Nutrition Advice - Types 1 & 2 diabetes
A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, means there's too much glucose (a type of sugar) in your blood due to a problem with the hormone insulin.
Type 1 diabetes – a lifelong condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. This type of diabetes is known as an autoimmune condition. When you have type 1 diabetes, your body cannot make any insulin at all.
Type 2 diabetes – is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes isn’t an autoimmune condition. Your body isn’t making enough insulin or what it makes isn’t working properly.
Symptoms
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes share common symptoms:
- Going for a wee a lot, especially at night.
- Being really thirsty.
- Feeling more tired than usual.
- Genital itching or thrush.
- Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
- Blurred eyesight
- Increased hunger.
Risk factors
Risk factors for diabetes 1 are:
- Family history: People with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of developing it themselves.
- Age: Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, but it’s most common among children and adolescents.
Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes
- Have prediabetes, or slightly elevated blood sugar levels
- Carrying excess weight or have obesity
- have a lot of belly fat
- Are physically active less than 3 times a week
- Are over 45
- Have ever had gestational diabetes
- Have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Have an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Managing diabetes
There’s currently no cure for type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, their blood sugar levels must be regularly checked and insulin injections taken to manage the diabetes.
Unlike type 1 diabetes, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This includes eating healthily, being active and maintaining a healthy weight. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may prescribe medications that help your body use insulin more effectively. The key to managing type 2 diabetes is understanding how it develops.
How does types 2 diabetes develop?
- Raised blood sugar, due to refined carbohydrates. - Refined carbohydrates are quickly digested and release glucose (sugar) into the blood stream.
- Raised insulin to correct rise in blood sugar levels. - The pancreas releases insulin to move the glucose into our cells to provide them with energy.
- Blood sugar levels fall. - The body starts to become hyperglycaemic. Somebody with hyperglycaemia will try to rectify the falling blood sugar levels by increasing their carbohydrate intake, or by turning to stimulants such as caffeine. Symptoms of hyperglycaemia including fatigue, irritability, anxiety, forgetfulness, nightmares, Shakiness, headache, PMT, or the feeling of being ‘hangry.’
- Blood sugar levels rise quickly again. - They cycle starts again.
As the cycle continues to the extreme by continuing to consume refined carbohydrates, two things happen in the body:
- Down regulation of cell insulin receptors. As the pancreas continues to release insulin in an attempt to regulate blood glucose levels in the cells becoming more and more instantly resistant. That is they have done regulated the receptors so that they no longer react to insulin effectively. The increase levels of sugar in the bloodstream are lay down in the body. Tissue is fat, and these fat cells become part of the hormone system, and start releasing hormones of their own, which further exacerbates insulin resistance, and increases inflammation in the body.
- Exhaustion of the pancreas. Eventually the pancreas becomes exhausted and releases less insulin resulting in high levels of blood sugar. The pancreas is triggered to correct high levels of sugar in the blood from the consumption of carbohydrates and stimulants, such as tea, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes, it can become exhausted and not make enough insulin. This results in to higher level of sugar in the blood.
What is the impact on the wider body?
When the sugar levels in the blood drop, the main changes in the body involve the adrenal gland which is responsible for the bodies reaction to stressful situations. In order to correct, fallen blood glucose levels, the adrenal gland, release adrenaline, which allows the liver to release, stored sugar (glycogen).
If the stress continues, cortisol is released which again, activates the liver to release, stored sugar. This corrects, a low blood sugar temporary, until the pancreas releases more insulin to take the stored sugar into the cells.
The pancreas is triggered to correct high levels of sugar in the blood from the consumption of carbohydrates and stimulants, such as tea, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes, it can become exhausted and not make enough insulin. This results in to higher level of sugar in the blood.
Once the blood sugar levels have been stabilised, it has a knock on effect on the rest of the body. For example, the pancreas will be less under less stress, the endocrine system will start to regulate (insulin affects levels of oestrogen and testosterone), and the adrenal can start to work more effectively. The adrenals are responsible for stress reaction, helping support blood sugar levels.
If you are concerned about developing or have type 2 diabetes, contact me to find out how I might be able to help.
Nutritional Therapy in Exeter.
Looking for a dietitian, nutritionist or nutritional therapist? Want to know what the difference is and how I can help you?
Want to find out how a changed to your nutrition can improve your health? Contact me here for your free 15 minute nutritional therapy consultation.
Ready to book your nutritional therapy appointment, book your appointments in Topsham, Exminster or online here.
What is Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional Therapy is a holistic approach to health and wellbeing that focuses on using food and nutrition to support the body's natural healing processes.
I provide personalised nutrition plans tailored to individual needs.
Whether you're looking to improve digestion, boost energy levels, manage weight, improve your nutrition intake, or address specific health concerns. Nutritional Therapy can offer valuable insights and support on your journey to optimal health.
My Nutritional Therapy diploma is held with the School of Health, and I am a registered Nutritional Therapist with the Federation of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners.
What is the difference between a; dietitian, nutritionist and nutritional therapist.
Dietitian's - Dietitian's provide practical guidance to sick individuals to help them make appropriate, healthy choices for a specific medical conditions. They often work as part of a clinical team, including for example doctors, nurses, physiotherapists etc. They take a direct approach to the illness being presented to them, not the body as a whole.
Nutritionists - Registered nutritionists are qualified to provide information and nutrition advice about food and eating habits. They may take a similar approach to a Nutritional Therapist. Nutritionists normally operate out of private practices. Dieticians will normally operate out of the NHS.
In general, nutritionists provide evidence-based information and guidance about the impacts of food and nutrition on the health and wellbeing of humans
Nutritional Therapists - Nutritional therapists practice complementary medicine, taking a holistic approach to the symptoms that are presenting in the body, They provide recommendations for diet and lifestyle to reduce or prevent health issues and illnesses. They work on the belief that the body has underlying nutritional and biochemical imbalances that lead to poor health, including mental health problems.
You can view my online brochure, of the wellbeing services I offer in Exeter, here.
