Diabetes is a problem with the way the body converts food for energy and growth. In diabetes, the cells don’t get enough sugar, eventually leading to serious …
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Diabetes
Fact: If one is overweight, losing even a few pounds can improve blood sugar levels Fiction: Its a myth that type 2 diabetics require a low-sugar diet Prevention: You may be able to prevent diabetes through healthy habits alone Treatment: Effective treatments include a healthy lifestyle and medication Diabetes is a problem with the way the body converts food for energy and growth One of the silent killers, the first sign of untreated diabetes may be a diabetic coma
Understanding Diabetes
Normally, the digestive system converts part of food into a sugar called glucose Glucose enters the bloodstream to fuel your cells For the cells to use the sugar, they need a hormone called insulin that the pancreas produces Two types of diabetes exist: In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesnt produce enough insulin In type 2 diabetes, the body doesnt respond normally to the insulin your body makes insulin resistance Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and generally stabilizes after childbirth In diabetes, the cells dont get enough sugar, eventually leading to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure,
nerve damage, blindness and tissue damage due to circulation problems
About Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes affects 10 of diabetics–up to a million people in the US Also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus IDDM or juvenile-onset diabetes, type 1 usually develops before age 30 The bodys own immune system, perhaps triggered by a virus, attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas The body does not make enough insulin, so the body cannot turn blood glucose into energy without injections of insulin Type 1 diabetics must receive insulin daily for life Symptoms develop abruptly and include: Thirst, dry mouth and dehydration Frequent urination Extreme hunger Unexplained weight loss Weakness and fatigue Inability to pay attention Fruity-smelling breath
Children with type 1 diabetes may develop problems in school and relapse into urinary incontinence after being dry for months or even years Although type 1 diabetes runs in families, if one identical twin has this form of diabetes, the chances of the other identical twin being a type 1 diabetic are less than 50
About Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus NIDDM
or adult-onset diabetes, affects 90 of those with diabetes In this form, the body needs more insulin than normal, and sugar builds up in the blood It occurs most often after age 40 in overweight people, and can often be treated with lifestyle changes alone although about a third of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin injections Type 2 diabetes calls for a low calorie diet, but not necessarily a low sugar diet Blood sugar is often high in the morning even if one doesnt eat at night The liver releases stored sugar, and can also manufacture sugar from fats The muscles and other tissues require less sugar during sleep, so sugar builds up Symptoms of type 2 develop more slowly than type 1, and include: Excessive thirst Frequent urination Blurred vision Recurring bladder, vaginal and skin infections Slow-healing sores Irritability Tingling or loss of feeling in hands or feet Chances of type 2 diabetes increase with a family history of diabetes or if one is overweight Type 2 diabetes causes long-term damage to the large and small arteries, in part because of its common partners: high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol This leads to heart attack, stroke, problems with
feet and legs and amputations more than half of those performed in the US, kidney failure 40 of dialysis patients, blindness, stomach and bowel problems, dizziness when standing, impotence and localized nerve failures
About Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in about 7 of pregnant women late in pregnancy when hormones interfere with insulin Although it often resolves after childbirth, women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later Some have the usual diabetic symptoms, while some have no symptoms Unli 
ke type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes rarely causes birth defects although the babys blood sugar should be monitored after birth However, babies may be larger than usual, and your doctor may induce labor Control weight before pregnancy to reduce risk
When Its an Emergency
An insulin reaction or low blood sugar results from too much insulin, excess exercise or too little food Symptoms include: Trembling and weakness Drowsiness Confusion Dizziness Double vision Seizures Loss of consciousness The victim should eat something containing sugar, such as fruit juice, candy, or sugared soft drinks, and check blood sugar
level Seek emergency care if the
victim vomits, is unable to cooperate or if symptoms persist more than 30 minutes after treatment Stay with the diabetic at least an hour after recovery to be sure the person is thinking clearly A diabetic coma, also known as diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA, develops more slowly than an insulin reaction, often over hours or days, and results from high blood sugar hyperglycemia Most often, it occurs when a diabetic skips a dose or is ill Symptoms include: Nausea and vomiting Abdominal pain Weakness Thirst Sweet-smelling breath Deeper and more rapid breathing Gradual confusion and loss of consciousness Diabetic coma may be the first symptom of undiagnosed diabetes
Prevention and Treatment
Breastfeeding a child seems to help reduce that childs chances of diabetes, as does introducing solid foods at a later age Good health habits can prevent diabetes, and help treat it once it exists Seek: A healthy weight Some people are able to treat type 2 diabetes with weight loss alone A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods Regular aerobic exercise Normal cholesterol levels and blood pressure Avoidance of alcohol A balanced lifestyle and a
positive frame of mind stress and tension narrow arteries and make the heart beat stronger, for double impact on blood pressure Also: Dont smoke, which can make bad circulation worse Keep up vaccinations including the annual flu vaccine Get regular eye and foot exams Doctors recommend that diabetics eat something before or during exercise, and try to schedule exercise at a regular time each day Drink plenty of fluids, and choose low impact activities to avoid eye damage and feet problems Foot care is very important to maintain circulation and avoid amputation: Check feet regularly for sores, color changes or altered sensation Get help or use a mirror to examine all surfaces Wash feet daily and dry them thoroughly and gently Trim toenails straight across and file off rough edges Dont remove warts or trim calluses or corns yourself Clothes and shoes are important to foot care: Dont walk barefoot, inside or outside Wear cushioned, well-fitting shoes, checking the insides daily for wear and rough edges Avoid tight clothing around the legs and ankles Wear socks when it is cold The good lifestyle choices that can help prevent diabetes can also help treat it Diabetics need to find the
balance–eating and exercising enough but not too
much Often health care providers will assign you a health care team to teach you how to check your blood sugar and learn to adjust medication levels It may include a nutritionist to help you schedule healthy meals All type 1 diabetics, and one-third of type 2 diabetics, require insulin It must be taken by injection or a pump, because the digestive tract breaks down insulin taken orally With more than 20 types of insulin, your health care team may experiment to see which type works best for you InteliHealth Mayo Clinic
OnlineBenefits, Inc The information presented in these articles is provided for educational purposes only It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment Always seek the advice of your doctor or other medical professional if you have questions about any medical condition, diagnosis or treatment OnlineBenefits, Inc will not be liable for any damages arising from the use of this information, and makes no warranties or representations of any kind with respect to the information contained herein
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