Causes of Diabetes - Self-Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes is a medical condition which affects the ability of the body to process sugar, otherwise called blood glucose. In the United States, the estimate of the number of individuals more than 18 years old with undiagnosed and diagnosed diabetes is 30.2 million. Diabetes is considered to be a chronic disease when the condition occurs regularly and causes significant harm to the body. Therefore, treating diabetes is very important.

The first treatment recommended for diabetes is metformin. Metformin is taken in tablet form and is available by prescription. It works by maintaining the normal level of blood sugar in the body. It is also effective in decreasing liver damage and thus, its side effects are minimal.

Diabetes patients who take metformin are advised to maintain a proper blood glucose levels so as to prevent or delay complications such as blindness, kidney failure and heart disease. Those who smoke cigarettes are at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. For this reason, smokers are advised to stop smoking. They can do so by signing up for a program that offers support groups and counseling sessions where they can learn how to deal with withdrawal symptoms. Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels can lower the chances of developing diabetes.

There are other factors that are identified to increase the chances of developing gestational diabetes. One of these is being overweight. Being overweight can increase the risks of complications such as elevated blood pressure, excessive weight gain and diabetes. Pregnancy is another factor which is identified to be a cause of increased risks of developing gestational diabetes. Women who are overweight during pregnancy may suffer from complications during pregnancy such as premature delivery and low birth weight.

There are several environmental factors that can increase the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. These include increased physical activity, constant sitting, smoking and consumption of alcohol. The increased physical activity can affect the insulin production of the body. Prolonged sitting can impair the ability of the body to absorb the nutrients. Smoking and consumption of alcohol can directly lead to the activation of the immune system cells responsible for fighting infection.

Blood glucose levels should always be monitored to avoid complications. Self-monitoring of glucose levels can help identify whether your condition requires immediate medical attention. Increased insulin production has been found to be one of the major causes for the development of diabetic conditions. It is therefore essential to keep a check on your glucose levels to minimize the risks of complications. Self-monitoring allows you to control the amount of insulin that you need to inject in order to control high blood sugar symptoms.

Another way of preventing complications from developing is by maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise. Diabetics should avoid consuming foods or beverages containing excess carbohydrates and sugars. This helps to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

In addition to taking medication, patients with diabetes should also maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to improve the control of blood sugar levels. Regular exercise is one of the best ways of avoiding the development of complications. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, thus it is advisable to maintain a regular physical activity to prevent diabetes symptoms.

The other causes of type 2 diabetes are obesity and lack of exercise. Excess body weight leads to excessive fat accumulation and constricts blood vessels, which increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. Excessive body weight also increases the risk of developing diabetes mellitus, a precursor of cardiovascular disease. Obesity is one of the main causes of type 2 diabetes, thus individuals with obese conditions should modify their eating habits in order to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Self-monitoring blood sugar levels helps in identifying the symptoms of developing diabetes. A regular exercise routine will improve your glucose levels. In addition, it will also increase your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes cannot be managed with a certain lifestyle only.

Changing your lifestyle in order to manage diabetes is a better option than taking expensive medications. Lifestyle modification can also improve your health and slow down the progression of the disease. Changing your lifestyle is a better alternative than paying for prescription medications. Diabetes can be managed with changes in your diet and your activity. The best way to manage diabetes is to change your lifestyle and follow the diabetic checklist.