We have discussed diabetes before but because it is a disease that touches so many people it is important to refresh our minds from time to time as to what diabetes is and how it affects the body.
Diabetes is a disease where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to respond the way it should for the insulin produced. (According to the free dictionary by Farlex, insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that acts to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood by causing cells, especially liver and muscle cells, to absorb glucose from the bloodstream) Over a period of time this will result in high blood sugar. There are different types of Diabetes. Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes both impact glucose levels and when left untreated other complications may develop.
Type 1 Diabetes is most commonly diagnosed from infancy to late 30s it can occur at any age. When a person is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes it means their pancreas produces little or no insulin and that the body’s immune system destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. If diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes you may need insulin several times a day. Some people use an injection while others us an infusion insulin pump. Either way it is important to manage your diet and develop good exercise habits. We want you to understood that when someone is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes it affects the entire family. But keep in mind that as serious as Diabetes is it is not unmanageable.
Note that there are warning signs of Type 1 Diabetes that can be mistaken as symptoms of other conditions. For example: Extreme thirst, frequent urination, lethargy and drowsiness, sudden vision changes, increased appetite, weight loss,heavy or labored breathing and sometimes unconsciousness.
Type 2 Diabetes can be easily ignored because in the early stages most people feel fine. However, if left untreated complications can develop and gradually become very serious. Some of the complications caused by Type 2 diabetes are: Heart/Blood Vessel Disease. Diabetes increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke, narrowing of arteries and high blood pressure.
Nerve Damage. Excess sugar in your blood can injure the walls of blood vessels that nourish your nerves. Uncontrolled blood sugar can cause you to lose all sense of feelings in affected limbs. Damage to the nerves that control digestion can cause many problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.
Kidney Damage. There are millions of tiny blood vessel clusters in the kidneys that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can cause damage to the filtering system. If the damage is severe kidney failure or disease can occur. If this happens dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required.
Eye Damage. Diabetes may cause damage to the blood vessels of the retina which can potentially lead to blindness. Diabetes increases the risk of conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Foot Damage. If you develop nerve damage in the feet, or poor blood flow to the feet, the risk of foot complications increases. Severe damage might lead to amputation of a toe, foot, or leg.
Hearing Impairment. The chances of hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.
Skin Conditions. Diabetes has been found to leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
Alzheimer’s Disease. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease may increase if you have Type 2 Diabetes. The exact connection between Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear but it appears that the poorer your blood sugar control, the greater the risk appears to be.
For more information and help treating Diabetes we encourage you to contact WeightoWellness. While they can help you lose weight they are much more. The professionals there can help you with your overall health. Phone 205-994-2393. Homepage http://www.weightowellnesslic.com.