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Diabetes
- The Basics
In simple terms DIABETES
is the inability of the body to process sugars properly.
When we eat or drink our PANCREAS produces a hormone
called INSULIN.
Insulin is released into
the blood and helps to regulate the amount of glucose
(sugar) in the bloodstream. Diabetes is a condition
where this process does not function correctly. This
is due to either:
- No insulin being produced,
often called Type 1 diabetes, and requires the sufferer
to use insulin injections, or...
- Insulin is produced but the body becomes
RESISTANT to it. This renders the insulin ineffective.
This is normally called Type 2 diabetes and is rapidly
becoming more common.
Latest research shows that 2 in every
100 people have diabetes. Alarmingly half of these people
do not even know they have it. Many people have diabetes
without being aware of it because someone with diabetes
looks no different from anyone else.
Someone can have diabetes for months
or even years without realizing they have the condition.
The danger is that while diabetes is not immediately
life threatening the long term effects of high blood
sugar can be damaging to one's health. Uncontrolled
diabetes and prolonged high blood sugar levels can,
in later life, cause problems to many organs including
the kidneys, eyes, nerves and the heart. This may sound
grim, however controlling blood sugar by a combination
of medicine, diet and exercise will vastly reduce the
long term complications.
The simplest way to check if you have
diabetes is to arrange a blood sugar check with your
doctor. A tiny sample of blood, obtained by pricking
a finger is checked using a small electronic tester.
A normal blood sugar level is generally between 72 -
126 mg/dl or 4 - 7 mmol/l (1 mmol/l = 18mg/dl). Diabetes
is diagnosed when the body is unable to keep the blood
sugar level within these limits. The unit of measurement
used (mmol/l or mg/dl) will depend on which country
you live in.
Diagnosis of diabetes can occur out
of the blue during a routine check-up but more often
it follows from the sufferer experiencing the "symptoms"
of diabetes. These symptoms can be many or few, mild
or severe depending on the individual.
The symptoms are:
NOTHING AT ALL (???) No this is not
a typo. It is true many people do indeed feel no different
and are astonished to discover they have diabetes. However
even if you feel fine you must take your diabetes seriously
and act on the doctor's advice.
THIRST (polydipsia) This is a very common
symptom. Often it seems no matter how much you drink
your mouth still feels as dry as Death Valley. The problem
is compounded before diabetes is diagnosed by sufferers
drinking copious amounts of...sugary drinks! Of course
this only increases the blood sugar level and leads
to increased thirst.
INCREASED URINATION (polyuria) Another
very common symptom. Sufferers need to urinate often
and pass large volumes each time. In addition this symptom
takes no account of time so sleep is constantly disturbed
by having to visit the bathroom during the night. It
is a mistake to think this is caused by the increased
thirst and drinking more. The opposite is true. High
sugar levels in the blood spill over into the urine
making it syrupy. To counter-act this water is drawn
from the body causing dehydration and therefore thirst.
WEIGHT LOSS Glucose is the form of sugar
which is the body's main fuel. Diabetics cannot process
this properly so it passes into the urine and out of
the body. Less fuel means the body's reserve tissues
are broken down to produce energy with a resultant loss
in weight.
Other symptoms include constipation,
tiredness, lack of energy, tingling or pins and needles
in the hands and feet, blurred vision and increased
infections.
If you have experienced any of these
symptoms it does not necessarily follow that you are
diabetic however it might be advisable to visit your
doctor to be sure.
If it does transpire that you have diabetes
please do not panic. It can come as a shock and it will
mean some changes in your life. While (currently) incurable
it can be treated so the long term complications are
reduced or even eliminated. As a result you may actually
increase your health and life expectancy compared to
previously when you were taking no care of your body
whatsoever. It requires discipline and self-control
however there is no reason why anyone with diabetes
cannot live a full and perfectly normal life.
1howto.com
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