Living With Diabetics Needs Proper Awareness Of The Illness

By Author: Chani
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Diabetic is one of the most widespread diseases and manifest in 4 key forms as the type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Diabetes is a condition which results from having markedly high levels of blood sugar. This is a chronic illness which results in many other health complications such as impaired vision, kidney failure, heart failure, limb amputation and weak immune systems. Many people fail to even realize they are diabetic till the illness has progressed and lent to further complications mentioned.
Understanding Diabetes, Causes and Risk Factors
Human body breakdown food and convert them to a sugar form called glucose, for absorption to the body which in turn fuel the body's energy requirements. The movement of glucose from the blood stream to various parts of the body is facilitated by insulin which is produced by the pancreas organ. In a diabetic patient, the body is incapable of controlling the level of sugar in the blood within the normal range. People with diabetes suffer from high spikes and low ebbs of irregular blood sugar levels due to the insufficient insulin ...
... production in the body or resistance to insulin. In some cases, both causes can be contributing to the situation.
Having a proper awareness is important in order to manage this illness. Most people do not recognize or accept that they have diabetes, even when they display symptoms of the illness. Some of the most common symptoms include blurry vision, excessive thirst, fatigue, frequent need for urinating, excessive hunger and weight loss unexplained by increased appetite and food consumption. While some people may have a number of these symptoms, others may progress with the disease without any symptoms at all. Therefore, undergoing blood glucose tests or urine glucose tests is important to establish whether or not you are suffering from the illness.
Different Forms of Diabetes
There are three main categories of the illness and patients and family members need to understand the different risk factors involved as well as the required life style changes and medication regimes.
Type 1 diabetes - this is resulting from the pancreas organ producing little or no insulin and the onset of the disease is detected as an emergency condition. Most individuals will be diagnosed in their child hood or as they reach the age of 20s. Type 1 diabetes will need lifelong medications to supplement the insulin deficiency in the body.
Type 2 diabetes - this is the most common form of diabetes and results from lack of dietary control and exercise for the body. The body is incapable of making sufficient insulin to manage the blood glucose levels at a normal level. The illness sets in gradually and unknown to the person and results in complications at later stages of life. Although mostly present in people over 40 years of age, modern lifestyle trends contribute to obesity in a high percentage of young adults, making this age groups also highly susceptible to the illness. People with type 2 diabetes can manage and control the illness with changes in their life style and with medications. Consuming more of food with high glycemic values such as complex starches, fruits and vegetables can help maintain the blood sugar at a regular level as these foods requires longer time to digest. Therefore, unlike sweets and processed starches that are digested fast, creating spikes in blood sugar, fruits, vegetables, and complex starches release glucose to the blood stream slowly, maintaining an even level of glucose. Insulin and oral medications will be prescribed based on physician's assessment of the gravity of the medical condition of the patient.
Gestational diabetes - This is a condition where women develop high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This can be an indication of likelihood for developing diabetes in later stages in life, although not always the case. People facing this condition will be requested to manage their diet carefully and take part in regular exercise to manage the condition.
Diabetic Medications
The main medication for diabetes is the insulin which is given as injections or also available as inhalers. In addition, patients may be prescribed with oral medications. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used to slow or prevent the breakdown of starches and sugars, slowing down the sugar spikes after meals. Thiazolidinediones are prescribed to facilitate better action of the insulin and helps patients who suffer from insulin resistance. Drugs such as Sulfonylureas stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas and induce greater production of insulin. Similarly, DPP-4 inhibitors helps prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) complications.
While diabetes is not a curable illness, managing it with exercise, dietary changes and proper medications will allow patients to lead a normal life. Therefore, identifying whether or not a person is suffering from diabetes is most critical for taking control of the illness and curb its progression.