Diabetes

Alternative Names

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes; Diabetes - type 2; Adult-onset diabetes

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease which is characterized by high level of sugar or glucose (that comes with food while eating) in blood. The hormone that makes it possible for glucose to get into the cells and give energy to them is insulin. Diabetes is divided into two types. If you have type 1, insulin isn’t made by your body. Type 2 is more common. If you have type 2, your body can’t use or make the insulin in a proper way. The glucose will stay in the blood if there is not enough insulin.

Signs and symptoms

If the glucose level in blood is high some serious symptoms can appear:

• Fatigue, blurred vision;
• Hunger, increased thirst;
• Blurry vision;
• Weight loss;
• Excessive thirst;
• Frequent urination;
• Vomiting and nausea.

Possible complications

Being treated in an improper way Diabetes can have the following possible complications:

• Diabetic ketoacidosis;
• Atherosclerosis;
• Hyperlipidemia;
• Peripheral vascular disease;
• Coronary artery disease;
• Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma;
• Erection problems;
• Infections of the urinary tract and skin;
• diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy;
• Stroke;
• Hypertension.

What causes

If you have type 1, insulin isn’t made by your body because the immune system of the body attacks and destroys cells where insulin is produced. Environmental and genetic risk factors may be the cause of type 1 appearing. According to other theory type 1 appears after some virus.

Type 2 is more common. If you have type 2, your body can’t use or make the insulin in a proper way. The older a person becomes, the more is he predisposed to having diabetes type 2. The reason why the type 2 may occur is unknown. Lifestyle, genetics and obesity are considered to play a considerable role. Some ethnic and racial groups (Latinos, Africans, and American Indians etc.) are at the risk group.

Prevention

To prevent, control or postpone Diabetes the simple steps may be followed:

• Come off smoking.
• Go in for sports. Control your weight and avoid obesity.
• Do not eat fat food, eat properly and reduce alcohol drinking.
• Drink more tea or coffee.

Treatment

While treating diabetes blood glucose level is tried to be maintained to normal.

There are three ways to treat diabetes:

• Exercises that can help to burn muscle glycogen and calories and lower glucose in blood. While doing exercises insulin resistance is decreased so that insulin can manage the level of glucose normally.
• Diet (15% protein, 30% fat, 40-55% carbohydrates).
• Medicaments (Insulin, Exanatide, Pramlintide injections and other oral medications)