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Quick Facts about Diabetes
Here are some key
points about diabetes. More details and supporting information is in the main
article.
Diabetes is a
long-term condition which causes high levels of blood sugar.
In 2013, it was
estimated that over 382 million people worldwide had diabetes (Williams
Endocrinology manuals).
Type 1 diabetes -
the body does not produce insulin. About 10% of all cases of diabetes are type
1.
Type 2 diabetes -
the body does not produce enough insulin for proper operation. About 90% of all
diabetes cases worldwide are of this type.
Gestational
Diabetes - This type affects women during pregnancy.
The symptoms of the
most common diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger,
weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal,
male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.
If you have type 1
and follow a healthy diet, do proper exercise and take insulin, you can lead a
normal life.
Type 2 patients
need to eat healthy, be physically active, and test their blood sugar. They may
also need to take oral medications and / or insulin to control glucose levels
in the blood.
As the
cardiovascular risk is much higher for a diabetic, it is crucial that the blood
pressure and cholesterol levels are monitored regularly.
That smoking could
have a serious effect on cardiovascular health, diabetics should stop smoking.
Hypoglycemia - low
glucose in the blood - can have a detrimental effect on the patient.
Hyperglycemia - when blood sugar is too high - can also have a detrimental
effect on the patient.
There are three
types of diabetes:
1) Type 1 Diabetes
The body does not
produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent
diabetes, juvenile diabetes or early diabetes. People usually develop type 1
diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or adolescence.
Type 1 diabetes is
nearly as common as diabetes type 2. About 10% of all cases of diabetes are
type 1.
Type 1 diabetes
patients must take insulin injections for the rest of their lives. They must
also ensure proper blood glucose levels through regular blood tests and
following a special diet.
Between 2001 and
2009, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among children under 20 years in the
United States increased by 23%, according to SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth data
sent by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ). (Link to
article)
2) Type 2 diabetes
The body does not
produce enough insulin for the proper functioning or the body's cells do not
respond to insulin (insulin resistance).
About 90% of all
diabetes cases worldwide are of this type.
The patient
diabetes measuring glucose level in bloodMeasuring the blood glucose level
Some people may be
able to control their symptoms of type 2 diabetes by losing weight, following a
healthy diet, get plenty of exercise, and monitor their glucose levels in the
blood. However, type 2 diabetes is usually a progressive disease - it gradually
gets worse - and the patient will probably end up having to take insulin,
usually in tablet form.
People who are
overweight and obese have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
compared to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral
fat, also known as central obesity, belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are
particularly at risk. Being overweight / obesity causes the body to release
chemicals that can destabilize cardiovascular and metabolic systems of the
body.
Being overweight,
physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all contribute to our risk of
developing type 2 diabetes Drinking a single box (non-diet) soda a day can
increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes 22%, researchers from Imperial
College London reported in the journal Diabetologia. Scientists believe that
the impact of sugary drinks on the risk of diabetes can be a direct, rather
than simply an influence on body weight.
The risk of
developing type 2 diabetes is also greater as we age. The experts are not quite
sure why, but say we age, we tend to gain weight and become less physically
active. Those who have a close relative who had / had type 2 diabetes, Middle
East people, Africa, and South Asia also have a higher risk of developing the
disease.
Men with low
testosterone levels are found to have a higher risk of developing type 2
diabetes Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, say that
testosterone levels are associated with resistance insulin. (Link to article)
3) Gestational
diabetes
This type affects
women during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in the
blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to carry all the
glucose in their cells, causing a gradual rise in glucose levels.
The diagnosis of
gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.
The majority of
patients with gestational diabetes can control their diabetes with exercise and
diet. Between 10% and 20% of them will have to take some type of blood glucose
control medications. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled gestational diabetes can
increase the risk of complications during childbirth. The baby may be greater
than he / she should be.
Scientists from the
National Institutes of Health and Harvard University found that women whose
diet before pregnancy were high in animal fat and cholesterol had a higher risk
of gestational diabetes, compared to their counterparts with diets were low in
cholesterol and animal fat.
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