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What is diabetes?
What is diabetes? Diabetes is a life-long disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood. People with diabetes have high blood glucose (sugar) because their pancreas does not make enough insulin, or because their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally. Some people with diabetes experience both of these problems. Insulin The role of insulin is to transport glucose from the bloodstream to the muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it is used as fuel. When there is not enough insulin or the insulin is not functioning properly, these muscle, fat, and liver cells are not getting the fuel they need. Insulin is made in the pancreas. People with Type 2 Diabetes have to take their insulin through injections. There is no pill, because if you ingested insulin, it would be broken down like any protein. Signs and Symptoms High levels of glucose in the blood cause several problems. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is possible that you have one of the three types of diabetes, which will be explained later. Increased thirst Increased urination Weight loss despite increased appetite Fatigue Nausea Vomiting Blurry vision Slow-healing infections Impotence in men In some cases, symptoms will not appear at all because the disease develops so slowly. Therefore, if you have a history of diabetes in the family, you should consult a doctor even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia Part of living with diabetes is learning how to deal with the problems that come with the disease. Since the insulin is not functioning properly in your body, often a problem that results is abnormal levels of sugar. When the blood sugar level is too low, it is called hypoglycemia. When it is too high, it is called hyperglycemia. You always need to remain vigilant of your blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels are too low, the quickest way to treat it is by having five or six pieces of hard candy or a glass of juice. When your blood sugar levels are too high, exercise can often bring them down. Ketones Ketones are acids that build up in the blood. They are produced by the breakdown of fat and muscle, and they are toxic at high levels. People with diabetes are at risk of having high levels of ketones. Ketones in the blood cause a condition called "acidosis" (low blood pH). Urine testing detects both glucose and ketones in the urine. |
Re: What is diabetes?
What causes diabetes? There is not a single known cause of diabetes. However, studies have suggested that genetics plays a role. Also, environmental factors like obesity and lack of exercise seem to play a part in the development of diabetes. Some of the specific risk factors for developing diabetes include: A parent or sibling with diabetes Obesity Age greater than 45 years Some ethnic groups (particularly African-Americans and Hispanic Americans) Gestational diabetes or delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds high blood pressure High blood levels of triglycerides (a type of fat molecule) High blood cholesterol level There are ways to prevent the development of certain types of diabetes. Before people develop Type 2 Diabetes, they almost always develop "pre-diabetes". At this point, blood-glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough that the person is considered diabetic. If you take control when you are still in the pre-diabetes stage, you can prevent Type 2 Diabetes from ever developing. Lifestyle modification is the best method to prevent diabetes. This includes: Talking to a nutritionist about modifying your diet with a goal of reducing body weight by between 5 and 7%. Implementing a regular exercise plan of about 150 minutes of exercise per week. |
Re: What is diabetes?
What are the different types of diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. The body makes little or no insulin, and the patient requires daily injections of insulin to survive. If this form of diabetes is not managed carefully and on a daily basis, it can be fatal. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1. 90% or more diabetes cases are Type 2. The onset usually occurs in adulthood. In Type 2, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to the insulin. Glucose will remain in the blood instead of going into the cells. This means the cells may be starving for energy High blood glucose levels can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, but it is a serious condition that needs to be treated. The increasing levels of obesity and the lack of exercise in America, as well as the growing number of older people, have all contributed to rising instances of Type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a person who does not have diabetes. Women who get gestational diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes later in life. Pre-Diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes. |
Re: What is diabetes?
Diabetes and Women: The Statistics Almost 21 million Americans suffer from some form of diabetes, including 9.7 million women. One-third of people with diabetes do not know they have it. Pregnancy brings about the risk of gestational diabetes, which only occurs during pregnancy. 2-5% of pregnancies cause gestational diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes is 2-4 times as high among African America, Latina, American Indian, and Asian women than among white women. The risk of diabetes increases with age. Because of the aging population of women in the US, as well as the increasing percentage of minority women, the rates of diabetes among women is rising. |
Re: What is diabetes?
How does diabetes affect women differently? Because of the hormonal fluctuations that are unique to women, there are many ways in which your diabetes may affect you that are different from how it would affect men. Yeast infections Because of the unbalanced blood sugar levels in the blood, women are more likely to develop yeast infections. Sugar is a trigger for yeast growth. Birth Control Birth control pills may raise your blood glucose levels. Using them for longer than a year or 2 may also increase your risk of complications with diabetes or diabetic-related problems. For example, if you develop high blood pressure while on the pill, you increase the chance that eye or kidney disease will worsen. Pregnancy Pregnancy presents the risk of developing gestational diabetes. However, healthcare providers no longer discourage women with diabetes or women at risk for developing diabetes from becoming pregnant. There are serious risks to both mother and child, though, if the diabetes is not controlled before and during the pregnancy: Mismanaged diabetes before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5% to 10% of pregnancies and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies. Mismanaged diabetes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result in excessively large babies, which presents a risk to both mother and child. The most important thing for pregnant women with diabetes is making sure blood glucose levels remain in the target range. This means developing a treatment plan with your doctor that keeps meals, exercise, and insulin in balance. The plan needs to change as your pregnancy develops and your hormone levels change. You will need to check levels often (as much as 8 times a day) and keep a record of the results. Motherhood Unless otherwise advised by your physician, women with diabetes can still breastfeed their babies. While your child is more likely to eventually develop diabetes if it runs in the family, this is not a result of breast-feeding. Menopause The fluctuations in hormonal levels and balance that occur during menopause may lead to abnormal blood glucose levels. Women with diabetes are also at risk of early onset of menopause, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Osteoporosis This condition, through which your bones become brittle, is a major health problem for aging women. This disease affects one in three women after menopause. Studies have found that women who suffer from Type 1 diabetes are slightly more likely to get osteoporosis. This may explain the higher incidence of fractured and broken hips among post-menopausal women with Type 1 diabetes. Women with Type 1 diabetes should be exceptionally careful to reduce their risk of osteoporosis. You can do this in a number of ways. Ensure that your diet has sufficient calcium by eating foods like yogurt, cheese, and milk. Tinned fish with bones, tofu, and leafy greens also contain a high dose of calcium. Take regular weight-bearing exercise at least three times a week. Walking, dancing, weight-training, and running are all examples of weight-bearing exercise. Do not smoke. Smoking can bring on premature menopause, and smoking lowers your bone-mineral density. Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol. |
Re: What is diabetes?
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Re: What is diabetes?
zaberdast information .
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Re: What is diabetes?
nice sharing ..
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Re: What is diabetes?
thanks alll
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Re: What is diabetes?
nice sharing
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