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What Does Diabetes Affect?

Diabetes is a chronic endocrine condition that affects the body's ability to process sugar. There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II, although the defining characteristic of both types is the dangerous buildup of sugar in the bloodstream. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that is present at birth and manifests itself within the first 10 years of a child's life. Type II diabetes is a developed condition that, while it often involves a genetic predisposition, is triggered by hormonal events or lifestyle habits. Diabetes affects many aspects of the body; however, these affected elements can be successfully managed with treatment.

  1. Effects on Insulin

    • Whether an individual is suffering from type I or type II, the fundamental issue of diabetes is the lack of or resistance to insulin production. Insulin is produced in the pancreas, an endocrine gland located in the abdominal cavity. Insulin is an amino acid that has the express purpose of metabolizing ingested sugar into either immediately usable energy or stored energy in the form of fat. Diabetes affects the ability of the pancreas to produce this protein as well as the metabolizing effectiveness of the insulin produced.

    Immediate Effects

    • When the body does not produce enough or becomes resistant to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood stream. Without treatment, it results in a state of high blood sugar called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia can affect the body by causing an increase in thirst and urination, unnatural hunger, blurred vision, fatigue and emotional irritability. Untreated diabetes can also cause rapid weight loss as the body is unable to store ingested energy as fat.

    Long-Term Effects

    • Persistent hyperglycemia over long periods of time can affect other areas of the body in significant and dangerous ways. One of the most common long-term effects of diabetes is chronic yeast infections. The yeast organisms that are naturally found in the body feed off the excess sugar, causing their colonies to become overgrown. Other more serious long-term effects include heart attack, blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage in the hands and feet.

    Lifestyle Effects

    • Diabetes also affects the type of diet an individual can consume on a daily basis. Since ingested sugars are responsible for hyperglycemia, it is important that both type I and type II diabetics maintain diets that are low in carbohydrates and high in proteins and vegetables. Processed sugars, whole grains, starches and certain vegetables like corn are all high in carbohydrates, which are made up of sugars. Ensuring proper hydration and also exercise are also important.

    Prevention/Solution

    • While diabetes can affect many aspects of both body and lifestyle, it is important to note that it is possible to reduce and eliminate these effects through the maintenance of proper treatment. There are a variety of oral medications that can enhance function of both insulin and the pancreas, and insulin injections can be taken with meals to handle sugar on a daily basis.

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