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There are two main variations of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2, and they are completely different in cause and treatment regime. There is also a strain of diabetes known as gestational diabetes that is only suffered by pregnant women. To understand diabetes, we must first appreciate the role that insulin plays in our body. When we consume glucose, fructose or carbohydrates, our system breaks them down into glucose within the blood stream. For us to be able to utilise the glucose for energy, the pancreas produces insulin which 'unlocks' receptors in our cells and permits the glucose to enter the cells and be used for energy. In Type 1 diabetes the body is incapable of producing enough insulin to regulate blood sugar adequately. It is often referred to as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes, and it usually occurs in people under 30 years of age. The symptoms come on quite quickly and is characterised by unquenchable thirst brought on by a surplus of glucose in the blood stream. This also results in excessive urination, another symptom. It is a chronic condition – in other words, it is a lifelong condition. It is thought to be an auto-immune problem in the pancreas that destroys the insulin producing cells. Those suffering from Type 1 diabetes comprise between 5-10% of those with diabetes and the condition is controlled by introducing insulin either by drip feed or more normally by regular injection. A missed dose of insulin for a Type 1 diabetic can cause serious problems including loss of consciousness and they are also at risk for serious complications. There is new technology that has surfaced in the last few years where an islet cell transplant is undertaken, and although the recipient is required to take anti-rejection drugs, the new cells are capable of producing insulin and patients in the medical trial have reported greatly reduced levels of insulin injection. It is hoped that the injections may one day be totally eliminated through more islet cell transplants. Type 1 diabetics are prone in their later years to suffer from sight problems, micro-vascular disorders, vascular disorders and kidney problems due mainly to deterioration in their blood vessels. Type 2 diabetes applies to the vast majority of diabetes cases. Patients with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cell receptors have become resistant to the chemical. Thus, their body has to produce ever increasing amounts of insulin in order to 'unlock' the cells so that they can utilise the glucose from the blood stream. Eventually, these sufferers get to the point where they are unable to create enough insulin to reduce the sugar levels in their body. The disease affects 15-20% of those over sixty. A large number of adults remain undiagnosed as diabetes sufferers. It is frequently diagnosed during a physical check-up following complaints of an infection such as a urinary, skin or chest problem. Type 2 diabetes can be managed through diet control and weight reduction or with prescription drugs. Although there is a definite genetic link to the disease in a high number of cases, it is brought about by being obese, not taking sufficient exercise and pursuing a diet high in high glycaemic index carbohydrates (white rice, sugar, white bread and fruit).Exercise, weight management and an eating regime low in fructose, sugars and processed carbohydrates are acknowledged to be important as avoidance techniques. Many members of the medical profession are expressing alarm at the recent trend of type 2 diabetes cases occurring in children. This is almost certainly due to the high incidence of childhood obesity, together with the shortage of exercise that overweight children take and the diet they follow that is high in carbohydrates and sugar with a high glycaemic index. About 4% of pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Most of them recover from this form of diabetes after giving birth, but it does appear to indicate a greater risk of contracting type 2 diabetes later in their lives. The most common symptom of diabetes is constant thirst and subsequent regular urination. Other symptoms include dizziness, unexplained weight loss, itching, constant fatigue and leg pains walking. If diabetes just meant taking insulin for the remainder of your life, it wouldn't be such a serious disorder. Sadly, people suffering from diabetes have a number of increased risks including: - twice the rate of heart disease as non-diabetics - five times more likely to have a stroke - the most frequent cause of limb amputations outside of accidents - diabetes is the leading cause in all new cases of blindness in persons aged 24 to 74 - the cause of over one third of new cases of kidney disease and the major cause of end-stage renal disease. Accurate and consistent management of blood sugars reduces the odds of any of the above occurring.
Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com
This article on the causes and treatment of diabetes was written by Terry Cod, a travel writer who himself suffers from the illness. He is the owner of www.twistedorange.co.uk/ which has sections on healthy eating, diet plans and weight loss.
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