Diabetes information

Diabetes is a chronic disease that is characterized by the increase in the blood glucose levels. The hormone insulin is responsible or the regulation of the blood glucose levels. In diabetes either the insulin production decreases or the body cells fail to absorb glucose.

Type of diabetes

There are basically three common types of diabetes.

Type I diabetes: This is usually seen to occur in children and children below the age of 30 years. However, it can also be seen in adults. In this type the body would not be making insulin at all or the production of insulin would be less.

Type II diabetes: This is mostly seen in adults above the age of 30 years. In this type the body becomes insulin resistance or the production of insulin in the body decreases.

Gestational diabetes: this is seen in pregnant women and is similar to type II diabetes.

The signs and symptoms of diabetes

In most of the cases of diabetes people are unaware whether they are suffering from diabetes. It is very important that people should notice the following symptoms and if they appear they should visit the doctor as soon as they can.

Being very thirsty

Urinating often

Feeling very hungry or tired

Losing or gaining weight without trying

Having sores that heal slowly

Having dry, itchy skin

Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet

Having blurry eyesight

The symptoms appear early in Type I diabetes but are slow in Type II diabetes. There are even some patients who would not show any symptoms of diabetes.

Factors that can increase the risk of getting diabetes

The causes for diabetes is still unknown but still there are certain factors that have been assessed to increase the risk of getting diabetes in some people.

Family history of diabetes;

If you are African American, Hispanic American/Latino, American Indian, Native Alaskan, Asian American, or Pacific Islander;

If you have high blood pressure (at or above 130/80);

If you have a history of gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth;

If you are overweight or obese;

IF you are have a sedentary lifestyle; or are inactive

If you are older than 45 years of age.

Testing diabetes

The amount of glucose in the body varies depending on the time and the type of food that you have had. However it is supposed to be in a narrow range. The blood glucose is highest after you have eaten and low when you have no eaten anything for the past 8-10 hours. The normal fasting blood glucose is within the range of 70-100mg/dL. After a meal this rises but ideally should not be more than 140md/dL.

To test you for diabetes the doctor testes the blood and the urine sugar levels. After these are other clinical testes it is determined whether you have diabetes or not. These tests are as follows:

Fasting plasma glucose test: Blood samples are taken form the person after he has not eaten anything for the past 8-10 hours.. If your fasting blood glucose is 126mg/dL or higher, your doctor will probably diagnose you with diabetes.

Random blood sugar test. Usually when people go for tests they would have eaten something. In such cases when samples are withdrawn the blood sugar level should not be more than 200mg/dL. If the random blood glucose is higher than 200mg/dL, your doctor will probably suspect diabetes and may want to give you a fasting plasma glucose test.

Oral glucose tolerance test. The person is given a glucose drink and blood samples are withdrawn at regular intervals for three hours and tested. If plasma glucose levels rise more than normal, the person is diagnosed with diabetes. This test is often used to check pregnant women for gestational diabetes. It is rarely used to diagnose diabetes in other patients, because it is cumbersome and time-consuming.

Treatment of diabetes

Diabetes is treated according to the severity of the disease. treatment of type I diabetes includes insulin, exercise and a diabetic diet. In type II diabetes it is treated with initial weight reduction, a diabetes diet plan and exercise. If diabetes is not controlled by these measures then oral medications are used and if these also fail them treatment with insulin is taken into consideration.

Diabetes is mainly treated by:

Oral hypoglycemic medications that reduce the glucose levels in the body

Insulin

Upcoming strategies of treatment

Medicines that increase the insulin output by the pancreas: sulfonylureas (chlorpropamide and tolbutamide) and meglitinides (repaglinide and nateglinide).

Medications that decrease the glucose produced by the liver: Metformin and Phenformin

Medications that increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin: Troglitazone, pioglitazone and rosiglitazone

Medications that decrease the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine: acarbose, symlin

Combination medications:

Making the use of combination medications results in the patient taking fewer pills and better compliance.

Treatment with insulin: Insulin forms the main treatment option in diabetes when the glucose levels cannot be controlled by weight loss, diet plans, exercise and oral medications. Insulin should be given in the same manner, as it is available in the natural form in the body.

There are a number of newer treatments that are being developed. Some of these are undergoing clinical trials and patients can easily benefit from these trials by taking part in it. You should consult your physician about the how can you take part.

Preventing diabetes

There are a number of diabetes prevention programs that are being run so as to educate people on diabetes and how can they delay diabetes. Having a balanced diet and regular physical activity can prevent diabetes. It is advised that people with or without the risk of getting diabetes should include a daily physical workout of 30 minutes in their schedule.

Diabetes information

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