Earlier this week, on November 14, International Diabetes Day was celebrated. The date is not arbitrary, it is the birthday of Frederick Grant Benting, a Canadian physician and biochemist, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1923 for the extraction of insulin and the beginning of its treatment in humans. It should be added that at the time of winning he was only 32 years old.
Diabetes seems to be a 21st century disease, one that is associated with poor nutrition and high consumption of industrialized, ultra-processed foods.
But in fact the disease was already known in ancient times in Egypt, Greece and Rome. Then the signs of the disease were noted in weight loss and multiple urination. A Roman physician coined the name diabetes, which means “deck” in Latin, referring to multiple urination.
People with diabetes? Here are 10 tips to help you avoid complications from the disease
As today, even then, nutritional care was of great significance. There has been a major and long-standing controversy over the amount of carbohydrates in the diet for diabetics. Some thought that the amount should be large to return to the body the sugar lost in the urine, and some thought that it was necessary to limit the amount of carbohydrates in the diet. Towards the end of the 19th century the usual menu was low in carbohydrates and energy (calories).
Then also the link between the disease and the pancreas was found, in a study that showed that dogs without pancreas developed diabetes. In 1921, Benting discovered the hormone insulin. This discovery was a significant milestone in understanding diabetes. However, the major breakthrough occurred in 1922, when insulin was isolated and injected into a 14-year-old diabetic boy, and its treatment results were successful.
To understand the background to the disease and its causes, one must be familiar with the two forces at work in it: glucose (a type of sugar) and insulin – a hormone produced and secreted by the pancreas. Glucose provides energy available to the body organs and is essential for proper functioning. Insulin is required to allow glucose to enter cells: liver, muscle and adipose tissue. Diabetes is a disease in which the blood glucose level is high, due to impaired clearance of glucose from the blood to the cells.
Conditions and types of diabetes
Pre-diabetes, or borderline diabetes: Occurs before the development of type 2 diabetes. At this point, blood sugar, blood pressure and insulin resistance are already causing damage to blood vessels and impairing organ function.
Type 1 diabetes: A condition in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin to clear glucose, because the immune system accidentally attacks cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The cause of the development of type 1 diabetes is uncertain, and it may be related to genetic and environmental factors together. In the past it was called “juvenile diabetes”.
type 2 diabetes: A condition in which the body is unable to use insulin efficiently enough to regulate blood sugar levels. In this condition there is also a decrease in the amount of insulin secretion relative to the sugar levels, and it is manifested in fewer insulin receptors. Type 2 diabetes can develop for a number of reasons, including genetic factors, poor nutrition, being overweight and lack of exercise.
Gestational diabetes: During pregnancy there may be hormonal changes that lead to insulin resistance. Genetics and behavioral patterns may also contribute to gestational diabetes.
As mentioned, the complications of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are the same. Most of them are the result of a disturbance in the balance of blood glucose levels and cumulative damage to small blood vessels: in the kidneys, to the point of kidney failure and the need for dialysis; In the eyes, to the point of blindness; Nerve damage mainly in the legs (neuropathy), to the point of amputation of limbs. The large blood vessels were also damaged. Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, joint problems, skin, disruption of digestive activity and impaired sexual function.
Some cases can be reversible. For example, people with pre-diabetes can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes by a balanced diet, weight loss and regular exercise. Patients with type 2 diabetes may have remission – a condition in which blood sugar levels remain within the normal range for at least six months without medication, but with the help of dietary changes. Gestational diabetes usually passes after pregnancy. But these women have an increased chance of developing diabetes in the future. Unlike these, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, requiring daily insulin doses for life.
Diabetes and Corona
In the last two years, the fear of the Covid-19 virus has gained momentum in diabetic patients. Research has shown that the damage of the virus in diabetics is more severe, because the immune system in diabetics is weaker and they have a tendency to hypercoagulability. A study in the UK reported 14.8% of deaths among people who had been to Corona and had balanced diabetes compared to 41.7% with unbalanced diabetes. A significant gap that indicates the great importance of balancing diabetes.
When to see a doctor or nutritionist?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends contacting your doctor for a blood test when you have the following symptoms: Regular frequent urination, including at night, frequent thirst and hunger, unexpected weight loss, blurred vision , Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, chronic fatigue, very dry skin, frequent infections.
Studies conducted in recent years have unequivocally shown that the chance of complications can be reduced by adhering to a healthy lifestyle: proper and proper diet, regular exercise, avoidance of smoking and appropriate medication. All of these contribute greatly to maintaining sugar levels close to the norm.
Guidance and guidance of a nutritionist are especially important in cases of pre-diabetes or diabetes of various issues. A nutritionist will give general instructions as well as custom ones.
.