What You Need To Know About Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus is estimated to affect nearly 8% of the population in the United States, about one-third of whom are undiagnosed. The incidence rate is equal in men and women and rises with age. It is the leading cause of renal failure, new adult blindness and the cause of cardiovascular diseases to nearly two-thirds of people with the disease. It is a chronic disease in which blood glucose or sugar levels are too high and a disease of absolute or relative insulin deficiency or resistance. Glucose comes from the foods you eat and insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose to get into cells to be utilized as energy to keep you going. Insulin regulates the metabolism of glucose in the body and is said to be the key or gatekeeper for the glucose to enter the cells while glucose is considered as fuel of the body.
This condition occurs in two forms: Type I (Insulin dependent) and Type II (Non-insulin dependent).
In Type I diabetes or formerly called juvenile diabetes wherein majority occurs before the age of 30, your body does not make insulin or does not produce enough insulin. In this form of diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas which is the reason why it does not produce insulin anymore.
The person manifests increased production of urine because the body tries to get rid of the excess glucose in the urine, diluting it with water. A person with this type of diabetes also experiences excessive thirst, the body becomes unable to convert glucose into energy which causes fatigue, weight loss, the feeling of being sick, increased appetite, blurred vision, and infections which includes thrush or irritation of the genitals. Treatment includes insulin replacement, diet (making wise food choices), and proper exercise to achieve control. The recent forms of insulin replacement include mixed-dose, single-dose, multiple dose regimens and split-mixed dose.
The most common type of diabetes is the non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes which is now popularly known as Type 2 diabetes. Anyone can develop type 2 diabetes at any age—even during childhood. The pancreas secretes insulin, however, the body either partially or completely cannot use the insulin, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Diabetes may cause some of the major diseases in the body like heart disease, an unexpected stroke and even the necessity to remove a limb or other parts of the body. Being overweight and inactive increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, blurred vision and frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger (especially after eating), dry mouth, unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feeling hungry most of the time), headaches, and loss of consciousness (a rare case). People who have Type 2 diabetes may require oral anti-diabetic drugs in order to stimulate endogenous insulin sensitivity, suppress conversion of lactic acid to glucose, and delay gastrointestinal absorption of carbohydrates.
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