What Is Diabetes?

In layman terms, “diabetes” is the inability of the body to process sugars properly. When we eat or drink, our “pancreas” produces a hormone called “insulin”. Insulin is released into the blood and helps to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. Diabetes is a condition where this process does not function correctly.

Types of Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (often called “insulin dependent” diabetes) occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetic persons require the administration of insulin injections to balance their blood sugar levels.

In Type 2 diabetes (often called “non-insulin dependent” diabetes), the body produces insulin but is incapable of using the insulin properly. People with Type 2 diabetes can often control their condition successfully through diet and exercise regimes. Type 2 diabetes is commonly known as “adult-onset” diabetes because it tended to occur in adulthood. It is, however, becoming more common in all age groups including young children.

The danger is that while diabetes is not immediately life threatening the long term effects of high blood sugar can be damaging to one’s health. Uncontrolled diabetes and prolonged high blood sugar levels can, in later life, cause problems to many organs including the kidneys, eyes, nerves and the heart.

Controlling blood sugar by a combination of medicine, diet and exercise will vastly reduce the danger of long term complications. Recent research shows that 2 in every 100 people have diabetes. About half of these people do not even know they have it. Many people have diabetes without being aware of it.

Testing For Diabetes

How do you find out if you have diabetes? The simplest way to check if you have diabetes is to arrange a blood sugar check with your doctor. If the results of the blood sugar check are abnormal, further investigations will be needed (eg a glucose tolerance blood test as mentioned above).

Diagnosis of diabetes can occur unexpectedly during a routine check-up but more often it follows from the sufferer experiencing the symptoms of diabetes. These symptoms can be many or few, mild or severe depending on the individual.

Common Diabetes Symptoms:

Loss Of Weight – Glucose is the form of sugar which is the body’s main fuel. Diabetics cannot process this properly so it passes into the urine and out of the body. Less fuel means the body’s reserve tissues are broken down to produce energy with a resultant loss in weight.

Thirst – No matter how much a sufferer drinks their mouth still feels dry. The problem is often compounded before diabetes is diagnosed by sufferers drinking huge amounts of sugary drinks. Of course this increases the blood sugar level and leads to increased thirst.

Urinating More Often – Sufferers need to urinate often and pass large volumes each time. This increased frequency of urination goes on night as well as day. Some sufferers make the understandable mistake of thinking this is caused by the increased thirst and drinking more. What is happening is that high sugar levels in the blood spill over into the urine making it syrupy. To counter-act this water is drawn from the body causing dehydration and therefore thirst.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms it does not necessarily follow that you are diabetic however it would be advisable to visit your doctor to be sure. There is also a syndrome called “pre-diabetes”. If it does turn out that you have diabetes please do not panic! It can come as a shock and it will mean some changes in your life. While it is incurable it can be treated so the long term complications are reduced or even eliminated. The vast majority of diabetics live completely normal lives and many of them don’t need to take any medication.

By knowing exactly what diabetes is – and being able to recognize the symptoms – you can prevent it from building up without your knowledge. Start today by monitoring your health and daily eating habits. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.

Diabetes is most common in adults over 45 years of age, but it is becoming increasingly common in people of all ages. People most at risk of diabetes are people who are overweight and/or physically inactive; and in people of African, Hispanic, and Native American descent. The highest rate of diabetes in the world occurs in Native Americans. More women than men have been diagnosed with diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, which usually starts in childhood, where the pancreas stops making insulin altogether. Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. In type 2 diabetes the body still makes some insulin, but it doesn’t make enough insulin, or the body is unable to use it properly. Type 2 is often called “adult onset” diabetes because it typically starts in adulthood. However, Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common in children.

Diabetes is easily detected by a simple blood test. This is done by measuring the amount of glucose in the blood after a person has fasted (abstained from food) for about eight hours. In some cases, doctors use a “glucose tolerance test” to diagnose diabetes. This is done by measuring blood glucose levels before and after a measured amount of sugar has been ingested.

Once diabetes is diagnosed, treatment consists of controlling the amount of glucose in the blood and preventing complications. Depending on the type of diabetes, this can be accomplished through regular physical exercise, a carefully controlled diet, oral medication, or insulin injections.

People with Type 1 diabetes require insulin injections to provide the body with the insulin it cannot produce. The amount of insulin needed varies from person to person and may be influenced by factors such as a person’s level of physical activity, diet, and the presence of other health disorders. Typically, Type 1 diabetes sufferers use a meter several times a day to measure the level of glucose in a drop of their blood obtained by pricking a fingertip. They can then adjust the amount of insulin injected, physical exercise, or food intake to maintain the blood sugar at a normal level. People with Type 1 diabetes must control their diets carefully by distributing meals and snacks throughout the day so as to avoid fluctuations in their blood glucose levels. Persons with Type 1 diabetes also need to eat foods that contain complex sugars, which break down slowly and cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels.

For persons with Type 2 diabetes, treatment begins with diet control, exercise, and weight reduction. Over time this form of diabetes management may not be adequate, and the diabetic person might need to take medication. People with Type 2 diabetes typically work with nutritionists to formulate a diet plan that regulates blood sugar levels so that they do not rise too swiftly after a meal. A recommended meal is usually low in fat (30 percent or less of total calories), provides moderate protein (10 to 20 percent of total calories), and contains a variety of carbohydrates, such as beans, vegetables, and grains. Regular exercise helps body cells absorb glucose—even ten minutes of exercise a day can be effective. Diet control and exercise may also play a role in weight reduction, which appears to partially reverse the body’s inability to use insulin

A diabetic coma can occur due to excessive loss of fluids from the body. This can happen if the diabetic person misses their insulin shot or consumes too much sugar without exercising or failing to use other diabetic medication correctly. In this situation the blood glucose levels can become dangerously high, the kidneys will attempt to regulate the blood glucose levels; the extra work done by the kidneys will result in loss of dangerously high amounts of water from the body.

Following this loss of water the body becomes locked in a vicious cycle of increasing blood glucose levels and worsening dehydration. The brain begins to shut down and the diabetic person’s condition becomes life-threatening.

Death while suffering from diabetic coma is not inevitable; the administration of intravenous fluids or other medication can restore balance in the diabetic person’s body. In order to avoid permanent damage, the diabetic person must receive the appropriate medical treatment as a matter of urgency.

There are three different comas that are associated with diabetes: the ketoacidotic coma, the hyperosmolar coma, and the hypoglycemic coma. The different types of coma are brought on by different things. For example the hypoglycemic coma is more likely to occur in a diabetic person using insulin to control blood sugar, therefore it is more likely to occur in type 1 diabetes.

To ensure that the correct medical treatment is given without delay, it is essential that the medical team know firstly that the unconscious person has diabetes and secondly whether it is type 1 or type 2 diabetes. For this reason, anyone with diabetes should wear a medical alert in the form of a bracelet or necklace at all times.