what is diabetes?
Diabetes is a major leading cause of death in the world. It is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin necessary for the body to metabolize glucose (sugar). The glucose stays in your blood instead and its level then gets too high, causing you to have diabetes. Diabetes affects a large population in the world including India and it is growing phenomenally. Globally the statistics are staggering.
Once diabetes is diagnosed the first stop is usually to visit the family doctor for instruction on lifestyle changes, medications, and daily blood tests for life since there is no cure, only treatments to control it and delay its devastating affects! Over time, complications from diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, nerve damage, and limb amputations. Current medications can have serious side-effects including nausea, diarrhea, skin rash, weight gain, respiratory infections, liver damage, hypertension, neuropathy and headaches.
People with diabetes (whether Type 1 or 2) have an increased risk of severe complications if the disease goes undiagnosed and untreated, or if it is poorly managed. The high blood glucose levels that occur make it easier for blockages to form in the body's arteries and for nerve damage, causing numbness and tingling, especially in the legs and feet. Most people with diabetes have health problems such as high blood pressure and cholesterol that increase one's risk of heart disease and stroke. In fact 65% of diabetics die from it.
Signs of diabetes
- Being very thirsty
Urinating often
Feeling very hungry or tired
Losing weight without trying
Having slowly healing sores
Dry itchy skin
Losing feeling or tingling sensations in limbs
Having blurry eyesight
There are two common forms of diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers or young adults. In this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer make insulin because the body's immune system has attacked and destroyed them.
Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form. People can develop Type 2 at any age and is where the pancreas does not make enough insulin and the body does not use it properly due to insulin resistance.
Treatment for diabetes includes insulin shots, medications, wise food choices, exercise, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
