Description of Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas secretes an insufficient supply of insulin or the body does not use the insulin efficiently. According to the American Diabetes Association, 8 percent of the people in the United States suffer from some type of diabetes.

Process

Sugar and carbohydrates in food are converted into blood glucose in the body. The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin that bonds with the blood glucose. The blood glucose is then able to convert nutrients into energy and other products.

Type I Diabetes

The onset of type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, occurs most frequently in children and young adults. The pancreas of type I diabetics does not produce any insulin. There is no prevention or cure for this disease.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is also known as adult onset diabetes because it us commonly diagnosed later in life. It is usually caused by obesity or lack of exercise, and a loss of weight or uptake in exercise can usually resolve the disease. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the insulin that it does produce is not used efficiently in the body, which is a condition known as insulin resistance.

Blood-Glucose Levels

Normal blood glucose levels are 70 mg/dl to 120 mg/dl (milligrams of glucose to deciliters of blood). A spike higher than 120 mg/dl is called hyperglycemia. Dips below 70 mg/dl result in a condition called hypoglycemia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of of diabetes can include excessive thirst, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, blurred vision, lack of energy or lethargy, and numbness or tingling in the toes or fingers. If you have these symptoms on a persistent basis, please consult your physician.

Treatment

Treatment for both types of diabetes include a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet and strict exercise regimen. Type 1 diabetics take daily injections of insulin, while oral medication is usually taken by type 2 diabetics.

References

• American Diabetes Association