What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder of the body's life sustaining chemical activity known as metabolism. This is the series of processes by which the body breaks down, and converts food that we consume into the products and energy that the body needs to sustain life. The food that we consume is broken down into glucose, which is commonly called blood sugar.
The blood sugar is what gives us energy. For this glucose to pass from the blood stream into the body cells insulin is required. Insulin in the body is produced by the pancreas, which is located behind the stomach. The pancreas starts producing insulin when we eat something. The pancreas produces the amount of insulin that is required.
Diabetes type one occurs when for reasons yet unknown, the pancreas produces insufficient insulin, or stops producing it altogether. People who have type one diabetes need to be given insulin every day. There is no other cure for this type of diabetes. In case the pancreas is producing less insulin, there are medications that induce the pancreas to produce more insulin.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system starts to destroy the insulin producing cells. The reason for this is yet unknown and it mostly develops in young children and teenagers. In the United States 5 to 10 percent of diabetes patients suffer from this variant of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the more common type of diabetes, and the symptoms of this usually occur when a person is in their middle or older age bracket. This type of diabetes is associated with old age, obesity, family history of diabetes, and ethnicity. In this form of diabetes, the body produces the required dosage of insulin, but the body fails to use the insulin as required, this results in less insulin being produced over time. As the pancreas feels that it's over producing insulin, and cuts back on its production, the glucose accumulates in the body and the blood sugar level goes up.
Diabetes type 2 does not show its symptoms immediately, and is diagnosed over time. The common symptoms are fatigue, frequent urination, weight loss, increased thirst, blurred vision, and wounds and scars take longer to heal.
Gestational diabetes occurs in women during pregnancy, and it usually finishes after the pregnancy is over. This can be caused by less production of insulin, pregnancy hormones, or a family history of diabetes. However, women who suffer from this type of diabetes are susceptible to getting type 2 diabetes later in their life.
There is a lot of research being done to find the causes of diabetes, and try to find permanent cures for it. Right now, there are medications to induce insulin production, blood sugar meters for diabetic patients to check their blood sugar levels, but there is no permanent cure for diabetes. Diabetics have to follow a strict diet, exercise regularly, and get periodic physical tests done.
- Following an appropriate meal plan
- Frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG)
- Administering insulin injections and knowing how to adjust the doses depending on results of SMBG
- Controlling/treating hypoglycemia
- Adding or maintaining an appropriate level of physical activity
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