Medical Information About Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or properly use it. Insulin converts sugar, starches and other food into energy. Many people who have diabetes don't even know they have it. According to diabetes.org, 5.7 million people in the United States don't even know they have diabetes. In order to diagnose diabetes in a person, doctors will administer a fasting plasma glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test to measure blood glucose levels. Excessively high or low glucose levels can signal diabetes.

Types

• There are four types of diabetes. The first is type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the body doesn't produce insulin at all. It is usually diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence, and people with this type of diabetes have to take supplemental insulin for the rest of their lives. Type 2 diabetes is a result of not properly using insulin combined with not having enough insulin; it is most often seen in adults. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which can develop during or after pregnancy in some women. The fourth type of diabetes is pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes occurs when your blood glucose level is higher than it should be but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes.

Complications

• People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are predisposed for contracting hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels). If this happens it could damage the retina of the eye, the kidneys, the nerves and the blood vessels. Those who get diabetes may also damage the nerves to their autonomic nervous system, which could lead to paralysis of the stomach and chronic diarrhea. It could also lead to atherosclerosis, a narrowing of the arteries due to build-up of plaque, which can lead to blockages or a clot (thrombus) that may travel to the heart. Some other complications are kidney failure, heart attacks and even death.

Causes

• Type 1 diabetes is believed to run in families, but family history seems to be more prevalent in type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes seems to occur in women who give birth to babies weighing more than nine pounds. Other causes of diabetes can be a high-fat diet, high alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle and obesity or overweight. Age also plays a role; those over 45 are at increased risk of developing diabetes.

Symptoms

• Type I diabetes typically displays dramatic and sudden symptoms in childhood or adolescence as a result of a virus or injury which stresses the body of a diabetic excessively. Patients may experience nausea, vomiting and/or dehydration, and if not treated, could even die. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are more subtle, and may not even be recognized at first. Common symptoms for both type 1 and 2 diabetes include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive hunger and poor wound healing. Patients may also be prone to infection, blurry vision and an altered mental status. If you experience any of these symptoms and suspect you may have diabetes, consult your doctor.

When Diabetics Should Seek Medical Care

• Even if your diabetes is controlled, there are some complications that require immediate medical care. Since diabetes can cause decreased circulation in the extremities, people with an injury to the foot or leg--even if it is a small cut or blister--should always seek medical attention, since there is a risk of loss of the limb through amputation if the wound is not treated properly. A fever or infection also can be a signal of complications, as can a persistent cough or painful urination.

Treatment

• Diabetes affects the entire body, therefore, treating diabetes may involve seeing a team of doctors, which will include your primary care physician as well as a dietitian, eye doctor and other specialists. . Treatment will likely include a sensible diet plan, losing weight if you are overweight, stopping smoking, regular exercise and regularly checking blood glucose levels. In some cases, you may need to give yourself insulin injections.