WHAT IS DIABETES?

 WHAT IS DIABETES? 

Diabetes is a lifelong condition in which there is a rise in blood sugar level or it becomes too high.

It is the condition in which food is not properly processed by the  body for use as energy. Our body uses energy from the food we eat when it converted into glucose or sugar. In our body there lies an organ near the stomach called Pancreas, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. If your body does not make enough  insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes a rise in sugar level by building up sugar in your blood and this refers to diabetes or a layman called as sugar.                                                                                                                                                           

Diabetes can cause serious health complications like heart diseases, kidney failure, blindness, lower extremity amputations, weight loss, loss of muscle bulk.

                    Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the united states. 

Pre-diabetes 

Many more people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is called as pre-diabetes. 

If someone has high blood sugar level means pre-diabetes, then the risk of developing full blown diabetes increases.

It's very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible, it will be life threatening it left untreated.

When to see a Doctor? 

 Following are the main symptoms of diabetes, if someone feels these then visit to your doctor.

• feeling very thirsty
• weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
• cuts or wound that heals slowly
• feeling very tired
• frequent urination, particularly at night 
• itching around the penis and vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
• blurred vision
• excessive hunger 

Types of diabetes 

The most common types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes, also called as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) 
• Type 2 diabetes, also called as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)
• Gestational diabetes 

TYPE 1 DIABETES 

About 10% of all people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

 

Diabetes that can develop at any age, but most frequently  occurs in children and adolescents. In this insulin producing cells are destroyed and there is no production of insulin, thus is required from outside of the body in the form of insulin injections to maintain blood glucose level. People with diabetes mellitus type 1, if don't have access to insulin, they will die. 

The exact causes of this disease are yet unknown, but are linked to a combination of genetic and environmental conditions.

Symptoms of diabetes 1

• Abnormal thirst and dry mouth
• Sudden weight loss
• Frequent urination 
• Lack of energy and tiredness
• Constant hunger
• Blurred vision 
• Bedwetting

It is difficult to diagnose type 1 diabetes so additional test may be required to confirm.

Management of type 1 diabetes

People with diabetes type 1 require daily insulin treatment.

INSULIN 

All people with type 1 diabetes need insulin daily to maintain blood glucose level. There are different types of insulin depending on how they quickly work and how long they last. 

Types of Insulin 

• Rapid Acting

                                    It is usually taken just before or with a meal. These types of insulin act very fast and limit the rise in blood sugar, which follows eating. It is also necessary to avoid overdose to minimize Hypoglycemia. Rapid acting insulin include Asparat, Lispro, Glulisine.

• Short Acting

                                    It is usually taken before meal. These are also called regular or neutral insulin. These do not act as quickly as rapid acting insulins. Short acting insulin include Actrapid, Humulin R, Insuman rapid. 

• Intermediate Acting

                                   These are the insulins which are usually taken with short-acting insulin. It starts to act within the first hour of injecting, followed by a period of peak activity lasting up to 7 hours. These include Humulin NPH, Protaphane, Insulatrad. 

• Long Acting 

These are the insulins that are steadily released and can last in the body for about 24 hours. They are commonly taken in the morning or in the evening. These include Detemir, Glargine. 

Type 2 diabetes

It is the most common type of diabetes which accounts almost 90% of all diabetes cases.

It is insulin independent or insulin resistance, where the body does not fully respond to insulin. Because insulin does not work properly as blood sugar level keep rising and releasing more insulin. For some people with type 2 diabetes this can  eventually exhaust the pancreas, resulting in the body producing of less and less insulin causing even higher blood sugar level condition called hyperglycemia. 

It is most commonly diagnosed in older adults. But due to some factors like rising obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet, it is increasingly seen in children, adolescents and younger adults.

Risk factors 

There are several factors associated with type 2 diabetes and includes: 

• Family history of diabetes
• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity
• Overweight or obesity 
• Increasing age 
• High blood pressure 
• Ethnicity
• Impaired glucose tolerance 
• Poor nutrition during pregnancy 
• History of gestational diabetes

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes 

Symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar: 

• Frequent urination 
• Polydypsia
• Polyfagia 
• Tiredness and lack of energy 
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Slow healing wounds

These symptoms may be mild or absent so people with type 2 diabetes can survive several years with the condition diagnosed.

Management of diabetes type 2 

Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by healthy lifestyle and healthy diet, daily physical activities  and exercise, avoid smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight.