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Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus, often simply referred to as Diabetes which is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells are not responsive to the insulin that is produced. In the other words, Diabetes Mellitus is a disease where the level of glucose in the blood is higher than its normal condition due to the lack of insulin hormones in the blood or the existing of insulin hormones in the body is malfunction. Normal level of blood glucose is in between 4.4 to 8.0
mmol / L. One is considered as a diabetic if the level of blood glucose is higher than 8.0 mmol /

L. When foods with carbohydrates are eaten and digested, they turn into blood sugar, also called blood glucose. If diabetics eat too much, their blood sugar can go too high and cause a serious problem. Nevertheless, not taking the right amount of diabetes medicine can also cause blood sugar to rise too high or drop too low. People with blood sugar levels that are constantly too high can get heart, eye, foot, kidney, or other problems. Problems can also occur when blood sugar levels drop too low. To prevent or slow down diabetes problems, it is necessary to keep blood sugar at a healthy level.

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Findings
Diabetes mellitus can be divided into two major types which are Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels and can occur at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents or young adults. Insulin is a hormone produced by special cells, called beta cells, in the pancreas. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. In type 1 diabetes, these cells produce little or no insulin. Type 1 Diabetes is insulin dependent and a diabetic with this type of diabetes have to be supplied with insulin every day. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy. This leads to the symptoms of type 1 diabetes which are feeling tired or fatigued, feeling hungry, being very thirsty, urinate more often, losing weight without trying, having blurry eyesight or feeling tingling in your feet. Type 1 Diabetic is treated with daily insulin injections, regular exercise, and a balanced meal plan. The daily meal plan is tailored to an individual s needs. It is likely to include three meals and two or three snacks eaten at set times each day. Patients with Type 1 Diabetes should have a diet that has approximately 35 calories per kg of body weight per day (or 16 calories per pound of body weight per day).

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Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. Type 2 diabetes develops when body does not respond correctly to insulin (a hormone released by the pancreas). The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 Diabetes. This type of diabetes is also known as non insulin-dependent. Being overweight, especially when paired with abdominal obesity, increases the chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Besides family history, low activity level and poor diet, can also significantly increase the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes. The symptoms are blurred vision, slow-healing of wounds and infections, increased thirst and increased urination. Currently there is no way to prevent Type 1 Diabetes. Nevertheless, people with Type 1 Diabetes can help prevent or delay the development of complications by keeping their blood sugar in a target range. They also need regular medical checkups to detect early signs of complications. If complications are treated early, the damage may be stopped, slowed, or possibly reversed. People who have other health problems along with diabetes, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, need to treat those conditions. Also, not smoking can reduce the risk of complications. Having other health problems can increase the risk for complications from diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes which is the common form of diabetes can be prevented by having a healthy lifestyle. Even small changes can make a difference, and it is never too late to start making healthier choices. Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and try to get ideal body mass for the Body Mass Index (BMI). If you need to lose weight, losing as few as 10lb to 20lb can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes can also be prevented by doing exercise regularly especially doing activities that can raise heart
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rate. Try to do moderate activity at least 2 hours a week. Or try to do vigorous activity at least 1 hours a week. It is advised for a diabetic to eat healthy foods. Either Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes, the goals is to keep the blood glucose level of a diabetic as near as possible to that person without diabetes. Table below is desirable blood sugar level for a diabetic: Time of Test Before meals Before bedtimes Person with Diabetes Less than 115 mg/dl Less than 120 mg/dl Person without Diabetes 80 to 120 mg/dl 100 to 140 mg/dl

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How to take care of diabetes and manage the blood sugar level? Carbohydrates can be taken by a diabetic but in a proper portion. Eating too much or too little can bring consequences to a diabetic. It is recommended for a diabetic to take daily food portion which is 50% to 60% for carbohydrates while 12% to 20% for proteins. People with diabetese can also plan their meals by using the Create Your Plate method. This is a simple method for a diabetic to plan their meals. These are the steps for the Create Your Plate method: Using a dinner plate, put a line down the middle of the plate. 1. Then on one side, cut it again so you will have 3 sections on your plate. 2. Fill the largest section with non-starchy vegetables such as: a. spinach, carrots, lettuce, greens, cabbage b. green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes c. vegetable juice, salsa, onion, cucumber, beets, okra d. mushrooms, peppers, turnip 3. Now in one of the small sections, put starchy foods such as: a. whole grain breads, such as whole wheat or rye b. whole grain, high-fiber cereal c. cooked cereal such as oatmeal, grits, hominy, or cream of wheat d. rice, pasta, dal, tortillas e. cooked beans and peas, such as pinto beans or black-eyed peas f. potatoes, green peas, corn, lima beans, sweet potatoes, winter squash

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g. low-fat crackers and snack chips, pretzels, and fat-free popcorn 4. And then on the other small section, put your meat or meat substitutes such as: a. chicken or turkey without the skin b. fish such as tuna, salmon, cod, or catfish c. other seafood such as shrimp, clams, oysters, crab, or mussels d. lean cuts of beef and pork such as sirloin or pork loin e. tofu, eggs, low-fat cheese 5. Add an 8 oz glass of non-fat or low-fat milk. If you don t drink milk, you can add another small serving of carbohydrates such as a 6 oz. container of light yogurt or a small roll. a. And a piece of fruit or a 1/2 cup fruit salad and you have your meal planned. Examples are fresh, frozen, or canned in juice or frozen in light syrup or freshfruit.

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How can the burden of diabetes be prevented? Diabetes can be prevented by having a simple lifestyle. Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes. To help prevent diabetes and its complications, people should: achieve and maintain healthy body weight; be physically active at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. More activity is required for weight control; eat a healthy diet of between three and five servings of fruit and vegetables a day and reduce sugar and saturated fats intake; avoid tobacco use smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

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Conclusion
The goal of diabetics is to keep their blood glucose level as near as possible to that normal person. It is important for people with diabetese to take care of their meals and proper portion of the foods that should be taken. A diabetic does not have to be worried of eating carbohydrates as carbohydrates is also needed but in a small portion. Besides, having a healthy lifestyle is also important which can prevent the diabetes to be more harming. In a nutshell, people with diabetes should be more careful of what they eat and plan how they manage their diabetes.

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Sources and references:

 Diabetes mellitus Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus  World Health Organization http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/index.html  Diabetic Diet Guidelines
http://azzahrah.my/en/images/downloads/Panduan_Pemakanan_Diabetes.pdf

 University of Iowa Health Care http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/nutrition/nutr3306.html  American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planningmeals/create-your-plate/

 MedicineNet http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_mellitus/article.htm

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