Author: Get Nutri
Diabetes affects an estimated 18.2 million Americans, and the number rises each year. Diabetes is a chronic disorder, it means your blood glucose (often called blood sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood isn't good for your health. One way it occurs is when the pancreas does not secrete enough of the hormone insulin.
There are three major types of diabetes:
1. Type 1 diabetes (Insulin-dependent diabetes): It is an auto-immune disease where the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, accounts for 10-15% of all people with the disease. It can appear at any age, although commonly under 40, and is triggered by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or chemicals in people genetically predisposed. To live, people with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times a day and follow a careful diet and exercise plan.
2. Type 2 diabetes (Non-Insulin dependent diabetes): It is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with the disease. This type of diabetes, also known as late-onset diabetes, is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. The disease is strongly genetic in origin but lifestyle factors such as excess weight, inactivity, high blood pressure and poor diet are major risk factors for its development. Symptoms may not show for many years and, by the time they appear, significant problems may have developed. People with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes may be treated by dietary changes, exercise and/or tablets. Insulin injections may later be required.
3. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): GDM, or carbohydrate intolerance, is first diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test. Between 5.5 and 8.8% of pregnant women develop GDM in Australia. Risk factors for GDM include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a community or ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal after the birth, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life. Self-care and dietary changes are essential in treatment.
Why do we get high blood glucose?
Glucose comes from the food eaten and is also made in the liver and muscles. Blood carries the glucose to all the cells in your body. Insulin is a chemical (a hormone) made by the pancreas. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the glucose from food get into your cells. If the body doesn't make enough insulin, or if the insulin doesn't work the way it should, glucose can't get into your cells. It stays in the blood instead and the blood glucose level then gets too high, causing pre-diabetes or diabetes.
What is pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke. The good news is, if any have pre-diabetes, they can reduce the risk of getting diabetes. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, people can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes and even return to normal glucose levels.
Symptoms
You probably knew something was wrong before your doctor told you that you had diabetes, you may have:
Excessive thirst and appetite
Increased urination (sometimes as often as every hour)
Fatigue
Weight loss
Blurred vision
Nausea, perhaps vomiting
In women, frequent vaginal infections
In men, impotence
In men and women, yeast infection
If you have type 1 diabetes, be especially alert for the warning signs of ketoacidosis: nausea, excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme weakness, abdominal pain and rapid deep breathing. Failure to respond immediately with injections of insulin and intravenous salt solutions (to replenish lost body fluids) can result in coma or death. Following list the symptoms that tell you more specifically that you blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia):
Shakiness
Dizziness
Sweating
Hunger
Headache
Pale skin color
Sudden moodiness or behavior changes, such as crying for no apparent reason
Clumsy or jerky movements
Difficulty paying attention, or confusion
Tingling sensations around the mouth
Self Care Tips
Physical activity helps to burn calories, lower blood glucose levels, build muscle mass and improve body image. Additionally, it improves overall health and well-being.
Stretch daily.
Park farther away and walk to destination.
Take the stairs rather than the elevator.
Engage in regular aerobic exercise (with approval from your doctor).
For more health articles kindly visit our website: http://www.getnutri.com/articles
Monday, July 30, 2007
Diabetes Facts
Author: Michael Colucci
Diabetes is a medical condition in which patients will suffer from high levels of blood sugar. Because of this, they will not secrete the correct amount of the hormone insulin. There are three forms of diabetes, and these are gestational diabetes, type 1, and type 2. About 10% of all cases are Type 1, while 90% of cases are type 2. In type 1 diabetes, the islets of Langerhans will be destroyed, and this will stop the body from producing the necessary amount of insulin. Type 1 can only be treated by injecting insulin directly into the body. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the cells in the body becoming less sensitive to insulin.
Gestational diabetes may occur in women who are pregnant. It functions in a manner that is similar to Type 2, and a large percentage of women who get it will also develop type 2 diabetes. Insulin was first discovered in 1921, and has allowed doctors to treat the disease. It is a chronic ailment, and it has a number of complications over a long period of time. Patients who have diabetes are also at risk for renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and nerve damage. Many of these problems are rare in people who have blood sugar levels that are balanced.
Insulin is the main hormone that is responsible for the maintenance of glucose. When there is not a sufficient amount of insulin in the body, diabetes will often develop. When carbohydrates are introduced into the body, they will often be transformed into glucose, and this is the primary carbohydrate in the blood. Insulin is important because it will allow the various cells in the body to use glucose as a form of fuel or storage. In addition to this, glucose is responsible for transforming glucose into glycogen. Once the insulin levels begin to drop, glycogen will begin transforming back into glucose.
Many doctors work hard to educate patients on the different things they can do to keep their blood sugar levels balanced. Patients need to avoid smoking, high levels of cholesterol, and obesity. These are things that can make diabetes worse. Diabetes is a condition that was first observed thousands of years ago. However, effective treatments for the condition were first created in the 20th century. It was discovered that the pancrease plays an important role in the development of this condition. It was Grant Banting and Charles Herbert Best who first demonstrated that this disease could be treated by using insulin, and Grant Banting would go on to receive the Nobel Prize for this achievement.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes appear to be partly hereditary, but most people get this disease as a result of environmental issues. Type 2 has a much stronger genetic link, and people who have relatives with type 2 diabetes are likely to develop it themselves. There are a number of symptoms that are involved with this condition. Patients will often urinate frequently and have increased amounts of thirst. Their vision may also become blurred as well. Diabetes is a chronic ailment which requires both short and long term care. Patients must learn how to keep their blood sugar levels balanced.
Michael Colucci is a writer for Diabetes which is part of the Knowledge Search network
Diabetes is a medical condition in which patients will suffer from high levels of blood sugar. Because of this, they will not secrete the correct amount of the hormone insulin. There are three forms of diabetes, and these are gestational diabetes, type 1, and type 2. About 10% of all cases are Type 1, while 90% of cases are type 2. In type 1 diabetes, the islets of Langerhans will be destroyed, and this will stop the body from producing the necessary amount of insulin. Type 1 can only be treated by injecting insulin directly into the body. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the cells in the body becoming less sensitive to insulin.
Gestational diabetes may occur in women who are pregnant. It functions in a manner that is similar to Type 2, and a large percentage of women who get it will also develop type 2 diabetes. Insulin was first discovered in 1921, and has allowed doctors to treat the disease. It is a chronic ailment, and it has a number of complications over a long period of time. Patients who have diabetes are also at risk for renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and nerve damage. Many of these problems are rare in people who have blood sugar levels that are balanced.
Insulin is the main hormone that is responsible for the maintenance of glucose. When there is not a sufficient amount of insulin in the body, diabetes will often develop. When carbohydrates are introduced into the body, they will often be transformed into glucose, and this is the primary carbohydrate in the blood. Insulin is important because it will allow the various cells in the body to use glucose as a form of fuel or storage. In addition to this, glucose is responsible for transforming glucose into glycogen. Once the insulin levels begin to drop, glycogen will begin transforming back into glucose.
Many doctors work hard to educate patients on the different things they can do to keep their blood sugar levels balanced. Patients need to avoid smoking, high levels of cholesterol, and obesity. These are things that can make diabetes worse. Diabetes is a condition that was first observed thousands of years ago. However, effective treatments for the condition were first created in the 20th century. It was discovered that the pancrease plays an important role in the development of this condition. It was Grant Banting and Charles Herbert Best who first demonstrated that this disease could be treated by using insulin, and Grant Banting would go on to receive the Nobel Prize for this achievement.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes appear to be partly hereditary, but most people get this disease as a result of environmental issues. Type 2 has a much stronger genetic link, and people who have relatives with type 2 diabetes are likely to develop it themselves. There are a number of symptoms that are involved with this condition. Patients will often urinate frequently and have increased amounts of thirst. Their vision may also become blurred as well. Diabetes is a chronic ailment which requires both short and long term care. Patients must learn how to keep their blood sugar levels balanced.
Michael Colucci is a writer for Diabetes which is part of the Knowledge Search network
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