Diabetes is a metabolic disorder thatcauses blood sugar levels to be too high. If one has been diagnosed with diabetes it means that there is too muchglucose in the body regardless of the type of diabetes contracted. There is a hormone called insulin that isproduced by the pancreas, in beta cells. The insulin is then used to carryglucose (sugar) into the cells of the body. Without a certain amount of insulin to carry, the glucose can and willbuild up in the blood stream. Someexperts believe diabetes is due to the presence of an autoimmune disorder. Thisdisorder makes the white blood cells believe insulin is foreign to the body,therefore making the white blood cells want to destroy the beta cells. Withinfive to ten years all the beta cells will be destroyed and the body will nolonger make insulin.
Excessively high blood sugar levels candamage vessels in the eye, fingers, toes and kidneys. Chronic types of diabetes include type 1 andtype 2 and possibly reversible diabetes which is pre-diabetes. This is when blood sugar levels are higherthan normal but not high enough for a resultant diagnosis of diabetes. Also, there is gestational diabetes whichonly occurs during pregnancy and may be resolved after the baby is born.
Symptoms vary depending on elevation ofyour blood sugar levels, especially type 2 and pre-diabetes. Some who have diabetes do not show anysymptoms at the start. Type 1 diabetestends to come on quickly and strong. Some of the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 could be increased thirst,going to the bathroom more often, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss,presence of key tones in urine (key tones are a byproduct of muscles and fatwhen not enough insulin to stop it) excessive tiredness, irritability, blurryvision, sores that heal slowly and frequent infections in the gums, skin orvaginal area.
Type 1, also known as juvenile diabetes,can occur at any age but usually in children under the age of 20 years old andis a life long struggle. This typeproduces little to no insulin. Somebelieve type 1 is possibly hereditary. But, tests have shown a child is morelikely to inherit type 1 from a father rather than the mother.
Type 2 can also occur at any age, but mosttypically in people over the age of 40 years old. This type is also known as the non-insulindependent diabetes. In type 2 diabetes,either the pancreas is not making insulin or the insulin is not being usedproperly, thus called insulin resistant. This is where key parts of the body(muscles, fat, and liver) do not use insulin as intended. Also, the glucosenever makes it to the beta cells to be converted to energy. Instead, it ismassively stored in the blood stream. Smoking and drinking increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, if diabetes is not managed itcan cause many other medical problems like diseases of the eyes, kidneyfailure, heart disease and stroke.
Researchedby: Carrie Nicholas
