Controlling Blood Sugar Levels ~ The Important Role of Water

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Controlling Blood Sugar Levels

The Underestimated Role of Water in Diabetes Management

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Diabetes, which is a group of metabolic disorders, is characterized by higher than normal blood sugar levels in the body.
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This condition may arise because of two reasons – insufficient production of insulin in the body or no response of body’s cells to the insulin being produced.
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Thousands of people around the world are diagnosed with diabetes each year and there are millions of people who already have this condition. Diabetes can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of an individual and uncontrolled manage can actually severely impact the quality of life of an individual.
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According to a recent study, the rate of diabetes (primarily, type 2 diabetes) has nearly doubled in the last three decades.
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But the fact that is most worrying, according to healthcare professionals around the world, is that the rate of incidence has increased the most among young adults, those aged between 18 and 34. This is primarily due to the rising rate of obesity among young adults. Obesity is one of the major factors that put people at an increased risk of diabetes.
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But did you know that diabetes and obesity can actually be managed by increasing the consumption of just one simple ingredient in our daily lives? It is none other than water. Yes, you read it right.
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It is a known fact that 70 percent of the human body is made up of water. Water controls almost every biological process in the body, including digestion and metabolism, excretion, the formation of muscles and amino acids, and fat burn. It provides a medium for hundreds of reactions that take place in the human body.
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Staying hydrated status also help keep your stress levels down. During stressful times, you’re more likely to forget to drink and eat well. Just getting enough fluids helps to keep you at your best.
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The role of water in the prevention of specific diseases is well-established. A lack of water can set the stage for degenerative illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
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Apart from disease management, water also helps maintain a healthy and glowing skin. In the absence of adequate water intake, the skin dries out fast and starts losing its elasticity. As a result, the skin of the dehydrated individual gets affected by the visible signs of aging.
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Apart from visible changes, there are a lot of other things taking place inside the body of the dehydrated individual. These things are not visible but may manifest itself in the form of certain symptoms. For example, excessive fatigue, afternoon slump, and muscular pain in the legs are a few signs of dehydration.
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However, this is not it. Chronic metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes may also result from inadequate water consumption. The following sections delve deep into the topic.
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How Exactly Does Dehydration Trigger Diabetes?
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Consider this simple example – you take a glass of water and dissolve sugar in It. Now you let this water evaporate on a sunny day. As the water evaporates, the remaining solution in the glass just keeps getting sweeter. This is exactly what happens inside your body as you dehydrate yourself by not drinking enough water.
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In the absence of sufficient water, the concentration of sugar in your blood just keeps on increasing. This is the condition of diabetes. Sufficient amount of water is, therefore, needed to dilute the levels of sugar in the blood and keep it from manifesting itself as diabetes.
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This works in the opposite direction as well. High blood sugar levels in the body heighten an individual’s risk of suffering from dehydration. In the absence of adequate water levels in the body, glucose is not eliminated from the body through urine. This may lead to further dehydration.
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Dehydration also triggers the production of a hormone called vasopressin. This hormone directs the kidneys to prevent the elimination of the remaining water.
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Additionally, it tells the liver to release glucose into the body. Since water is required to eliminate glucose from the bloodstream, the absence of it prevents the kidneys from forming urine and thus, glucose continues to build up in the blood stream as long as excessive vasopressin is in the system.
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Lastly, increasing the concentration of glucose in the blood makes it thick. Sticky and thick blood increases insulin resistance in the body. That is, the cells in the body tend to lose their sensitivity and therefore, respond less to the insulin being produced by the pancreas. This can worsen diabetes.
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Drinking sufficient amounts of water can make it easier for glucose to move through the bloodstream and prevent insulin resistance.
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Scientific Evidence Supporting The Role of Water in Diabetes Management

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A study conducted by a team of French researchers back in 2011 confirmed that drinking four or more glasses (8-ounces) of water every day can prevent diabetes.
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The study, which included 3,615 men and women, found that people who drank more than 34 ounces of water in a day were 21 percent less likely to develop diabetes as compared to those who drank 16 ounces or less.
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Several similar studies have correlated not drinking enough water to an increased risk of diabetes. Additionally, there are studies confirming that not drinking enough water can actually lead to overeating and weight gain. This may, in turn, lead to obesity, which is one of the leading risk factors for diabetes.
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Dehydration can slow down mechanism, increase fatigue, and prevent the proper breakdown of fats for energy needs. As a result, fat starts to accumulate in body areas such as the lower abdomen, thighs, and upper arms. High abdominal fat and greater abdominal circumference are, again, increase the risk of diabetes in an individual.
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