Let’s think of the human body as a huge amusement park, with biological systems working in harmony to keep us always moving.
Among other reasons, this harmony can be disrupted by a deficiency of insulin, a hormone essential for survival. Without it, glucose accumulates in the blood and cannot enter the cells of our body to produce energy.
The reasons for this absence may vary. In some cases, antibodies are responsible – small immune system proteins that, instead of protecting us from external invaders, rebel against the body itself, attacking pancreatic cells and causing type 1 diabetes.
It is not the most common type of diabetes, but its impact is significant. It currently affects almost 9 million people worldwide, and this number is estimated to double in the next 20 years.
Read more: The incidence of type 1 diabetes among minors in Europe has risen sharply over the past 30 years.
What is the cause of this increase if, although the cause is unclear, it has already been established that it has nothing to do with an unhealthy lifestyle? Well, paradoxically, this is a positive trend: it is largely due to a decrease in premature mortality in low-income countries.
Constant movement back and forth
Daily life for people living with type 1 diabetes can feel like a constant roller coaster ride of glycemic ups and downs. Therefore, it is important to know all the factors influencing the treatment of the disease.
In a healthy pancreas, insulin release is automatically triggered in response to high blood glucose levels, keeping these levels stable even after eating a sugar-rich meal. However, in the case of type 1 diabetes, people diagnosed with this hormone must be given by injection or through a continuous infusion system, which requires precise calculation of the required dose.
This calculation depends on many factors, and some of them, especially diet, can be complex. In particular, carbohydrates have a significant effect on glucose levels; That’s why it’s important to have accurate methods for measuring them, whether it’s reading nutrition labels, weighing foods, or quantifying them by volume.
There are other factors that also affect glucose levels, such as the order of meals, the foods they are paired with, or the glycemic index of a food, which determines how quickly a food raises glucose levels.
This index can be reduced by the amount of fiber present in the food, retrogradation (a method that creates resistant starch by cooling food) and gelatinization (which occurs when food is not digested so the starch is not lost). its structure). For example, eating a salad before a bowl of brown rice, cooked the day before and al dente, slows down the absorption of glucose.
Not only that, but proteins and fats also increase glucose levels, although to a lesser extent and late, usually 3-6 hours after consumption. However, there are still no clear recommendations on how to account for these nutrients for a person with diabetes.
unexpected turns
Contrary to what many people think, controlling diabetes is not limited to diet and insulin before every meal.
For example, what happens when a person with diabetes engages in physical activity? Depends. When exercise is performed at moderate intensity over a long period of time (such as running, swimming, or cycling), blood glucose levels decrease. On the other hand, at high intensity and for short periods of time (such as lifting weights or sprinting), glucose levels increase.
In addition, hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which are released in stressful situations and provide extra energy to the muscles and brain to keep them alert and ready to act, also generate unexpected spikes in glucose.
Taking the reins
Considering all these aspects, people with type 1 diabetes have to make many decisions about managing their disease in their daily lives.
Like cars going up and down, the body experiences moments of hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) and hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels). These are sudden changes that can affect the body and cause long-term complications such as problems with the eyes, kidneys or circulation.
The good news is that the incidence of these effects has decreased due to improved care and treatment, risk factor management, and social, family, and professional support. In fact, the increase in survival after diagnosis of this disease represents one of the most important advances in clinical practice and public health in recent decades.
In this context, providing quality diabetes education is key for people with diabetes to achieve a fulfilling life. With a proper understanding of how your body works, it becomes easier to control your glycemic levels even during the most difficult times.
In short, it’s about turning the exhilarating roller coaster ride into a relaxing ride, leaving the thrills to the fairground rides.