As common as diabetes is, there is still a mystery behind it as to how it’s caused, despite the mounds of research that’s been conducted. The final conclusion that doctors have come up with is that the cause of a person’s diabetes is dependent on the type of diabetes that person has.
Diabetes is a disease that has wreaked havoc on so many lives. People have even died from diabetes due to not having access to the proper drugs. Access to proper drugs is also one of the biggest concerns among diabetes patients in Malawi. They are in a state of shock, making claims that they are being given expired diabetes drugs. Patients have stated that the moment they take the medication, their symptoms worsen and are accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.
Malawi’s Ministry of Health spokesperson disputes the allegations stating that they’re not true and that drugs are issued well before expiry. Regardless of who’s claiming what, the main thing is that diabetes patients are in need of diabetes medicine and aren’t getting what they need… action must be taken.
Type of Diabetes
Type 1
If you’re not familiar with the types of diabetes, there are two types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is the most severe, where you need insulin in order to live. Type 1 can be triggered by a virus or some type of environmental factor but if a virus triggers it, the virus will cause the immune system to attack beta cells in the pancreas… once they’re attacked, it stops insulin from producing, therefore patients need insulin to stay alive.
Type 2
Type 2 diabetes is typically the result of 4 possible causes: heredity, lifestyle choices, stress, and low birth weight.
Heredity
Genetics plays a major role in whether or not you will develop diabetes as you get older. Certain ethnic groups are said to be more prone to the disease more than others; that includes African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians… so you never know… it could be in your genes.
Lifestyle Choices
Bad food choices and lack of physical activity are the quickest way to developing diabetes… This is a serious disease and if you don’t take control over your lifestyle, your lifestyle choice can take control over your life.
Stress
Who knew! Just when you thought stress caused enough problems, you go on to find out that it can also cause you to develop insulin resistance. So when things get tough, pause and take a deep breath, especially over things you have no control over.
Low Birth Weight
Children who are born with a low birth weight are at a much greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This is mostly due to the mother’s lack of nutrition and nourishment during her pregnancy, nonetheless, her baby is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Unfortunately, with type 1 diabetes, you have to take insulin in order to live, so it’s very important to make sure you have access to the proper medications you need to take… it’s detrimental to your survival. But if you have type 2 diabetes, it can be reversed with the proper diet and exercise.
There is a diet that can help reverse type 2 diabetes and this diet is the Mediterranean diet. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Mediterranean diet came out on top in comparison to other diets like vegan, low carb, high fiber, high protein diets… it’s been called the miracle diets by some due to its many health benefits. So why doe this diet beat out all the others that have been said to promote health just as much as the Mediterranean diet does? Well, it starts with the food.
The Mediterranean diet initially got its name based on the eating traditions of the peoples living in the countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea, so places like Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey all eat a Mediterranean diet as a way of life, not as a health fad. This diet has been studied for its heart-health benefits but studies have also shown that it can help people with type 2 diabetes.
The thing about type 2 diabetes is that it’s preventable and even if you have it, you can help reverse it by incorporating the Mediterranean diet in your meal plans. The meals are easy and delicious. A great recipe to introduce you to the Mediterranean diet is an easy Italian baked chicken recipe. It’s delicious and good for your health.
The key to type 2 diabetes is prevention. If you eat right and maintain physical activity in your life routinely, you can stop type 2 diabetes from entering your life in the first place. It’s all about making smarter food decisions. You have to have the right mindset in order to even take preventive measures. In fact, there are so many illnesses and diseases that can totall be prevented, if everyone just made smarter food choices… monitoring what you eat is the quickest way to healing yourself from within.
