Diabetes-spreading!

Diabetes is a currently incurable condition in which too much glucose (sugar) is present in the blood. It is a set of related diseases in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood and a high blood sugar level is not good for one's health. The World Health Organization (WHO) says, "Diabetes is a major threat to global public health that is rapidly getting worse, and the biggest impact is on adults of working age in developing countries. At least 171 million people worldwide have diabetes. This figure is likely to more than double by 2030 to reach 366 million."

There are two types of diabetes, 'insulin-dependent diabetes' and 'maturity-onset diabetes' or 'non-insulin dependent diabetes'(NIDD). In type one, the body is unable to produce any insulin which usually starts in childhood and is treated with diet control, weight loss, exercise, oral medication and insulin injections. In type two, the body does produce insulin but not enough to work properly. This mostly happens in old age, after forty. Patients with type two usually require daily insulin treatment to live longer. Both these types of diabetes ultimately lead to high blood sugar levels and contribute to a number of medical problems.

There is no permanent cure for diabetes type one. Although for diabetes type two, it can be controlled as well as prevented by controlling sugar sources, by eating small amounts instead of over eating at meals, and by taking less fat and keeping the bodyfat percentage down. The suggested diet for diabetic patients is to:

1. Avoid as many carbohydrates as possible.
2. No intake of carbohydrates two hours before bedtime.
3. Eat atleast five or six meals in a day rather then one big meal. (Diabetic patients normally need to eat after every two hours.)
4. Always eat a high-protein breakfast.
5. Balance the intake of fat/carbohydrates/proteins.
6. Avoid intake of fat-free-foods. (They make one's insulin levels go up and down and put on fat.)
7. Avoid all types of flours if they are not wheat flours.
8. Drink lots of water and avoid sodas. Soft drinks are fine.

Walking is a great exercise for diabetic patients as it raises one's metabolic rate and levels out blood sugar. It also helps in burning extra calories.

In an interview with a 69 year old man, who is a diebetic patient for the past nine years. He said in the beginning, for three to four years, he didn't take any medication and controlled his blood sugar level by walking and avoiding the intake of sugar and cholestrol. He realised not taking any medication was a mistake because it led to paralyses and he started stuttering while talking. Due to diabetes, he had high blood pressure, cholestrol and heart problems. Now he has been taking insulin for ten months and has better control on his blood sugar level as compared to before. He walks daily for half an hour, gets his blood sugar level checked twice a week, avoids fat and meat, and mostly eats vegetables. He believes it runs in the family as he became diabetic because his mother and father both suffered from the same disease and now his sister aswell. According to him, to control blood sugar level fifty percent walk, twenty-five percent diet and twenty-five percent medication is required.