specialising in wheat, gluten, sugar and lactose free products

Trading Hours

New hours will be available once we have completed the move

Contact Details

Fax:
086 689 0012

email:
stricke@icon.co.za

web:
www.o-crumbs.com

Cnr A.G. de Witt & Main Road, Fishershill

There are two types of Diabetes

TYPE 1 DIABETES
In type 1 diabetes the pancreas is no longer able to produce the hormone insulin. Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas; it is secreted in response to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood and is vital in controlling blood glucose levels. A person with diabetes cannot control their blood glucose and they become hyperglycaemic meaning that they have abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. A person diagnosed with this type of diabetes becomes insulin-dependent and has to inject him or herself with insulin.

Finding out that you have diabetes is scary, but don’t panic. Type 1 diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.

CONDITIONS & TREATMENT:
Arm yourself with information about conditions associated with type 1 diabetes and how to prevent them. Conditions associated with type 1 diabetes include hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis and celiac disease. You will also find helpful information about insulin, choosing blood glucose meters, various diagnostic tests including the A1c test, managing and checking your blood glucose, kidney and islet tranplantations, and tips on what to expect from your health care provider.

COMPLICATIONS:
Having type 1 diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications. Some complications of type 1 diabetes include : heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). Learn more about these complications and how to cope with them.

YOUR BODY’S WELL BEING:
Make it a priority to take good care of your body. The time you spend now on eye care, foot care and skin care, as well as your heart health and oral health, could delay or prevent the onset of dangerous type 1 diabetes complications later in life. Plus, some of the best things you can do for your body is to stop smoking and reduce the amount of alcohol you drink and follow a low GI diet as referred to above.

TYPE 2 DIABETES:
Type 2 diabetes is the most common of diabetes. It is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism in which the body effectively becomes resistant to the hormone insulin. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. Initially, the person with this disorder has impaired tolerance to glucose. This develops into high blood glucose levels after eating and eventually high blood glucose levels even when fasting.

When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:

Right away your cells may be starved for energy.
Over time high blood glucose levels may harm your eyes, kidney, nerves or heart and it is also advisable to follow a low GI diet.

However, some people with type 2 diabetes remain relatively sensitive to insulin, while others have little or no insulin sensitivity. This difference affects treatment of the disease. In general, those type 2 diabetics who are not obese retain some sensitivity to insulin.

There is also a third type, namely gestational diabetes, which sometimes affects pregnant women, especially if they have experienced significant weight gain. These symptoms often recede after the birth of the baby, but gestational diabetes is a warning that type 2 diabetes could very well develop later. Women who have had gestational diabetes need to pay very careful attention to their diets and exercise routine in order to avoid diabetes later in life.