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In the United States, nearly 20 million children, as well as adults are affected by diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition in which a person's body cannot use insulin properly or does not produce enough insulin. Insulin
is a hormone in the body that naturally converts starches and sugars into energy the body needs to function. Although the actual cause of diabetes is a mystery, environmental factors, such as lack
of exercise and obesity, as well as genetics play a large role in whether a person will develop diabetes. There are three basic types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and
Gestational Diabetes.
Although being diagnosed with diabetes can be
very upsetting, it is not the end of the world. There are a variety of different ways that you can keep your
diabetes under control, without letting it control your life. There are a variety of different symptoms to look for, if you think you may have diabetes. The two most common symptoms
are excessive thirst and frequent urination. Other symptoms include blurred vision, extreme exhaustion, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, poor wound healing, unexplained weight loss,
dizziness and confusion, as well as several others.In order to properly diagnose a person with diabetes, a patient must go through an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test or a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test.
The American Diabetes Association recommends the Fasting Glucose Test, simply because it is faster, easier and less expensive.
Type 1 diabetes, also known as Juvenile
Diabetes is generally diagnosed in young children and teenagers. However, it can easily be diagnosed in older adults as well. Type 1 diabetes is simply when the body cannot produce enough insulin. Normally, insulin is produced by the pancreas.
However, in someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes, this is not the case.
Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult onset
diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes. With Type 2 diabetes, the body is again unable to
convert sugar into energy. Whether the body is simply producing a small amount of insulin or the body is not reacting to the insulin, the end result is the same. Glucose quickly builds up in the
bloodstream, verses entering the cells.In most cases, Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in adults between 35-45 years of age. Often times, diabetes develops gradually over time. Therefore, many people
do not recognize some of the symptoms and go without having the disease diagnosed.Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman in pregnant. In most cases, she has a family history of diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is generally a temporary condition that goes away after the baby is born. However, when a woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, she is at a higher risk for developing
full blown diabetes later in life.
There are a variety of ways to deal with
diabetes. There is currently no cure for diabetes. Therefore, it is important to find one that works for you and helps you control your diabetes. One of the most valuable resources in
controlling your diabetes is your family physician. He can help you work out a plan to help make your life with diabetes as normal as possible. One of the first ways to keep your diabetes under control is through diet. It is important to cut sugar out of your diet. While it is nearly impossible to
keep all sugar out of your diet, there are a variety of different ways to consume sugar in low quantities. A diet filled with fruits and vegetables is one step in the right direction. Instead of
drinking regular sodas which are filled with sugar, consider drinking a diet soda, which is sugar free. You can also replace your regular sugar, with a sugar substitute. Another great way to help
control your diabetes is through exercise. Exercising not only helps to control the diabetes it also helps your body to get in better shape. Obesity is one factor in developing diabetes. Therefore,
it is important that you maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise.
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