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 | Overview |
| | Definition Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar), resistance to insulin, or both. Alterative Name Diabetes mellitus There are three major types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. The body makes little or no insulin, and daily injections of insulin are required to sustain life. Without proper daily management, medical emergencies can arise.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 and makes up 90% or more of all cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adulthood. Here, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to the insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the growing number of older Americans, increasing obesity, and failure to exercise.
Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a person who does not have diabetes.
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| Causes |
| | To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process of food metabolism. Several things happen when food is digested: Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas gland in the abdomen. It controls the use of glucose within the body. The blood sugar level will rise if: - the pancreas produces little or no insulin (Type 1 diabetes)
- the pancreas produces insulin, but it's inadequate for the body’s needs and its effectiveness is reduced (Type 2 diabetes).
It's thought Type 2 diabetes is related to factors associated with a Western lifestyle, since it's most common in people who are overweight and who don't get enough exercise. Gestational diabetes is brought about by the many hormone changes and demands placed upon the body during pregnancy. Secondary diabetes is much like Type 2 diabetes. It's quite variable, depending on the underlying cause. |
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| Symptoms |
| | High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, weight loss, and blurry vision. However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes: Symptoms of type 2 diabetes: Increased thirst Increased urination Increased appetite Fatigue Blurred vision Slow-healing infections Impotence in men.
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| Risk Factors |
| | There are many risk factors for diabetes, including: A parent, brother, or sister with diabetes Obesity Age greater than 45 years Some ethnic groups (particularly African-Americans and Hispanic Americans) Gestational diabetes or delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds High blood pressure High blood levels of triglycerides (a type of fat molecule) High blood cholesterol level.
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