How to Understand Diabetes

Diabetes results from the body's inability to produce sugar in the blood. Sugar in the blood is called glucose. The liver manufactures sugar that is in food. It is an essential element, but excess can be dangerous to vital body organs. Many people are not even aware they have diabetes until it becomes a life threatening condition. The following steps will help you understand more about diabetes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Get educated on the signs of diabetes. The signs to look for are fatigue, excessive thirst, frequent urination, frequent infections that are slow to heal, tingling in hands or limbs, blurring of vision and excessive weight loss or gain.
2. Understand diabetes types. Type 1 diabetes exists when the immune system attacks cell that produces insulin. Insulin is introduced into the body via pills or injections. The nutrients that are normally stored in the cells are stored in the blood. The cells are in a starvation state, causing dehydration from frequent urination.
3. Get data on racial groups most affected. Type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in Caucasians rather than African-Americans and affect both men and women at an equal ratio.
4. Factor the age for diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes traditionally starts before the age of 20, but it can appear at any time. If untreated, Type 1 diabetes can result in amputation, blindness or death. Type 2 diabetes, however, usually doesn't develop until someone reaches middle to late age.
5. Understand Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form. Type 2 diabetics generally do not require insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced but there is a struggle with input and output of urine causing frequent infections. The main factors are obesity and hypertension.