 Diabetes
occurs when your pancreas has trouble making a hormone called
insulin, or when your body has trouble using the insulin it
makes. Insulin helps the sugar we get from food get into our
bodies' cells to provide energy. Every time we eat, the sugar
(glucose) in our blood rises
above its usual levels until insulin is released. If your body
doesn't make insulin or can't use it properly, your blood sugar
levels will keep rising go too high - and diabetes sets in.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1. Your body is unable to make insulin and you need
daily shots of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Type 2. Your body doesn't make enough insulin or has trouble
using it. Type 2 usually begins in adulthood. About 90% of
people with diabetes have Type 2. It's usually controlled
by medications or watching your diet. In some cases, people
with Type 2 diabetes may need insulin injections to keep their
blood sugar in control.
While many people with diabetes live full and active lives,
it's a serious disease that needs close attention. People with
diabetes have elevations in blood sugar levels that can cause
both short-term and long-term problems. In the short term, high
blood sugar can cause hyperglycemia (you urinate often and are
always thirsty).-this is really a consequence of treatment,
not of the disease-probably best to leave it out-may be confusing.OK
In the long term, high blood sugar levels can harm the blood
vessels. For this reason, diabetes is:
- a leading cause of blindness
- a major cause of heart attack and stroke
- an important factor in developing kidney disease
- a main cause of impotence
- responsible for half of all amputations not caused by accidents
- a major cause of nerve damage that can lead to a tingling
and loss of sensation that usually starts in the feet
Studies have shown that keeping blood sugar as close to the
normal range as possible can help prevent the long-term health
problems listed above. Whichever type of diabetes you have,
you'll need to measure your blood sugar frequently and follow
a treatment plan to keep your blood sugar under control. Your
doctor and pharmacist can show you how to monitor blood sugar
levels. Everyone with diabetes has to learn to eat a diet that
helps keep blood sugar in balance.
If you have diabetes, what you don't know can hurt you. Each
person with diabetes is unique, with different blood sugar levels
and lifestyle habits. Learning all you can about your condition
will go a long way in controlling your disease.
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