Important Information on Diabetes
Diabetes is a medical condition characterized primarily by the inability of your body to regulate the amount of glucose in your blood. Glucose provides you with the energy needed for the performance of your daily activities. It is produced by your liver from the foods that you consume. In a healthy individual, blood glucose is regulated by a number of hormones, including insulin, which is produced by your pancreas. The pancreas also secretes other important enzymes that aid in food digestion.
Diabetes comes in two types. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body is no longer able to produce insulin or produces too little of it, which results in the inability to regulate blood glucose levels. This type of the disease comprises about ten percent of all reported cases and is typically diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. For this reason, it was previously known as juvenile diabetes. However, this condition can also occur in older individuals due to damage in the pancreas caused by alcohol, disease, or pancreas removal by surgery.
Treatment of this condition has both immediate and long-term goals. The immediate goals include the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. And because this condition often occurs suddenly, newly-diagnosed patients may have to stay in the hospital for a few days. The long-term goals of treatment include the reduction of symptoms and the prevention of complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness, and heart disease.
People with this condition are no longer able to make their own insulin, so they will have to take it every single day. The usually method of taking insulin is by injecting it under the skin. It may also be continuously delivered by a pump in some cases. Injections of insulin are generally delivered from one to four times each day. Your healthcare provider will teach you how to administer an insulin injection. In cases where the patient is a child, the injections will be administered by a parent or other adult. You will have to learn how to adjust your insulin intake when you exercise, when you are sick, when you consume more or less food, and when you are travelling.
When you suffer from Type 1 diabetes, you should eat at about the same times every day and try to be as consistent with the types of food you eat as possible. It is advisable for you to consult a licensed dietician or nutritionist. Regular exercise is also helpful for controlling the amount of glucose in your blood and for burning off excess calories and maintaining a healthy weight. Again, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional before embarking on an exercise program. Your doctor may also prescribe some medications to reduce the likelihood of complications.
When your pancreas is able to secrete insulin, but your body is unable to use it, you develop a condition that is often called insulin resistance. Your body will try to overcome the resistance by producing more and more insulin. When your body can no longer keep up with the higher demands for insulin, Type 2 diabetes then occurs. This type comprises about 90% of all reported cases and is typically diagnosed in adulthood, often after the age of 45. Treatment is usually comprised of diet and exercise, although more than half of those who suffer from this condition also need insulin to control their blood glucose levels at some point. In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe medications to treat Type 2 diabetes.
