Diabetes is a very treatable condition. Diabetes is a disease with abnormally high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. The pancreas produces insulin and insulin is used to lower blood glucose levels. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, your body will develop diabetes.
Some of the symptoms of diabetes include increased desire to urinate, extreme hunger and thirst, and chronic fatigue. The proper diagnostic test for diabetes is via a blood sugar test. When you have diabetes, major complications can arise. These include disease of the blood vessels, blindness, kidney damage, and damage to the nerves and heart.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the more severe diabetes. Treatment for Type 1 diabetes includes a special diet, exercise, and a weight loss plan before insulin is added. Type 1 diabetes is considered an insulin dependent disease.
Type 2 diabetes is a less severe form of diabetes, and is first treated with a diabetic diet, exercise and weight loss. All of these will be tried first. Only if they are unsuccessful, oral medications may be added. If these also fail, insulin is then considered. Type 2 diabetes normally occurs in adults who are middle age or older. The pancreas is still producing the correct amount of insulin but the body has developed a resistance to it.
It is possible to postpone Type 2 diabetes if it runs in the family. What you can do is to lose weight, exercise regularly and control your diet. Over two million adolescents are in the prediabetes stage largely because of being overweight. Glucose levels are high but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Teens usually develop this between the ages of 12 and 19.
Gestational diabetes is developed by pregnant women but will normally disappear after the birth of their baby. Treatment is usually needed for the mother to help stabilize the blood glucose levels. This will decrease the chance of complications to the baby.
Onset juvenile diabetes is a well-known form of diabetes that affects many of our nation’s children. It is considered the onset of Type 1 diabetes and is found early in childhood. If your child is experiencing even a few of the symptoms of diabetes, it is important that you have them checked by your doctor.
Just by controlling your weight, exercising regularly, watching your diet, and taking medication can help you fight diabetes. Yet diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. If someone in your family has diabetes, you are also at risk. Having a blood glucose test regularly will help you determine the onset of diabetes and help you take necessary measures rightaway.
Published by Evelyn Lim on July 28, 2006 08:49 AM
