Diabetes Mellitus, or simply diabetes, is often dubbed the “diabetes pandemic” or the “silent killer.” However, among the different types of diabetes mellitus, one type truly deserves that description; type 2 diabetes (T2D). Of all the global diabetes cases in the world, about 96% of them are type 2 diabetes. What’s worse, diabetes type 2 is also responsible for most diabetes-related disabilities and deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the annual diabetes death rate to be about 1.5 million. So, what is type 2 diabetes, and what should you know about its causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention? You’ll find the answers in the rest of the article.    What is Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a high blood glucose problem triggered by the body’s inability to convert the sugar from consumed food into usable body energy. This happens because of low insulin production by the pancreas or your body’s inability to correctly use insulin to convert the sugar from food into body fuel. People with T2D are at a greater risk of other health complications, including heart disease and heart attacks, stroke, kidney disease, and kidney failure. Both T2D and related diseases are serious conditions. So, anyone would be interested to know what causes type 2 diabetes and how to stay away from the condition.   Causes and Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes If you are healthy and free of diabetes, your pancreas produces the right amount of insulin, and your body cells use it correctly to convert food sugar into body energy. If you are diabetic, you have one or both of these insulin problems: ·        Your pancreas produces insufficient insulin. ·        Your body cells do not utilize insulin correctly. Consequently, the primary cause of type 2 diabetes is related to how your body produces or uses insulin to convert food sugar into energy. That said, not every person has the blood sugar issues that cause diabetes. That means people who get diabetes have some predisposing risk factors that make them more vulnerable to high blood sugar. Below are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes:   Overweight and Obesity Overweight or obese persons have excess body weight than what is considered healthy for their height. However, while an obese person has an excessive accumulation of body fat, an overweight person does not. Nonetheless, both overweight and obesity are determined by your Body Mass Index (BMI). Below is a summary of the BMI values for an underweight, healthy, overweight, and obese person. Underweight BMI Normal BMI Overweight BMI Obese BMI <18.5 18.8-24.9 25.0-29.9 ≥30 Going by this, you will be at risk of type 2 diabetes if your BMI is around 25.0 or higher. That’s because the extra weight and body fat are highly likely to cause insulin resistance. Also, people whose extra body fat accumulates around the belly area are more likely to have insulin resistance. If you want to quickly compute your BMI values, here’s the formula: Your weight in Kg / the square of your height in meters. For example, if your weight is 60kg and your height is 1.64, your BMI will be: 60/2.69 =22.30 In this case, your BMI is within the healthy range.   Physical Inactivity or a Sedentary Life Physical inactivity is linked closely to being overweight. Research estimates that a third of the world population above age 15 has a majorly sedentary life and does not engage in enough physical exercise. Unfortunately, that negatively affects health. Many of us engage in little to no exercise because of these factors: ·        Unavailability of space for exercising. ·        Work-related long sitting hours. ·        Long hours of engagement with the TV and other digital devices. Inadequate physical activity increases your risk for type 2 diabetes because it compromises your body’s ability to control blood sugar, weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Instead, working out helps all these functions. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise every week. This will not only help reduce your risk for diabetes type 2 but also other lifestyle diseases like heart disease.   Genes or a Family History for Diabetes Even under similar lifestyles and other diabetes-predisposing risks, some people are more susceptible to developing diabetes. Why is this? Medics and researchers agree that genes and a family history of diabetes type 2 can increase your risk for the disease. In other words: ·        You are at a greater risk for T2D if a member of your family has type 2 diabetes. ·        You have an additional point in risk for diabetes if you inherit particular genes associated with type 2 diabetes. Both facts lead to the conclusion that people from different families could be exposed to similar non-genetic risk factors for diabetes. However, they may not have the same level of risk for developing T2D, thanks to their different genes.   High Fat and Carbohydrate Diet Food is another factor linked closely to overweight and fat accumulation and, consequently, to type 2 diabetes. Together with a lack of exercise, a poor diet is considered a core factor in the rise of type 2 diabetes cases. Specifically, people who consume a high fat and carbohydrate diet increase the risk for high blood sugar levels and the buildup of body fat. Both factors are risks for insulin resistance. Research recommends that people should choose a high-protein diet over high carbohydrate and fat diet. In fact, it is widely agreed that a high-protein diet favors the treatment and management of T2D and is more cost-effective. You will find a more detailed approach to diet and T2D in our successive articles.   Alcohol Abuse Alcohol has a controversial relationship with diabetes. On the one end, a bit of alcohol is said to be potentially good for controlling blood sugar and managing insulin usage. On the other end, however, too much alcohol has several risks for diabetics and people trying to stay healthy from the condition. Precisely: ·        Excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt your blood sugar levels.

  Image from pixabay by Stanias Diabetes, or scientifically diabetes mellitus, is one of the top ten causes of death and disability in the world. According to the latest Lancet research, over half a billion people in the world (529 million) currently live with diabetes. Sadly, that figure is predicted to rapidly go up to about 1·31 billion by 2050. So, exactly what is this killer and disabling disease called diabetes? Diabetes is an enduring health condition that messes up your body’s ability to convert the food you eat into the energy you need for your daily activities. As a result, the blood glucose levels in the body become elevated, triggering diabetes and a range of other health problems. Generally speaking, your body’s inability to convert food into energy is just the tip of the iceberg. That’s because there are several other issues underlying the glucose imbalance characteristic of diabetes. Since these issues can vary depending on the type of diabetes, we’ll discuss them later in a section on the types of diabetes. So, let’s focus first on what causes diabetes. What Causes Diabetes? The primary cause of diabetes is insulin deficiency and inefficiency. In other words, people with diabetes have insulin production and function issues. But what is insulin? Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. The core function of the hormone is to help your body convert the sugar sent to your blood from the food you consume into usable energy. Turning blood sugar into energy is a complex process.  First, when you eat food, your body breaks it down and converts it into sugar or glucose. The sugar is then released into your bloodstream. If the sugar in the bloodstream exceeds normal levels, your body signals the pancreas to release insulin. The insulin sends the sugar to your body cells to use it as energy.  We can simply this process in the diagram below. If your pancreas can’t produce or release the required amount of insulin to convert blood glucose into energy, the consequence is diabetes.  Besides, the uncontrolled sugar level in the bloodstream is generally unhealthy and can trigger other serious health problems. We’ll discuss these diabetes-related health problems later in the article. Before then, it is crucial to know that diabetes does not refer to a single health condition. Instead, the term describes several blood sugar-related conditions that count as types of diabetes.   Types of Diabetes Although most of us speak of diabetes as a single health condition, the term diabetes refers to a group of health conditions caused by abnormally high glucose levels in the blood (high blood sugar). The most common type of diabetes are:  Type 1 diabetes (T1D) Type 2 diabetes (T2D) Gestational diabetes   Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) We start with Type 2 diabetes because it is the most common of the three types of diabetes. In fact, when people talk about diabetes, they often mean T2D.  According to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), 96% of all diabetes cases in the world are type 2 diabetes. Also, most of the risk factors for diabetes are associated with T2D. We will discuss the risk factors for diabetes a little later in the article. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes also explains why our charitable organization, Global Diabetes Initiatives, has a preference focus on T2D.  Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to utilize insulin properly. Although your pancreas makes insulin, the amount may not be enough to control your blood sugar levels and keep them at the required range. You will read about normal and abnormal sugar levels in our consecutive blog on diabetes tests. However, it’s important to know that T2D develops over time, and you may not notice the symptoms early enough before complications arise.  For this reason, the wise thing to do is to regularly test your blood sugar levels to ensure you are not at risk. Also, ensure a healthy lifestyle by: Keeping a healthy weight. Eating healthy food. Exercising regularly.  Lastly, until recently, T2D was considered a disease of adults, but today it is more and more common in children. Global Diabetes Initiatives has confirmed this fact through its work with the communities. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin in your pancreas. As such, your body has minimal or no insulin to help process and control the sugar levels in your blood.  Type 1 is a less common type of diabetes than type 2. According to the CDC, only 5-10% of all diabetes cases globally are type 1.  Also, type 1 diabetes is common among children, teenagers, and young adults in high-income nations. This explains why the disease is sometimes called childhood-onset or juvenile diabetes. Nonetheless, adults can also get type 1 diabetes.  If you have type 1 diabetes, you need to take insulin on a daily basis to live. Also, unlike T2D, type 1 diabetes symptoms manifest early, usually at the onset of the disease.    Gestational Diabetes Gestational diabetes is a gestation-related condition in women who have not shown signs of diabetes prior to pregnancy.  Expectant women with gestational diabetes have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels but lower than those recorded in diagnostic diabetes. Usually, gestational diabetes disappears once the affected woman delivers. However, women with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Besides, according to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), it’s possible to diagnose type 2 diabetes during gestation in someone who did not have the condition before the pregnancy. Unfortunately, children of mothers who have had gestational diabetes may suffer from obesity and are also at a greater risk of developing T2D later in life.    Other Types of Diabetes There are other less common types of diabetes. They include: Monogenic diabetes: Results from abnormal insulin production due to a gene mutation and the consequent impaired development and

It regulates blood sugar Peanuts have ample dietary fibres that help regulate blood sugar. It has a low GI and releases sugar in the blood slowly. It also contains a good amount of manganese which plays important role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Further low magnesium is linked to high diabetic risk, with an excellent supply of magnesium peanuts helping reduce the risk of diabetes. Snacking on peanuts can help to maintain blood sugar in between meals. Studies have confirmed the inverse relationship between the consumption of nuts and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Lowers weight gain; By regularly eating groundnuts, we can decrease the chance of gaining weight. Surprise! Yes, research has shown that those who eat groundnuts at least twice a week are less likely to gain weight than those who do not eat them at all. Obesity is a great concern for women, so there is one way to keep it at bay. Also, groundnuts are a high satisfying food, and they make us feel fuller for a longer period. The satisfying nature of groundnuts are not solely due to their fat content, fibre content or protein content, but also due to the combined effect of all nutrients. Thank you very much for reading this article. I trust you were well informed. Peanuts are often avoided because of the fact that they have high-fat content. However, recent studies have highlighted it as all-natural health food. Provided below are some of the health benefits of groundnuts; Peanuts for memory: Groundnut has ample Vitamin B3 and is good brain food. It helps boost memory and the function of the brain. Frequent intake of peanuts is helpful in improving memory and cognitive skills. According to the research, frequent intake of niacin rich food like groundnut offers protection against Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Peanuts fight against depression: Peanuts are a good source of the amino acid Tryptophan, which helps the production of Serotonin; a ‘happiness chemical’ in the body. It is a chemical nerve transmitter that helps regulate various brain functions like mood, pain, appetite and sleep. It helps fight depression and improves mood. It again helps in treating insomnia, migraine and other pain condition. Peanuts and cancer prevention: Groundnuts has a form of phytosterols called beta-sitosterol that is believed to protect against cancer by inhibiting tumour growth. It also contains antioxidants that protect body cells from free radicals which may cause cancerous growth. Studies have shown its ability to reduce stomach cancer and colon cancer. Peanuts aid digestion: As groundnuts are rich in dietary fibre, it helps digestion. It allows the proper functioning of the digestive system and metabolism. Peanuts reduce the risk of heart disease: As we know groundnuts contain monounsaturated and poly saturated fatty acid, it keeps the heart healthy by lowering the blood cholesterol and thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart diseases. Groundnut also contains antioxidants that not only protect the heart but also inhibit the growth of free radicals.  

Diabetes: Start Eating These Foods To Control Your Sugar Level Today we will analyze some of the foods that help control blood sugar levels. If you have type 2 diabetes, there are a few foods that can help regulate your blood sugar and keep you feeling full by suppressing hunger. Diabetes happens when blood sugar or glucose levels are higher than normal. Research has shown that consuming too much carbohydrate foods such as bread, cereal, rice, pasta, fruit, milk and desserts can cause diabetes. Dieting plays a major key role in blood pressure levels, so you need to carefully observe what you eat. The food you consume should focus on the amount and type of carbohydrates you put in your dishes all day long. There are foods that help maintain blood sugar levels and make you happy and healthy all the time. Below are some of them; 1. Greens Eat plenty of spinach and modern vegetables. They are healthy, delicious and low in sugar. Mix vegetables and roasted vegetables to add texture and flavor. Green vegetables are nutritious and low in calories. Digestible carbohydrates, i.e. carbohydrates that are absorbed by the body, are very small and therefore do not have a significant effect on blood sugar. For example, Spinach, kale, and other leafy vegetables are good sources of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C. 2. Protein Protein is essential for the regulation of blood glucose levels. It helps in delaying digestion, prevents postprandial blood sugar spikes, and increases satiety. It can help prevent two effective overeating that is essential for healthy blood sugar levels and promote the reduction of excess body fat. Let us get more cottage cheese, eggs and lean meat. 3. A little fat Continuing to eat a diet rich in unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats instead of foods high in carbohydrates or saturated fats improves blood sugar control. Good choices of fats include olive oil, avocado, and fatty fish. Thank you very much