<p>Any disease requires lifestyle management and diabetes is no different. A good diet, weight management and exercise can go a long way in helping you prevent, treat or manage the disease.</p>.<p>The first step to take is to identify the type of diabetes that you are dealing with. Diabetes is usually seen as either Type-1 diabetes (juvenile-diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) that happens in childhood or Type-2 diabetes (adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus).</p>.<p>What is Type-1.5 diabetes?</p>.<p>Today, a new type of diabetes, i.e. latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) has also been recognised. Type-1.5 diabetes is a form of childhood diabetes that occurs in adults over 30 years of age. In this type of diabetes, the body destroys its own insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.</p>.<p>Type-1.5 diabetes was first described in 1993, to explain the slow onset Type-1 diabetes in adults. People with type 1.5 diabetes are usually non-obese, lean and even underweight while some may be overweight or mildly obese. Often people with type-1.5 diabetes may or may not have family history of the disease, but, may have a family history of other auto-immune conditions such as thyroid disease, arthritis, gluten-related disorders or celiac disease. They test positive for certain auto-antibodies that are not present in Type-2 diabetes.</p>.<p>How to treat it?</p>.<p>Treatment for Type-1.5 diabetes may involve managing diet, exercise and medication initially, but eventually insulin therapy is needed. Although Type-1.5 diabetes seems to initially respond to lifestyle and medication, it will not halt or slow the progression of beta cell destruction and subsequently, people will become insulin dependent. <br /><br />Dietary recommendations to tackle the disease include slowing its progression, managing the body weight and maintaining optimum blood sugar levels. A high fibre, low glycemic index diet with anti-inflammatory foods and nutrients is useful in controlling the disorder.</p>.<p>Over the past years, evidence has supported a protective role of certain nutrients including Vitamins D, A and C along with selenium, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics, probiotics, glutamine, and flavanols in autoimmune conditions. Recent studies also indicate that Vitamin A is a potent immuno-regulator and can be instrumental in auto-immunity and prevention of inflammation. </p>.<p>Diet therapy</p>.<p>Several studies have shown that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids, the kind of fat found in fish and flaxseeds, have a role in managing autoimmune diseases. Healthy fats such as cold-pressed oils including extra-virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, sesame and organic mustard oil, soy and soy products, spices like turmeric and ginger have also been shown to be beneficial.</p>.<p>Diets, dietary supplements, active lifestyles, yoga and meditation must become an integral part of prevention and treatment of type 1.5 diabetes.</p>.<p><em>(The author is co-founder and CEO, The weightmonitor.)</em></p>
<p>Any disease requires lifestyle management and diabetes is no different. A good diet, weight management and exercise can go a long way in helping you prevent, treat or manage the disease.</p>.<p>The first step to take is to identify the type of diabetes that you are dealing with. Diabetes is usually seen as either Type-1 diabetes (juvenile-diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) that happens in childhood or Type-2 diabetes (adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus).</p>.<p>What is Type-1.5 diabetes?</p>.<p>Today, a new type of diabetes, i.e. latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) has also been recognised. Type-1.5 diabetes is a form of childhood diabetes that occurs in adults over 30 years of age. In this type of diabetes, the body destroys its own insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.</p>.<p>Type-1.5 diabetes was first described in 1993, to explain the slow onset Type-1 diabetes in adults. People with type 1.5 diabetes are usually non-obese, lean and even underweight while some may be overweight or mildly obese. Often people with type-1.5 diabetes may or may not have family history of the disease, but, may have a family history of other auto-immune conditions such as thyroid disease, arthritis, gluten-related disorders or celiac disease. They test positive for certain auto-antibodies that are not present in Type-2 diabetes.</p>.<p>How to treat it?</p>.<p>Treatment for Type-1.5 diabetes may involve managing diet, exercise and medication initially, but eventually insulin therapy is needed. Although Type-1.5 diabetes seems to initially respond to lifestyle and medication, it will not halt or slow the progression of beta cell destruction and subsequently, people will become insulin dependent. <br /><br />Dietary recommendations to tackle the disease include slowing its progression, managing the body weight and maintaining optimum blood sugar levels. A high fibre, low glycemic index diet with anti-inflammatory foods and nutrients is useful in controlling the disorder.</p>.<p>Over the past years, evidence has supported a protective role of certain nutrients including Vitamins D, A and C along with selenium, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics, probiotics, glutamine, and flavanols in autoimmune conditions. Recent studies also indicate that Vitamin A is a potent immuno-regulator and can be instrumental in auto-immunity and prevention of inflammation. </p>.<p>Diet therapy</p>.<p>Several studies have shown that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids, the kind of fat found in fish and flaxseeds, have a role in managing autoimmune diseases. Healthy fats such as cold-pressed oils including extra-virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, sesame and organic mustard oil, soy and soy products, spices like turmeric and ginger have also been shown to be beneficial.</p>.<p>Diets, dietary supplements, active lifestyles, yoga and meditation must become an integral part of prevention and treatment of type 1.5 diabetes.</p>.<p><em>(The author is co-founder and CEO, The weightmonitor.)</em></p>
