By Hafsat Okunola
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food we eat, especially carbohydrates, is broken down into sugar.
Types of diabetes
1. Type I diabetes: – is an auto-immune condition. This means your immune system mistakenly attracts and destroys insulin.
2. Type 2 diabetes: – starts as insulin resistance. This means your body can’t use insulin efficiently. That stimulates your pancreas to produce more insulin until it no longer keeps up with demand.
Causes of diabetes
1. Unhealthy diet
2. High blood cholesterol
3. Physical inactivity
Symptoms of diabetes
1. Increased thirst
2. Dry mouth
3. Unexplained weight loss
4. Weakness and tiredness
5. Excess urination at night
How to prevent diabetes
1. Cut sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet
2. Eat a high-fiber diet
3. Drink water as your primary beverage
4. Optimise vitamin D
5. Watch portion sizes
6. Work out regularly
Hafsat Okunola is of Fountain International School, Kano
