Living With Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. There are three main forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. These three forms have similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but are rooted in different causes. Type 1 diabetes is an incurable chronic condition.

It is usually due to the autoimmune destruction of insulin producing cells (pancreatic beta cells).It is also the number one cause of childhood diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from a tissue-wide resistance to insulin, and can progress to loss of beta cell function. It is also an incurable chronic condition. Similar to Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes also involves insulin resistance. Occurring in women that are genetically predisposed to developing the condition, insulin resistance is brought on by the hormones of pregnancy. It typically resolves upon delivery. Diabetes can cause many complications. Some of the serious long-term complications are cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and kidney disease. As well, diabetics can develop chronic renal failure, and the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly is diabetes related retinal failure. Nerve damage and microvascular damage are also complications which can result in erectile dysfunction and poor healing. The leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults is the poor healing of wounds seen in long term diabetes sufferers. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control, and leading a healthy lifestyle, can improve the risk profile of most of the above complications.

Diabetes Symptoms

Since the symptoms of diabetes seem relatively harmless, diabetes often goes undiagnosed. However, early detection of diabetes symptoms is key in lowering the chances of developing the complications associated with diabetes. Symptoms include: * Frequent urination * Excessive thirst * Extreme hunger * Unusual weight loss * Increased fatigue * Irritability * Blurry vision

Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetes

The diagnosis of diabetes involves a blood test, to measure blood sugar levels, and is administered by a physician or health care provider. Since blood glucose levels inevitably vary with food intake, it is important to consider the timing of this test in relation to meals. To help ensure blood glucose reading accuracy, the levels are classified into casual plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose, and oral glucose. Casual plasma glucose refers to a blood sugar measurement taken without regard to the time of the last meal. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) refers to a blood sugar measurement taken after a person has not eaten for at least eight hours. For an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a person must first fasts for at least eight hours. He or she is then given a 75g glucose load, and blood sugar is measured at 1 and/or 2 hour intervals.

Diabetes Treatment

The primary goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar at a constant controlled level. Treatment of type 1 diabetes includes, insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. The first stage of treatment of type 2 diabetes involves weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. If these measures fail to control blood sugar levels, diabetes medications used. Finally, if oral medication is still insufficient, insulin treatment is considered.