Medical / Health
Choose a health topic:
 Low Back Pain- Sacroiliac Joint |
Weight Loss |
| Joint Pain and Repair |
Skin Care |
| Allergies |
Mucus and Congestion |
| Hair Loss |
Diabetes |
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.
Diabetes Care Coupon Portal - Manufacture Coupon - Printable Coupons
Causes
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin,
resistance to insulin, or both.
To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and
used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food is digested:
- A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body.
- An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle,
fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel.
People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because:
-Their pancreas does not make enough insulin
-Their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally
-Both of the above
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed when they are older than age 20. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It makes up most of diabetes cases. It usually occurs in adulthood, but young people are increasingly being diagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise.
Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans. Over 40 million Americans have prediabetes (early type 2 diabetes).
Symptoms
High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including:
Blurry vision
Excessive thirst
Fatigue
Frequent urination
Hunger
Weight loss
However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:
Fatigue
Increased thirst
Increased urination
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time. The condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
Blurred vision
Fatigue
Increased appetite
Increased thirst
Increased urination
Tests & diagnosis
A urine analysis may be used to look for glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat.
However, a urine test alone does not diagnose diabetes.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The following blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes:
Fasting blood glucose level -- diabetes is diagnosed if higher than 126 mg/dL on two occasions.
Levels between 100 and 126 mg/dL are referred to as impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes. These
levels are considered to be risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its complications.
Oral glucose tolerance test -- diabetes is diagnosed if glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL after 2 hours.
(This test is used more for type 2 diabetes.)
Random (non-fasting) blood glucose level -- diabetes is suspected if higher than 200 mg/dL and accompanied
by the classic diabetes symptoms of increased thirst, urination, and fatigue. (This test must be confirmed
with a fasting blood glucose test.)
Persons with diabetes need to have their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level checked every 3 - 6 months. The HbA1c
is a measure of average blood glucose during the previous 2 - 3 months. It is a very helpful way to determine
how well treatment is working.
Treatment
The immediate goals are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. Because type 1 diabetes can start suddenly and have severe symptoms, people who are newly diagnosed may need to go to the hospital.
