Diabetes ..... A Manageable Disease
Explore the information provided on this page and learn about this lifelong manageable illness.
Medically known as "diabetes mellitus", the words are derived from the Greek and Latin languages. Diabetes in the Greek language means "excessive urination" and mellitus in the Latin language means "honey" ~ being that diabetic urine is filled with sugar and is sweet. Although medical personnel use the term diabetes mellitus, colloquially, the disease is simply referred to as diabetes.
The problem of the disease involves diminished or total lack of ability to move sugar (glucose) out of their blood into their cells, where it is used as the body's primary fuel. Glucose is delivered to the body thru food. Everyone has glucose in their blood, whether or not they have diabetes. As we are eating, the digestive process breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is absorbed into the blood in the small intestine.
People rely on the hormone formulated in the pancreas to shift glucose from the blood into the body's cells. This hormone is known as insulin. However, diabetics either don't produce insulin or can't efficiently use the insulin their bodies are able to produce. Without the presence of adequate amounts of insulin, the body is unable to efficiently move the glucose into the cells. When glucose accumulates in the blood, a condition called hyperglycemia (hyper = excessive, glycemia = glucose in the blood)occurs. Symptoms produced by hyperglycemia include excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive hunger, blurred vision, and fatigue.
Over a long period of time, uncontrolled diabetes can cause the following complications:
Even though the complications present diabetes as a serious health-compromising illness, the majority of diabetic complications can be largely prevented by maintaining "tight control", keeping your blood glucose as close to a normal range as possible.
Scientists have not been able to identify exactly what causes diabetes; however, it appears to develop from a combination of genetics and environmental factors, including viral infections, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle.
There are 3 types of diabetes identified in the medical society, which include:
Below you will find an informative description of each of the 3 types of diabetes.
Risk factors include:
Causes include the following: Genetics -- although generally most children of diabetic parents don't develop the disease, researchers have found several genes which appear to increase the risk of acquiring the disease.
Auto-antibodies -- The disease contains hallmarks of an auto-immune condition in the sense that the immune system kills the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin.
Viruses -- the disease usually afflicts the body shortly following a viral infection. Viruses occurring which may precipitate the onset of diabetes include mumps, German measles, and a close relative of the virus which causes polio. The theory of why viruses cause diabetes is relatively simple in explanation. The viruses contain proteins which are very similar to proteins found in the pancreas' insulin-producing beta cells. The insulin mistakingly represents the beta cells for virus particles and destroys them -- along with the person's ability to synthesize insulin.
Chemicals and drugs -- Specific medications, such as pentamidine (used to treat pneumonia) and L-asparaginase (a cancer treatment), cause diabetes by destroying the beta cells.
Cow's Milk -- various research studies suggest that exposure to cow's milk during infancy may increase the risk for type 1 diabetes. Since cow's milk contains a protein similar to a protein found on beta cells, researchers presume that if infants develop antibodies to the cow's milk protein, they may mistake the beta cells for milk and destroy them.
The more "popular" form of diabetes, it encompasses 90% to 95% of diabetics. These particular diabetics produce insulin, but the cells within their bodies are "insulin resistant" ~ they don't respond appropriately to the hormone, thus glucose accumulates in their blood. As weight increases and physical activity decreases, insulin resistance increases. The majority of Type2 affected diabetics are at least 20% above their recommended weight for their height and build. A small portion of those with Type2 diabetes must use insulin injections; however, most can control the disease through a combination of weight loss, exercise, and prescription oral diabetic medication.
Risk factors include:
Causes include the following:
Genetics -- A genetic link is found to be stronger in Type 2 Diabetes than in Type 1 Diabetes.
Obesity -- The single most important cause of Type 2 Diabetes. 75% of Type 2 Diabetics are or have been overweight. Carrying excess body fat causes insulin resistance. Dropping weight and gaining muscle helps the body use insulin more effectively. Where you carry your weight is just as important as the amount you carry. People who maintain fat above their hips ("apple shape") have a greater risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes than those who carry it on their hips ("pear shape").
Age -- Half of all newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetics are over 55 years of age, and nearly 11% of Americans aged 65 to 74 years have Type 2 Diabetes. It is not perfectly clear, though, if age is a cause of Type 2 Diabetes, or a reflection of the fact that people tend to gain weight and become decreasingly physically active as they grow older.
This form of diabetes develops only in pregnant women with no previous history of diabetes. Approximately 135,000 women develop it yearly. Usually, gestational diabetes resolves on its own after women have given childbirth. Studies have shown that roughly 40% of women with gestational diabetes advance to develop Type 2 Diabetes within 15 years. All pregnant women should be tested for gestational diabetes between their 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.
Risk factors include:
Causes include:
Hormones -- During pregnancy women produce various hormones essential to the baby's growth; however, these same hormones may make the mother insulin resistant. All pregnant women have some degree of insulin resistance, but if the resistance becomes full-blown gestational diabetes, it usually becomes apparent at the 24th week of pregnancy.
Genetics -- Due to both gestational and Type 2 Diabetes developing due to increased insulin resistance, studies suspect that the two conditions have a very similar genetic basis.
Constipation -- Whenever a person is constipated, they are not evacuating the food they had ingested; therefore, the "sugar" is remaining present in their body for longer periods of time and accumulating with the other sugar being ingested.
Dawn Phenomenon -- Each early morning the body releases hormones which wake you and instruct the liver to release stored glucose to provide you with energy to begin your day. The hormones released also inhibit insulin. The result is that the glucose level rises between 4am and 8am, thus the reaction is known as "dawn phenomenon."
Excercise -- Type 1 diabetics who don't have enough insulin aboard can actually make their blood sugar rise if exercising. This is caused by the body having nerves signal the liver to release stored glucose during moderate to vigorous exercise. If the body doesn't have enough insulin to cover the extra glucose in the blood, a state of ketoacidosis may occur.
Food and Diet -- Different foods contain different amounts of carbohydrates, which the body breaks down into glucose so that the amount of glucose each adds to your blood will vary.
Illness -- Sickness raises the glucose level because the liver releases extra glucose in response to illness, and the body releases hormones which counteract the effects of insulin. Various cold and cough medications contain ingredients which increase blood glucose levels and blood pressure.
Menstruation -- For some women, cyclic changes in blood levels of estrogen and progesterone wreak havoc on glucose levels at the time of menstruation. Depending on the individual, the hormones may severely influence glucose to increase or decrease. If your glucose levels tend to rise during menstruation, exercising more will help bring glucose levels downwards. Avoiding extra carbohydrates will also aid in lowering the level. If you are taking insulin, speak with your physician regarding lowering your dosage of insulin.
Pregnancy -- Women who are insulin dependent may have to increase their insulin dosage during pregnancy to maintain a tight control of glucose levels. The increase in insulin resistance is normal.
Some Contraceptives -- Birth control pills and the IUD function by altering hormone concentrations in the blood. In turn, this affects glucose levels. In a select number of women, the devices may increase their insulin resistance.
Stress -- This produces hormones which cause glucose levels to increase tremendously.
Alcohol -- Liquor tends to lower glucose levels. The alcohol interferes with the body's normal process of the liver converting glycogen to glucose when blood glucose levels decrease. The alcohol may lower levels suddenly instead of gradually. A person who is diabetic must drink in moderation (no more than 2 drinks per day).
Exercise -- Not only found in the blood, glucose is also found in the liver and muscles, where it is termed as glycogen. As you exercise, your muscles use glycogen for energy. When your "reserves" run low, your muscles pull glucose from the blood, causing glucose levels to decrease. Exercise also enables the muscles and other tissues to be more sensitive to insulin so that you don't require as much insulin to move the glucose out of the blood.
Insulin -- In non-diabetics, their blood glucose levels rise as they digest their food. This triggers the pancreas to release insulin into their blood. In diabetics, injected insulin performs the same action.
Menstruation -- Cyclic changes in blood levels of estrogen and progesterone may significantly influence blood glucose levels. If you find you are experiencing lower glucose levels, try exercising a little less, increasing carbohydrate intake without using "junk foods", and check with your physician regarding decreasing your insulin dosages.
Oral Diabetes Medications -- There are 3 oral diabetes medications....Sulfonylurea drugs, Acarbose, and Metformin -- and their purpose is to reduce blood glucose levels. Each has a different functioning mechanism, but all work towards the same goal.
Sex -- Considered as a form of exercise, sex can contribute to lowering your blood sugar levels.
Below you will find various sites containing information regarding diabetes, its treatment, and companies dealing with diabetic supplies. Hopefully, this page will assist you in learning everything you need to know about diabetes. Please broswe thru the sites as they also contain further links to diabetic information.
Type 1 or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)Type 2 or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)Gestational DiabetesType 1 or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
Those affected with this form of diabetes are unable to produce insulin and require regular injections of insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Approximately 50% of people afflicted with this type of diabetes are 20 years old and younger. This type of diabetes accounts for only 5 to 10% of the disease.
Family history of diseaseCaucasian race (affects all races, but most common among caucasians)Age less than 20 years oldType 2 or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)DiabeticsAge -- nearly all diagnosed are over 30 years old. Half of all new cases are 55 years and older.Race/Ethnicity -- More common among Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics.Being overweight or obese.High-Fat DietWomen who have had gestational diabetes.Women who have given birth to babies weighing 9 pounds or greater.Gestational DiabetesGeneticsObesityRace/Ethnicity -- Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and African Americans are at an increased risk, presumably because compared with caucasian and Asians, they are more likely to be overweight.
What Factors Raise And Lower Blood Glucose?
Factors causing blood glucose to elevate include:Factors causing blood glucose to decrease include:
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