Last Updated:19 January 2018

An individual with blood sugar levels outside of normal range and diagnosed as having low insulin production… and/or glucose absorption malfunction is best described as a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas allowing glucose to be absorbed by the body. This hormone is required to stabilize & metabolize the body’s sugar. Insulin triggers cells of the body to absorb glucose from the blood stream storing the glucose as glycogen within the liver, muscle and fat tissue cells. Glucose in the blood stream and glycogen are the primary muscle storage fuel sources used first by the body’s metabolism to mobilize it and get work done. A diabetic without insulin develops diabetic ketoacidosis,which can lead to coma, or death.

Diabetes is treatable since insulin shots became available in 1921. However, there is still no cure.

There are two types of Diabetes: 

Type 1 – Diabetes Mellitus – The pancreases inability to produce insulin requires insulin shots, modified diet and blood monitoring. This type of diabetes can affect children as well as adults, first dubbed juvenile diabetes because it represents a majority of children diagnosed with diabetes. Some scientists believe Type 1 represents an autoimmune problem that results in permanent damage of the pancreases ability to generate insulin. Exact cause of this disease is unknown.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – Although the body produces insulin with Type 2, medication and diet is required to stimulate the body’s insulin receptors to absorb the blood sugar. Without medication to assist the body’s insulin function this type of person becomes hyperglycemic (high blood sugar), like a Type 1 diabetic. Should the Type 2 individual stop producing insulin they are then treated as a Type 1 diabetic with insulin shots, blood monitoring, diet, exercise and other medications. 

Treatment consists of insulin shots and possibly other medications. Healthy habits to mitigate symptoms include: healthy diet, blood monitoring, daily exercise, stop smoking, reduce excess sugar consumption and moderate or give up alcohol to manage either type of diabetic disease. Diabetes is complicated by other influences, i.e., genetic predisposition, environment and autoimmune factors. 

Other Diabetic Insight: Type 1 can turn into Type 2. Type 2 diabetic does not have to start as a Type 1. Onset risk to Type 2 diabetes can be triggered by unhealthy diet and sedentary habits that lead to excess body weight. Whereas the excess body weight forms around the waist – also known as Central Obesity.” Adult obesity can develop into onset-diabetes caused by high percentages of body fat.

Treatment of diabetes is to be taken seriously and considered a serious disease. If not treated appropriately acute and chronic conditions can and do arise regardless of diabetic type and can cause medical complications. 

Serious long-term complications: 

Mismanagement includes but not limited to:  Cardiovascular disease, chronic renal (kidneys) failure, retinal (eyes) damage, nerve damage, impotence, poor wound healing, and gangrene of the feet (possible amputation), etc.

How do you know if your diabetic? The initial signs and symptoms of a diabetes… You’re constantly thirsty and urinate frequently. This is because your kidneys are desperate to remove the excess blood sugar. Many also experience dehydration and some end up in the hospital as a result. It is at this time those patients are often diagnosed as diabetic. If you have the need to frequently urinate in the middle of the night and are constantly thirsty see a medical doctor for advisement. 

Proactive Steps to Avoid or Reduce Diabetes Health Risk

1. Choose foods low on the Glycemic Index, “Natural Weight Loss and Diabetes Managed through “GI Knowledge” [Read Now].
2. Seek medical diagnosis if you experience extreme weight loss/gain or can’t manage healthy body weight.
3. Lower blood pressure & cholesterol levels, quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake.
4. Visit our fit health lifestyle Repository: MirrorAthlete Free articles on categorized within Weight loss, fitness, health, Nutrition, etc.
5. Supplement your diet with V&M’s & anti-oxidant Immune boosters.
6. Eliminate sugar substitutes & reduce total sugar intake in your diet.Big Tip – DO NOT drink diet sodas and eat heavily processed foods, i.e., chips, cookies, cake, candy, etc.
7. Purchase Ageless MirrorAthlete “Overweight and Unfit No More” by Marc Woodard.
8. Exercise daily – Low impact aerobics, i.e, walking, jogging, dance, biking, etc., will help lower diabetic risk and decrease symptoms – including reduction of centralized obesity.
9. To stabilize healthy blood sugars, maintain glucose counts between 80-120mg/dl which is considered normal.
10. If you have chronic thirst and urinate frequently see a medical doctor.

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Good health to you and your family.

Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, ARNG, CPT, RET. 2017 Copyright. All rights reserved, MirrorAthlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.