Disturbing facts about Diabetes
One of the common diseases known to man is Diabetes. A very common disease, yet, not all of us understands what it really is. Basically, diabetes is a disorder in a person’s metabolism.
When a person eats, the body digests the food and is broken down into a form of blood sugar. The blood sugar known as glucose acts as the body fuel. It serves as the source of energy needed by the body to function completely. But for the glucose to be used, they need to enter the body cells first. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas helps the glucose to get into the cells. That is where the problem comes in. People with diabetes either produce little or no insulin at all. In some cases, even if there is insulin present in the system, the cells aren’t able to use them properly. The blood sugar then coagulates in the bloodstream and becomes an element of the urine. As a result, the person loses his main source of energy.
Among the three, Type 2 is the most common. According to statistics, more than 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. This case is usually found in older ages and those who have a history of diabetes in their family. At first, certain amounts of insulin are produced but are ineffective. As years pass the amount of insulin generated by the pancreas decreases which makes Type 2 diabetes develop into Type 1. Type 2 diabetics may experience some of the peculiar symptoms like fatigue, frequent urination, regular thirst and hunger, weight loss, slow healing of wounds and blurred vision.
Type 1 is the insulin-dependent case of diabetes. A person diagnosed with Type 1 has an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks its own insulin-producing cells. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 mostly develops in younger age groups. Symptoms from Type 2 can also be observed in type 1 diabetics. Patients need a daily intake of insulin otherwise they can fall into a condition known as ketoacidosis, a serious diabetic coma.
Another kind is the gestational diabetes which is often developed by women in their late pregnancy. It can be caused by some hormones during pregnancy leading to a shortage of insulin. This sickness however may disappear after the baby is born but there are instances where women who have had gestational diabetes acquire Type 2 diabetes after 5 to 10 years.
Diabetes, if left untreated may lead to other kinds of disabilities like blindness and amputation. Heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure and permanent nerve damage may also arise.
A person can not catch diabetes from another diabetic because it is not contagious. Individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet are the ones likely to have this disease. It can be acquired hereditarily. Several studies also suggest that there is a link between hypertension and diabetes.
At present time, diabetics can carry out diabetic diets and exercises to prevent the elevation of their blood sugar. A procedure called Islet cell transplantation is also an option for Type 1 diabetics to obtain healthy insulin-producing beta cells however a lot of factors need to be considered before doctors can perform this kind of operation.
One of the common diseases known to man is Diabetes. A very common disease, yet, not all of us understands what it really is. Basically, diabetes is a disorder in a person’s metabolism.
When a person eats, the body digests the food and is broken down into a form of blood sugar. The blood sugar known as glucose acts as the body fuel. It serves as the source of energy needed by the body to function completely. But for the glucose to be used, they need to enter the body cells first. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas helps the glucose to get into the cells. That is where the problem comes in. People with diabetes either produce little or no insulin at all. In some cases, even if there is insulin present in the system, the cells aren’t able to use them properly. The blood sugar then coagulates in the bloodstream and becomes an element of the urine. As a result, the person loses his main source of energy.
Among the three, Type 2 is the most common. According to statistics, more than 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. This case is usually found in older ages and those who have a history of diabetes in their family. At first, certain amounts of insulin are produced but are ineffective. As years pass the amount of insulin generated by the pancreas decreases which makes Type 2 diabetes develop into Type 1. Type 2 diabetics may experience some of the peculiar symptoms like fatigue, frequent urination, regular thirst and hunger, weight loss, slow healing of wounds and blurred vision.
Type 1 is the insulin-dependent case of diabetes. A person diagnosed with Type 1 has an autoimmune condition which means that the body’s immune system attacks its own insulin-producing cells. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 mostly develops in younger age groups. Symptoms from Type 2 can also be observed in type 1 diabetics. Patients need a daily intake of insulin otherwise they can fall into a condition known as ketoacidosis, a serious diabetic coma.
Another kind is the gestational diabetes which is often developed by women in their late pregnancy. It can be caused by some hormones during pregnancy leading to a shortage of insulin. This sickness however may disappear after the baby is born but there are instances where women who have had gestational diabetes acquire Type 2 diabetes after 5 to 10 years.
Diabetes, if left untreated may lead to other kinds of disabilities like blindness and amputation. Heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure and permanent nerve damage may also arise.
A person can not catch diabetes from another diabetic because it is not contagious. Individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet are the ones likely to have this disease. It can be acquired hereditarily. Several studies also suggest that there is a link between hypertension and diabetes.
At present time, diabetics can carry out diabetic diets and exercises to prevent the elevation of their blood sugar. A procedure called Islet cell transplantation is also an option for Type 1 diabetics to obtain healthy insulin-producing beta cells however a lot of factors need to be considered before doctors can perform this kind of operation.
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