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Diabetes is a serious
condition that is lifelong and life threatening if not treated with
respect. In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 20
million individuals suffer from this disease. Of those, it is estimated
that at least 6 million have not been diagnosed. That is a lot of people
that have diabetes and are not aware they have this disease.
What are the beginning signs & Symptoms of diabetes to
look for ?
Many individuals discover they are diabetic only when they visit their
family doctors for other ailments. It are these early warning signs of
diabetes that many people attribute to other conditions.
1. Frequency of urination - This happens when blood sugar levels
are raised, increasing the amount of blood flowing through the kidneys.
Many people, as they get older, will experience increased urination
problems. They write this condition off as growing older. When diabetes
is the cause, it needs to be diagnosed. Left untreated, diabetes can
lead to the kidneys failing and shutting down.
2. Extreme hunger - Because of the lack of insulin the body is
not producing, the body receives signals it is hungry. This symptom is
experienced when the body's energy is deficient from not receiving
enough insulin from the blood stream to the cells.
3. Unexplained, or sudden weight loss - When the body is not
receiving enough cellular energy, the body begins to break down it's own
fat and muscle to replace the energy, the body is lacking.
4. Fatigue - Feeling tired and rundown is caused by the decreased
energy levels.
5. Depression and irritability are no experienced as a result of the
above symptom the body is going through because of the diabetes.
6. Extreme thirst is also triggered due to the diabetes depleting
the body of energy.
7. Impaired vision can also be experienced as a symptom of
diabetes when more blood volume leads to the eye's lens swelling. When
diabetes is left untreated, blindness can be experienced.
8. Loss of feeling or numbness, usually in the feet, legs, arms
or hands areas of the body. Experiencing any of these symptoms in any of
these areas can be a warning sign of diabetes.
If you are experiencing any of the beginning signs of diabetes, you
should get tested. Testing for diabetes is also recommended for
individuals that are over forty-five years of age and overweight.
Diabetes and pre-diabetes testing is diagnosed by checking the blood
glucose levels of a person's blood.
These symptoms and others will progress in time and get more critical if
the diabetes is present and goes undiagnosed and untreated. These
beginning signs of diabetes should not be ignored. As this disease
progresses, more complications will arise, putting your life in
jeopardy.
This is not a disease that will go away by itself. Diabetes will only
progress if not treated. In the United States, diabetes is sixth leading
cause of death.
What causes diabetes ?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas gland in the abdomen. It
controls the use of glucose within the body.
The blood sugar level will rise if:
* the pancreas produces little or no insulin (Type 1 diabetes)
* the pancreas produces insulin, but it's inadequate for the body’s
needs and its effectiveness is reduced (Type 2 diabetes).
It's thought Type 2 diabetes is related to factors associated with a
Western lifestyle, since it's most common in people who are overweight
and who don't get enough exercise.
Gestational diabetes is brought about by the many hormone changes and
demands placed upon the body during pregnancy.
Secondary diabetes is much like Type 2 diabetes. It's quite variable,
depending on the underlying cause. It can be caused by damage to the
pancreas (eg by alcohol), and drugs such as steroids and diuretics can
impair insulin secretion from the pancreas.
Types of Diabetes -
* Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. It is usually
seen in young people.
* Type 2 diabetes - usually non insulin-dependent diabetes. It
tends to affect adults over 40 and overweight people.
There are also other types of diabetes.
* Pregnancy diabetes - This is known as gestational diabetes.
It's associated with pregnancy and symptoms usually disappear after the
birth. If you get gestational diabetes, you have an increased risk of
developing one of the main types of diabetes later in life.
* Secondary diabetes - This is when diabetes is caused as the
result of another condition, eg inflammation of the pancreas, or by the
use of certain medication such as diuretics or steroids (the most common
cause).
Diabetes Treatment -
Diabetes is treated in two ways:
1) a combination of healthy diet and exercise
2) medication with tablets and/or insulin.
Insulin injections increase the amount of insulin in your body and bring
down the blood sugar level. Insulin injections are used in Type 1
diabetes and in some cases of Type 2.
These can be given once a day as a long-acting insulin, or as
shorter-acting injections given more frequently through the day, and can
be used in combination with tablet treatment if necessary.
There are different types of oral medication for treating Type 2
diabetes:
* some increase the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas
* some increase the action of insulin in the body
* some delay the absorption of glucose from the digestive system
* some suppress a hormone called glucagon, which is secreted by the
pancreas and stops insulin from working.
Treatment for diabetes depends on the individual.
It starts the first time you give yourself an insulin injection or take
a diabetes tablet, and continues through eating a well-balanced diet and
starting an exercise programme.
To help you get the most out of treatment, consult your GP or hospital
healthcare team, which should include a diabetes nurse specialist.
Blood sugar levels
Monitoring blood sugar levels is an important aspect of treatment,
especially in Type 1 diabetes where levels can change markedly.
This can be done easily at home with a small blood glucose meter.
Depending on the reading, you may need to adjust your diet, the amount
you exercise or your insulin intake.
Managing diabetes
In the long term, diabetes is monitored through routine check-ups by
your doctor and/or annual check-ups at the hospital on an outpatient
basis.
Their purpose is to determine if treatment is satisfactory and to look
out for any evidence of longer-term complications such as eye or kidney
disease.
Tests for these complications are usually done at the annual check-up,
while routine check-ups may be carried out every three to six months.
Routine check-ups
* Blood sample to check the level of HbA1c (a measure of long-term
glucose) in the blood.
* Evaluation of home glucose readings.
* Discussion of diet.
* Blood pressure.
* Weight check.
* Other tests and examinations as determined by your doctor.
Annual check-ups
* Blood sample to check the amount of HbA1c in the blood.
* Blood sample to determine the amount of fats in the blood.
* Blood sample to check kidney function and various salts in the blood
(mainly sodium and potassium).
* Blood pressure.
* Urine sample to determine the presence of protein (albuminuria). The
appearance of protein can indicate that the small blood vessels
(capillaries) in the kidneys are beginning to be affected by the
diabetes.
* Foot examination, including a check of various pulse points on the
foot to assess circulation, and a check for vibration sensation to
determine if there's any neuropathy (nerve damage) to the foot.
* Weight check.
* Measuring the waistline.
* Discussion of exercise habits.
* Discussion of smoking habits.
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