Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
There are two main types of diabetes –
1. Type 1 diabetes and
2. Type 2 diabetes.
Pre-diabetes
Many more people have blood glucose levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes.
This is sometimes known as prediabetes. If your blood glucose level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased.
Diabetes must be diagnosed as early as possible because it will worsen if left untreated.
Symptoms of diabetes
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
-Feeling very thirsty
-Urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling very tired
-Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- Itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
- Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- Blurred vision
Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over a few hours or even days.
Many people have had type 2 diabetes for years without realizing it because the early symptoms tend to be general.
What causes diabetes?
The amount of glucose in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.
When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy.
However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.
Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As insulin production decreases until no more is produced, your glucose levels increase, which can seriously damage the body's organs.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops before age 40, often during the teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes.
If you're diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you'll need insulin injections for the rest of your life.
You'll also need to pay close attention to certain aspects of your lifestyle and health to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced.
For example, you'll need to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance.
If you're diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your symptoms simply by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and monitoring your blood glucose levels.
However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, you may eventually need medication, usually in the form of tablets.
Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as maturity-onset diabetes because it's more common in older people.
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