Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a chronic condition marked by abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. People with the diabetes either do not produce enough insulin (insulin is hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food in to energy) or cannot use the insulin that their bodies produce. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney diseases, nerve diseases, heart diseases and stroke.

Types:

Diabetes mainly is of two types:

1)      TYPE 1: It is also called as Juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes, when the cells of pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin are destroyed by the immune system. As a result, the pancreas permanently loses its ability to produce enough. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood, and while it can be managed, it can’t be cured.

2)      TYPE 2: It is also called as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or Adult onset diabetes mellitus. It occurs when the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal and is made worse by poor food choices, sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the increase in obesity and failure to exercise. It can be improved – and even in some cases reversed by life style changes, like adopting healthy diet, losing extra weight and becoming more active.

3)      Pre-diabetes: This is also called as Impaired fasting glucose (IFG), Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or Insulin resistance.  In IFG, glucose levels are a little high several hours after a person eats. In IGT, glucose levels are a little higher than normal right after eating. It is occurs in those individuals with the blood glucose levels that are higher than the normal but not enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

4)      Gestational Diabetes: It is High blood glucose that develops at anytime during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Although it usually disappears after delivery, the mother is at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

CAUSES: 

 Type 1 and Type 2 both are caused by the absence, insufficient production, or lack of response by beta cells in the body to the hormone insulin.

Type1: In this diabetes the beta cells of pancreas produce little or no insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter body cells. Once glucose enters a cell, then it is used as fuel. Without adequate insulin, glucose to enter body cells. Once glucose enters cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream, leading to increased hunger.

Tpye2: It usually develops in older, overweight individuals who become resistant to the effects of insulin over time. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin but for some unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively this is called as insulin resistance.  Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the type 2 diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis.

Risk Factors:

Risk factors for Type 1:

       Family history of type 1diabetes

      Viral infections during infancy, including mumps, rubella.

       Mother who had pre- eclampsia

       Family history of autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’s disease, Myasthenia gravis,  Addison’s diseases and pernicious anemia.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

       Family history of type 2 diabetes

       Age older than 45 years

      Abnormal levels of Cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood

      Sedentary lifestyle and high – fat, high- calorie diet

      Excess of body fat esp. around the waist

      High blood pressure

       History of gestational diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Sign and Symptoms:

S. No.	TYPE 1 DIABETES	TYPE 2 DIABETES
1	Increased thirst	Numbness of feet’s,  soles
2	Increased Urination	Blurred vision
3	Weight loss despite of increased appetite	Poor wound healing
4	Nausea	Excessive urination & thirst
5	Vomiting	Yeast infections
6	Abdominal Pain	Whole body itching
7	Absence of Menstruation	Impotence
8	Fatigue	Fatigue

 

Complication:   

Type 1 diabetes generally has more complications than type 2 diabetes.

Main long term complications are:

1)      Heart diseases

2)      Kidney diseases

3)      Neuropathy

4)      Foot ulcer and infection

5)      Vision loss and blindness

6)      Skin problems

      7)      Hair loss etc.

 Prevention:

 1) Get more physical activity due to that you will (i) loose weight (ii) Lower your insulin (iii) Increase your sensitivity to insulin.

2) Get plenty of Fiber due to that (i) reduce weight (ii) decrease risk of heart diseases (iii) reduce risk of diabetes.

3) Loose your extra weight

4) Skip the fatty foods and diets.