Diabetes is a very common disorder and is medically referred to as diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels, a condition that develops when glucose, consumed in various simple or complex forms of food, fails to be assimilated into the human blood stream. The hormone Insulin that is produced by the body, is either insufficient or dysfunctional and is unable to break down the glucose (blood sugar) in the food ingested.
Insulin converts the sugars, starch and other elements in the food into energy, to empower the body to function. Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas, a gland located deep inside the abdomen, surrounded by the stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder and small intestines. Insulin regulates the level of sugar in human blood and prevents either hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
There are 2 types of Diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2. As is obvious, insulin is the vital element that differentiates the type of diabetes a patient may have.
Type-1: The human body does not recognize the insulin producing pancreatic cells; treats it as a foreign particle, and tries to destroy it. Since insulin is vital to channeling the sugar in the blood to all the cells of the body for energy, the absence of insulin means, all this sugar accumulates in the blood. The treatment involves taking external or synthesized insulin hence why this form of diabetes is called insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also called juvenile diabetes as it can affect children too. If left untreated, it can severely damage the eyes, kidneys, heart, feet and nervous system and complicate illnesses.
Type-2: Although this is a less severe form of diabetes, if untreated or not properly managed, it can lead to Type 1 diabetes.Insufficient insulin is produced by the body, culminating in glucose accumulating in the blood and if neglected or left untreated, it can similarly affect the eyes, kidneys, heart, feet and nervous system. This type of diabetes is non-insulin dependent and the blood sugar can be regulated with medication, diet and exercise. Borderline diabetic patients can control their blood sugar levels with the right diet and exercise.
Symptoms of Diabetes
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually more tired
- Frequent urinationor the urge to do so (even if one doesn’t pass urine)
- Thirst: Recurring and intense thirst,leading to dehydration
- Delay in the healing of open cuts, wounds and bruises
- Skin problems: dry, itchy, flaky and irritable skin
- Lack of sensation, or a numb feeling in fingers and toes, with a tingling feeling at times
- Poor vision or blurred vision
- Problems in sexual health such as impotence, premature ejaculation, inadequate sensation etc
While the metabolic causes explained above can happen to anybody, again, some people are more vulnerable to diabetes than others.
- Heredity: Individuals whose natal family members have diabetes are at risk
- Body-weight: Anybody whose BMI(Body Mass Index) is more than 25 is regarded as overweight and is at risk
- Age: Depending on one’s body weight and lifestyle, anybody above 45 years of age can be at risk
- Race: Some communities like Afro-Americans, Asians, Hispanics and Native American tribes are also more vulnerable
- Women’s health issues: Pregnant women and women with ailments like polycystic ovarian disease have been known to develop diabetes quickly
Importance of Annually Testing for Diabetes
If your family has a history of diabetes, then it is always wise to be tested for diabetes, regardless of age, so that preventive measures can be adopted. Else, when you hit that four-score mark, it is time to make diabetes testing a part of your regular annual check-ups, again as a precautionary measure.
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