Diabetes:Diabetes can be defined as a disorder in which lack of insulin results in failure to absorb sugar and starch properly. It is a metabolic condition characterized by elevated glucose absorption in the blood. It prevents glucose from being used by the body correctly. Insulin determines the amount of glucose in the blood. Because glucose cannot be stored or used directly by the body, insufficient insulin leads to an increase in blood sugar levels.
People who have diabetes in their near relations are more prone to diabetes. However, there are other risk factors which bring us closer to the disease such as physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pancreatic abnormalities. Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate more people are prone to having the disease because of busy lifestyles. People have no time for their health and by maintaining wrong habits they throw themselves at the risk of various diseases one of them is diabetes. It is one of the major causes of premature death worldwide.
There are various symptoms which detect diabetes for e.g. being very thirsty, frequent urination, weight loss, increased appetite, poor or blurry vision, irritability, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, frequent skin problems, bladder or gum infections, delayed healing of wounds, extreme fatigue, nausea, poor circulation in the limbs.
WHO predicts that developing countries will bear the brunt of this epidemic in the 21st century, with 80% of all new cases of diabetes expected to appear in the developing countries by 2025. . (Reference: WHO Journal)
There are two types of Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2
Type 1 diabetes: It is an autoimmune disease. Insulin dependent diabetes is the result of the pancreas being unable to make enough insulin. This type of diabetes normally affects children but can affect adults as well. Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent and must take insulin every day.
Type 2 diabetes: – Non-insulin dependent occurs because the cells of the body become resistant to insulin. Adults are most often diagnosed with this type of diabetes.
Some may need medication while others can control their blood sugar levels by monitoring their diet, exercising moderately, and losing weight (if they are obese). Some Type 2 diabetics must take insulin or other medications daily.
The result is the same as for Type 1 diabetes–glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuelAny one of the following risk factors can increase their chances of developing diabetes:
being more than 20 percent above ideal body weight
having a first-degree relative with diabetes (mother, father, sibling or child)
being a member of a high-risk ethnic group (African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Latino/Hispanic American)
delivering a baby weighing more than nine pounds or having diabetes during a pregnancy
having blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm/Hg
having abnormal blood fat levels, such as high-density lipoproteins (HDL) less than or equal to 35 mg/dL or triglycerides greater than or equal to 250 mg/dL
impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance are seen in test results (It should be 100-125 mg/dL after an overnight fast) and a blood glucose level of 140-199 mg/dl two hours after drinking the glucose drink provided in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
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