November is American Diabetes Month and awareness about the disease is being raised to help stop it in it’s tracks!.
Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases that result in high blood sugars either because the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin due to a defect in the beta cells or because the body can’t use the insulin produced due to insulin resistance.
There are three main forms types of diabetes:
- Type I: Also known as juvenile diabetes because it is frequently diagnosed in children. It is a result of the pancreas not producing enough or any insulin due to a defect in the beta cells. It requires treatment with insulin.
- Type II: Also referred to as adult onset diabetes. It is a result of the body not being able to properly use insulin produced. The condition is often referred to as insulin resistance. This type of diabetes is treated with insulin as well as medications that make the body sensitive to insulin.
- Gestational Diabetes: Occurs in pregnant women and usually predisposes them to Type 2 diabetes.
Another category called pre-diabetes was recently added. This is when blood sugars are elevated but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. A normal fasting blood glucose target range for an individual without diabetes is 70-100 mg/dL. The American Diabetes Association recommends a fasting plasma glucose level of 70–130 mg/dL and after meals less than 180 mg/dL
The three classic signs of diabetes are Polyphagia (Increased hunger) , Polydipsia (Increased thirst) and Polyuria (Frequent or increased urination).
Untreated diabetes results in the accumulation of sugar and blood in the urine forcing the body to metabolize fat for energy. The byproducts of the alternate fat metabolism disturb the acid-base balance of the blood and can cause acute complications like Ketoacidosis (Primarily occurs in Type I diabetes) or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma (Primarily occurs in Type II diabetes).
Untreated diabetes can also lead to serious long term complications like retinal damage (causing blindness), chronic kidney failure, heart disease and peripheral neuropathy (Nerve damage in the extremities) to name a few.
I have a prevention is better than cure motto especially with Type II diabetes. If you can stop it before it starts then you’re ahead of the game. If you already have type II diabetes then you can stop it in it’s tracks with an appropriate diet, exercise (Helps your body overcome insulin resistance) & medication (Work with your health care provider to see which medications are right for you). Commitment to a healthy lifestyle and compliance is key.
Unfortunately Type I Diabetes requires insulin supplementation for life or pancreatic beta cell transplantation for a cure but commitment to a healthy lifestyle and compliance is also key in managing it.
As always, contact your personal healthcare provider to determine a regimen that’s best for you in managing the disease if you have diabetes. If you don’t, that’s a good thing but everyone can help spread awareness of the disease so we stop it in it’s tracks!
Below is a link to the American Diabetes Association for more information:
