About diabetes

Diabetes is a common metabolic disease that affects the functions of multiple organs in the human body and increases the risk of complications such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, eye diseases, kidney diseases, and neuropathy. Currently, China has become the country with the largest number of diabetes patients in the world, and diabetes has become one of the important public health issues currently facing the country.

Diabetes is called "xiaoke" in traditional Chinese medicine, and its symptoms include drinking more, eating more, urinating more, and weight loss. Its pathogenesis is based on yin deficiency and symptomized by dryness and heat, and is most often caused by spleen and kidney yin deficiency and lung and stomach dryness and heat. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history and unique theoretical system in the treatment of diabetes.

According to the characteristics of insulin deficiency, diabetes is mainly divided into four types: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and special types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is common in children and adolescents, but also in other age groups. Type 1 diabetes patients account for less than 5% of the total number of people, and the main feature is the absolute lack of insulin caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Currently, type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, and patients must use insulin for life.

Type 2 diabetes

The pancreatic beta cells of patients with type 2 diabetes can produce a certain amount of insulin, but the output is insufficient or cannot be fully utilized, which leads to problems with sugar metabolism in the body. Type 2 diabetes is very common in the population, accounting for more than 90% of the total number of diabetes patients. There is currently no cure for this disease, but it can be controlled and alleviated through drug treatment.

Gestational diabetes

It refers to patients with normal glucose metabolism before pregnancy, but diabetes is developed or diagnosed after entering pregnancy. It is usually caused by abnormal maternal glucose metabolism after pregnancy.

Specific types of diabetes

It refers to diabetes caused by causes other than the above three, such as hereditary defects in pancreatic β-cell function, pancreatic exocrine diseases, endocrine diseases, drugs or chemicals.

Blood sugar is the main diagnostic basis for diabetes, which usually involves three indicators: fasting blood sugar, 2-hour blood sugar after a meal, and glycosylated hemoglobin.

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diabetes

Fasting blood glucose ≥7.0mmol/L

Blood glucose ≥11.1mmol/L 2 hours after meal

Glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5%

If the above criteria are met, diabetes can be diagnosed.

Prediabetes

Fasting blood glucose>6.1mmol/L

Blood sugar >7.8mmol/L two hours after meal

But did not meet the diagnostic criteria for diabetes

In the past, people mostly believed that diabetes was a "patent" of the middle-aged and elderly. However, in the past 20 years, the incidence of diabetes in children under 15 years old in my country has increased nearly 4 times, including type 2 diabetes, which was originally mostly found in the middle-aged and elderly, which has gradually occurred in teenagers. The main reasons are as follows:

Lack of exercise

This generation of young people are used to playing with their mobile phones and computers for a long time, sitting still for a long time, and lack of exercise. Type 2 diabetes is usually considered a disease caused by lack of exercise, and its incidence is related to lack of exercise.

Poor diet

Nowadays, many young people do not like to eat vegetables and fruits, but prefer high-fat and high-sugar foods, which can easily lead to obesity. Obesity is also an important cause of diabetes.

Pressure is increasing

As the pace of life accelerates, many people are under great pressure at work and in school. Long-term high-pressure, high-paced life can easily lead to increased secretion of blood sugar-raising hormones in the body, thereby causing diabetes.

Lack of sleep

Young people often stay up late due to overtime work or playing with mobile phones and computers, which leads to serious lack of sleep. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can significantly reduce the body's secretion of insulin and greatly reduce insulin sensitivity, thus causing diabetes.

Scientific diet - "control your mouth"

Daily diet should be regular and quantitative. Estimate the daily energy required based on body weight, amount of exercise, etc., and then distribute this energy to three meals a day in proportion. When eating, it is recommended to drink soup first, then eat vegetarian dishes, meat dishes, and finally eat staple food. This is conducive to controlling energy intake and lowering postprandial blood sugar. Cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, stewing, and mixing are often used. Avoid heavy oil methods such as frying, deep-frying, and braising to reduce fat intake. Balanced nutrition and a combination of meat and vegetables.

Keep exercising - "move your legs"

Maintain at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, Tai Chi, cycling, swimming, etc. The intensity of exercise varies from person to person, and it is recommended to increase gradually, with the heart rate and breathing speeding up but not being hurried. It is recommended to exercise one hour after a meal, which can help control blood sugar and prevent hypoglycemia.

Source: Chongqing Fuling District Chinese Medicine Association

Audit expert: Yang Minggao

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