What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a Metabolic disease of the body. It affects the conversion of glucose into energy by the body. Food we eat gets broken into nutrients and is absorbed by the blood during Digestion. Glucose also gets extracted from carbohydrates available in the food and it is absorbed into the blood stream. Glucose provides energy and is needed for growth of cells. Insulin is needed to transfer glucose from blood to cells. Insulin is produced by Pancreas. In a person affected from Diabetes this process gets impaired. Glucose is not absorbed by the cells, it remains in blood stream and eventually passes away from urine. Body cells starve in the absence of glucose and the levels of Blood Sugar rise in the body.
Most common symptoms of Diabetes are Excessive thirst, frequent urination and increased hunger. Other symptoms may include weight loss, tiredness, slow healing of wounds, lack of concentration, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet and Blurred vision. If untreated Diabetes may affect Heart, Kidney and other parts of the body.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition when Pancreas are unable to produce Insulin or Insulin production is low. It is the more severe form of Diabetes. It is also known as Juvenile or Childhood Diabetes, as it usually develops in children and teenagers. It may develop at any age but rarely occurs at age above 40 years. Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease, where the immune system of body thinks the insulin producing cells (Islets) as foreign and destroys them. Insulin production is reduced or even stops without Islets and the body cells starve due to lack of glucose. If untreated, it raises the level of Blood Sugar in the body and may damage Heart, Kidneys, eyes and can also lead to death.
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition where Pancreas produce Insulin but the body cells are unable to use it. It is the most common form of Diabetes. It is also known as Adult Onset Diabetes as it usually develops at age above 35 years. It alone counts for 90 percent of total Diabetes. A body suffering from type 2 Diabetes is able to produce Insulin. However, the body becomes resistant to Insulin and is unable to use it. Central Obesity is believed to be the major cause of Type 2 Diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes is a condition when a pregnant mother has high blood sugar without having any previous history. It is found in 4 percent of all pregnancies. It is a result of hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy. These hormonal changes make body cells less responsive to Insulin. Without enough insulin, glucose keeps building in the blood and its level rises.