Question 1: What is Diabetes?
Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is
a metabolic
disorder that affects how our body uses blood glucose (Blood sugar). Glucose is
crucial for our health, because it's the primary source of energy for the cells
that make up your muscles and tissues. It's also the fuel that allows your
brain to function.
If you are diagnosed with Diabetes, it means you have
too much glucose in your blood. The reasons for the rise in glucose levels in
the blood stream may differ from patient to patient, and determine the type of
Diabetes. Chronic Diabetes can be classified in to type 1 and type 2 Diabetes.
Generally, the type 1
and type 2 Diabetes is irreversible, but can be managed by a controlled diet
& physical activity to minimize/ward off any diabetes related
complications.
Pre-Diabetes:- When the blood
sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as
diabetes. This condition can be reversed & the blood sugar levels can be
brought back within the desired levels by controlling sugar intake & diet
changes, coupled with regular physical activities/exercise.
Being Diabetic
essentially means the level of glucose/blood sugar in the blood stream is much
higher than it should be. There may be various reasons for this rise in sugar levels.
These reasons are the basis of classification of Diabetes in to Type 1 (T-1)
& Type 2 (T-2) Diabetes.
To understand the reasons for Diabetes, we must also understand the Glucose Metabolism in our body, and the role it plays in our body system.
To understand the reasons for Diabetes, we must also understand the Glucose Metabolism in our body, and the role it plays in our body system.
Glucose (Blood
Sugar)
is a main source of energy for the cells that make up the muscles and other
body/organ tissues. There are two major sources of Glucose, i.e. the food we
eat, and our liver,
which
stores and makes necessary amount of glucose.
- The glucose extracted from our food, and produced by our liver is absorbed in to our blood stream, which increases the glucose/sugar levels in our blood. To reduce the amount of glucose in our blood, the pancreas glands (located under the stomach) start to release sufficient amount of insulin in our blood stream.
- The insulin allows the glucose to enter the cells, thereby reducing the amount of sugar in our blood stream. The cells use the glucose as the source of energy. At times, we do not eat for long period of time, which reduces the glucose levels in the blood. In such a case, the liver uses stored glycogen and converts it in to glucose & compensates for the fall in sugar levels.
- Insulin is a hormone that comes from the pancreas, a gland situated behind and trapped below the stomach. The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin circulates, enabling sugar to enter your cells, and reduces the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.
Question 2: What are type 1 & type 2 Diabetes & their treatment, prevention methods?
Type 1 (T1) Diabetes’ or ‘Insulin
Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)’ : Type 1 Diabetes essentially means the
lack of insulin production by the Pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes is generally triggered by
autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic ‘beta cells’ that produce insulin. Autoimmune
attack may occur following a viral infection such as mumps, rubella cytomegalovirus etc.
In
most cases of type 1 diabetes, the patient inherits the risk factors from both
parents. Type 1 diabetes develops more often in winter than summer and is more
common in places with cold climatic conditions.
While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. Excessive use of sugar-rich foods & beverages too contributes to the development of the disease.
Though regular insulin injections may not be required for type 2 diabetes, they are occasionally used in some cases to keep a tab on blood sugar. In most cases, a balanced diet, regular exercise and maintaining body weight are able to keep the sugar levels in check. If needed, some blood sugar controlling drugs are prescribed to aid Blood sugar management.
Though this form of Diabetes too may not have a permanent cure, it can certainly be prevented in most cases by diet control, weight management and regular physical activity.
The treatment for Type 1 diabetes is more comprehensive, when compared to type 2, but that does not make Type 2 diabetes any less deadly than type 1. Irrespective of the type of Diabetes, excessive sugar content in the blood stream causes irreversible damage to the body and its organs.
As the cells do not get the required amount of fuel in form of Glucose, their functionality is reduced & they cannot re-produce. This results in unhealed sores and wounds on the body. On the inside, the arteries are hardened due to the sugar in the blood, which can cause cardiac arrest, hemorrhage and organ failure.
What are the main symptoms of the onset of Diabetes Type 1 & Type 2?
Irrespective of the type of Diabetes, an early diagnosis and timely treatment can help in reducing or preventing the organ damage caused by the blood sugar, prolong the life-span and help the patient living a normal life free of complications. So, if you notice any of the following symptoms, a visit to your doctor is highly recommended. Ignoring these symptoms can have severe consequences.
For Type 1 Diabetes:
1. Dry mouth/thirst
Even though the ill-effects of excess glucose in your blood-stream may not be clearly visible for long time, some or all of the above symptoms must not be ignored, and a doctor must be consulted immediately. Consistently high Blood sugar levels can cause irreparable damage to the body & specially to the vital organs. An early diagnosis and treatment can prevent and minimize the damage caused, and help a diabetic person lead a normal, long and fulfilling life.
An Diabetes Awareness Initiative by : www.echemist.in
Type
1 diabetes is less common in people who were breastfed and in those who first
ate solid foods at much later stages of childhood/infancy. Type 1 diabetes
contributes to about 5% of all the diabetic cases worldwide. It is often
inherited from parents to children, and is generally detected at a much younger
age (between 15-25 yrs).
The injections of insulin are the main source of treatment for type 1 diabetes. The treatment requires regular and frequent blood sugar monitoring, regular injections of insulin, controlling the blood pressure and diet regulation.
The injections of insulin are the main source of treatment for type 1 diabetes. The treatment requires regular and frequent blood sugar monitoring, regular injections of insulin, controlling the blood pressure and diet regulation.
‘Type 2 (T2) Diabetes’ or ‘Non-Insulin
Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)’: This is the most common type of
Diabetic condition, and accounts for 90-95% of all the diabetic cases
world-wide. Unlike Type-1 Diabetes, the Pancreas produces Insulin. However,
either the amount of the Insulin secreted is too little to control the amount of
Glucose in the blood stream; or the body is not able to completely utilize the
available Insulin. So, the glucose does not get in to the cells, and begins to
build up in the blood stream.
When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Over time, the high blood sugar content may lead to serious complications including Heart Attack, Kidney Failure, blindness, amputation and many more health issues.
When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Over time, the high blood sugar content may lead to serious complications including Heart Attack, Kidney Failure, blindness, amputation and many more health issues.
While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. Excessive use of sugar-rich foods & beverages too contributes to the development of the disease.
Though regular insulin injections may not be required for type 2 diabetes, they are occasionally used in some cases to keep a tab on blood sugar. In most cases, a balanced diet, regular exercise and maintaining body weight are able to keep the sugar levels in check. If needed, some blood sugar controlling drugs are prescribed to aid Blood sugar management.
Though this form of Diabetes too may not have a permanent cure, it can certainly be prevented in most cases by diet control, weight management and regular physical activity.
The treatment for Type 1 diabetes is more comprehensive, when compared to type 2, but that does not make Type 2 diabetes any less deadly than type 1. Irrespective of the type of Diabetes, excessive sugar content in the blood stream causes irreversible damage to the body and its organs.
As the cells do not get the required amount of fuel in form of Glucose, their functionality is reduced & they cannot re-produce. This results in unhealed sores and wounds on the body. On the inside, the arteries are hardened due to the sugar in the blood, which can cause cardiac arrest, hemorrhage and organ failure.
What are the main symptoms of the onset of Diabetes Type 1 & Type 2?
Irrespective of the type of Diabetes, an early diagnosis and timely treatment can help in reducing or preventing the organ damage caused by the blood sugar, prolong the life-span and help the patient living a normal life free of complications. So, if you notice any of the following symptoms, a visit to your doctor is highly recommended. Ignoring these symptoms can have severe consequences.
1. Dry mouth/thirst
2.
Frequent urination
3.
Feeling hungry/excessive craving for food
4.
Feeling tired & fatigued after minimal
physical activity
5.
Nausea
6.
Vomiting & irritability
7.
Unexplained weight loss
For Type 2 Diabetes:
1.
Dry mouth/frequent thirst
2.
Frequent urination
3.
Feeling hungry/excessive craving for food
4.
Feeling tired & fatigued after minimal
physical activity
5.
Nausea
6.
Vomiting & irritability
7.
Excessive Itchiness & dry skin
8.
Blurry eyesight
9.
Cuts, bruises and sores take much longer time to
heal
10.
Numbed feet and pins & needles in feet.
Even though the ill-effects of excess glucose in your blood-stream may not be clearly visible for long time, some or all of the above symptoms must not be ignored, and a doctor must be consulted immediately. Consistently high Blood sugar levels can cause irreparable damage to the body & specially to the vital organs. An early diagnosis and treatment can prevent and minimize the damage caused, and help a diabetic person lead a normal, long and fulfilling life.
An Diabetes Awareness Initiative by : www.echemist.in
No comments:
Post a Comment