The D word

Hubby has been neglecting his health. He works all the time, sitting all day, having irregular meals, never exercising. It sounds like me too but he's got it double.

Recently, he was complaining about numbness in his big toe and aching arm. After our trip to Bangkok, he felt a few more toes go numb. I urged him to go to the doctor and for the first time ever, he didn't resist.

He went on a late evening and the doctor took a blood test. He said that his sugar level is abnormally high and asked if he just had a meal. Hubby said he just had a grape on the way to the clinic. Doctor said the results are inconclusive and requested he go to the hospital for thorough check up.

The day of the blood test comes and the results would only be ready in a week. The week flies by and the big day arrives. The results are in. He has diabetes. It runs in his father's side and it was not surprising but it still crushed him. The doctor asked if wanted to proceed with insulin treatment. His family members had advised him against it so he declined. In order for him to control his sugar level, he would have to have a complete lifestyle change. Daily exercise, regular meals, less carbs. Challenge accepted.

Diabetes affects people in different ways. A lot of people don't realize they have it until it's too late.

There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, because it usually is diagnosed during childhood. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body does not produce insulin because the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells from the pancreas called beta cells. Type 1 diabetes is treated by using insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which cells cannot use blood sugar (glucose) efficiently for energy. This occurs when blood sugar levels get too high over time, and the cells become insensitive or resistant to insulin (termed insulin resistance). There are multiple medications used to treat type 2 diabetes.

There are diabetes warning signs and symptoms that both women and men have in common, for example:

• Excessive thirst and hunger
• Frequent urination (from urinary tract infections or kidney problems)
• Weight loss or gain
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing wounds
• Nausea
• Skin infections
• Darkening of skin in areas of body creases (acanthosis nigricans)
• Breath odor that is fruity, sweet, or an acetone odor
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

If ever you have any of these symptoms, just go and have a check up and get your health in check.