What is Diabetes?

What is Diabetes?

Many people think diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar, but this not always true. There are actually many causes of diabetes both genetic and lifestyle related. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in June 2008 that 24 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from diabetes. Twenty-five percent of these people are 60 years and older. The risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people without diabetes of similar age.

Genetically speaking, diabetes occurs because the body cannot produce enough insulin, and is known as Type 1 insulin dependence. Type 2 insulin resistance is lifestyle oriented and occurs when the body does not produce or use insulin properly. Since Type 2 diabetes is lifestyle oriented, lifestyle changed can often be made to control the disease. For this reason, more detail is provided regarding this type of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is chronic condition that affects the way body metabolizes sugar (glucose). In a healthy person, blood glucose level are regulated by several hormones, such as insulin which is produce by pancreas. Insulin allows glucose to move from the blood to the liver, muscle, and fat cell where it is uses for fuel. In Type 2 diabetes, cells are partially or completely unable to use the insulin, which is called insulin resistance. The body tries to overcome this problem by secreting more and more insulin. Overtime this can raise the risk for kidney failure and blindness as well as heart disease.

Diabetes type 2 is typically recognized in adulthood, usually in overweight and obese people. Unfortunately a person may have the disease for many years without knowing it. Common symptoms of diabetes are fatigue, unexplained weight loss, excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive eating, poor wound healing, infections, altered mental status and blurry vision.

References:

http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general05.htm

http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/facts/diabetes/en/