and lead to more serious complications if a person does not get treatment for their diabetes.

9. Itching and yeast infections

Excess sugar in the blood and urine provides food for yeast, which can lead to infection. Yeast infections tend to occur on warm, moist areas of the skin, such as the mouth, genital areas, and armpits.

The affected areas are usually itchy, but a person may also experience burning, redness, and soreness.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323185.php#early-signs-and-symptoms