Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where in human body does not produce or properly uses insulin, a hormone that is required to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy.

Diabetes prevalence has increased steadily in the last half of this century and will continue rising. Research shows that the number of people with diabetes is increasing due to population growth, aging, urbanization, and increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity.

Why should I be aware of this?

• It can affect both children and adult. If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you might be experiencing emotions ranging from fear, anger, denial, frustration, depression and uncertainty.
• It is easy to become overwhelmed by your diabetes and all that comes along with it. But it is possible to break that mind set and realize living successfully with diabetes is achievable.
• Most people with diabetes have health problems -- or risk factors -- such as high blood pressure and cholesterol that increase one's risk for heart disease and stroke. When combined with diabetes, these risk factors add up to big trouble. In fact, more than 65% of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. With diabetes, heart attacks occur earlier in life and often result in death. By managing diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, people with diabetes can reduce their risk.

All about diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. There are four major types of diabetes

1. Type 1 diabetes -- In Type 1 diabetes, insulin, a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy, is not created.
2. Type 2 diabetes -- Type 2 diabetes is more common than other forms of diabetes. In this, the body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. Pre-diabetes is a subclass of type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 57 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 23.6 million with diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes impede a person’s carefree life. When breakdown of glucose is stopped completely, body uses fat and protein for producing the energy.

1. Gestational diabetes -- Immediately after pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, usually, type 2.

Causes

• Hereditary -- If one or both the parents are diabetic, the child has much greater risk for diabetes.
• Age -- Risk of diabetes increases with age.
• Poor Diet -- Improper nutrition, low protein and fiber intake, high intake of refined products are the expected reasons for developing diabetes.
• Obesity --Obesity means increased insulin resistance and therefore higher risk.
• Sedentary Lifestyle -- People with sedentary lifestyle are more prone to diabetes, when compared to those who exercise thrice a week, are at low risk of falling prey to diabetes.
• Stress -- There is a high correlation between stress and diabetes.
• Sex -- Diabetes is commonly seen in elderly especially males but, strongly in women and those females with multiple pregnancy or suffering from (PCOS) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Diabetes and health

Diabetes is the primary reason for adult blindness, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), gangrene and amputations. Overweight, lack of exercise, family history and stress increase the likelihood of diabetes. When blood sugar level is constantly high it leads to kidney failure, cardiovascular problems and neuropathy. Patients with diabetes are 4 times more likely to have coronary heart disease and stroke. In addition, Gestational diabetes is more dangerous for pregnant women and their fetus

What can I do?

• Get moving. Regular exercise increases the body's sensitivity to insulin, lowers blood sugar levels and cuts the risk of developing diabetes by half.
• Eat less. Overweight people with a prediabetic condition who lose less than five to seven per cent of their body weight are almost half as likely to get diabetes than those who take the diabetes prevention drug Metformin.
• Use of Blood Glucose meter. There are some Wireless Glucose Meter that automatically sends your test results to a secure database. You and the people who support you—healthcare providers, family, anyone you choose—can view the information anytime.

90 degrees -- what we do not know yet

• Diabetics have a significantly greater risk of dementia, both Alzheimer's disease — the most common form of dementia — and other dementia, reveals important new data from an ongoing study of twins. The risk of dementia is especially strong if the onset of diabetes occurs in middle age, according to the study.
• Dutch research has shown that a diet of low-fat products is better than smaller portions of normal high-fat food for preventing diabetes in obese people.
• Individuals with mild cognitive impairment appear more likely to have earlier onset, longer duration and greater severity of diabetes, according to a report.
• Patients who have chronic hepatitis C with advanced fibrosis have twice the risk of developing liver cancer if they also have diabetes.

CopperBytes

• The average chance of developing diabetes is about one in 48 for ages 18 to 44, but after that it jumps to one in nine!
• Chances of developing diabetes double the moment a parent, or a sibling is diagnosed with it before the age of 45. If two immediate blood relatives are diagnosed, the chances of getting the dreaded disorder quadruple.
• Being overweight and leading a sedentary life are two biggest predictors of diabetes.
• Also at increased risk are women who have had gestational diabetes, a supersize baby (more than nine pounds) or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
• In 2007, 246 million people worldwide had diabetes. It is expected to affect 380 million by 2025.
• In 2007, the five countries with the largest numbers of people with diabetes are India (40.9 million), China (39.8 million), the United States (19.2 million), Russia (9.6 million) and Germany (7.4 million).

References

• Diabetes
• All About Diabetes
• Diabetes
• Diabetes