Sugar is part of a whole slew of meals. The carbohydrates that we
eat are later on converted into sugar or glucose while it undergoes the
processes inside our body. These sugars are what we use for energy.
However, there are really foods that are pure sugar or contain a lot it,
which can cause the sugar level in our blood. When this sugar level
increase, we may suffer diabetes and other ailments.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes
is a disease resulting from the increase of blood sugar level above its
normal values. The sugars in the blood are supposed to be transported
to the cells of the body. But if a person has diabetes, the sugar build
up in the blood. The build up of sugar is caused one of the following
reasons: either the pancreas is not producing enough hormones called
insulin that helps the glucose get into the cells or the body can not
make use of the insulin as it is supposed to be.
Diabetes is a
disease that exists not only on its own but could trigger a lot of
complications and other diseases to surface. These diabetes
complications include heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and
amputations. It has become one of the major causes of death all over the
world.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Like any
other sickness, diabetes surface symptoms that should be monitored.
These are physically manifested symptoms that could easily diagnosed so
if anyone is suffering from the following, seeing a physician is
recommended. Diabetes have the following signs: extreme hunger and
thirst, excessive drying of the skin, unexplained weight loss, frequent
urination, slow healing sores, tingling or numbness of hands or feet,
sudden vision blurredness.
When the diabetes is insulin-dependent, other symptoms include nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.
Types of Diabetes
There
are three kinds of diabetes that could be developed to specific age
range or condition of people. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the
type 1 diabetes is commonly developed among children while
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 2 diabetes is
developed among adults. There is also the kind of diabetes that only
pregnant women can acquire. The gestational diabetes, though, is not
permanent because it disappears as soon as the pregnancy is over;
however, if it is not treated it can cause a threat to both the mother
and the baby.
Type 2 diabetes is affected by old age, obesity,
family history of the ailment, history of gestational diabetes, impaired
glucose tolerance, lack of physical activities and race or ethnicity.
Causes of Diabetes
Though
researchers have found out what are the things that causes the
acquisition of diabetes, the determination of the exact causes of the
disease is yet to be discovered. They say that the causes of type 1 and
type 2 diabetes are different. Type 1 seemed to be developed from
environmental triggers like unidentified virus that attacks the pancreas
and causes it to malfunction in producing insulin.
Type 2
diabetes on the other hand is closely associated with being obese and
regular physical activities can help prevent the development of which.
Therapies and Treatment for Diabetes
When
a person has developed type 1 diabetes, his or her blood glucose levels
should be closely monitored through regular glucose tests. Since most
food intake contains sugar or substances that will later on be converted
to sugar, it is necessary that the food to be eaten is also monitored
or measured. Healthy diet, exercise and insulin injections are the basic
treatments for type 1 diabetes. However, the insulin should be balanced
with metabolism of the body in terms of physical activities and food
intake.
Treatment for type 2 diabetes is almost the same with that
of type 1. Blood glucose should also be closely monitored; however,
some people are required to take some oral medications to avoid blood
sugar to increase beyond normal parameters. Since this type of diabetes
is not insulin-dependent, insulin injections are not required.
