Diabetic Guidelines

The term diabetes refers to a group of diseases that are characterized by blood glucose levels. There are several different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. In a normal, healthy person, food is converted into a substance called glucose, a type of sugar used by the body for energy. Glucose gets into the body's cells with the help of insulin, a chemical that is produced by the pancreas. A diabetic person has trouble producing insulin and as a result, glucose can build up in the blood.

Types

• As mentioned, there are several different types of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs in adults and accounts for the majority of diabetes. It can be caused by certain factors such as obesity, family history, physical inactivity and race. Type 1 diabetes only accounts for five to 10 percent of cases and can occur in children. It is may be the result of a specific virus that causes the immune system to attack the pancreas. Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and affects up to five percent of pregnancies. It can cause complications for both mother and baby and is also often associated with obesity.

Symptoms

• Diabetes has many different symptoms. Some people may experience all of the symptoms while others may have some or none of them. Some signs to look for are frequent urination, hunger, rapid weight loss, sores and other infections that are slow to heal, excessive thirst, changes in vision and exhaustion. Other symptoms include tingling or numbness in extremities, dry skin and occasionally nausea and vomiting.

Diagnosis

• Visit your doctor if you are at risk for diabetes or have any of the common symptoms. The recommended way of diagnosing diabetes is through blood tests. The glycated hemoglobin test measures blood sugar level over the course of several months. The test measures the percentage of hemoglobin, which have blood sugar attached, an indication of high blood sugar levels. Other tests include random blood sugar tests, fasting blood sugar tests and oral glucose tolerance tests. These tests can also often predict pre-diabetes as well. Gestational diabetes can be diagnosed via a blood test that is performed around the 26th week of pregnancy.

Treatment

• Control your diabetes with constant monitoring, medication and lifestyle changes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes require exercise, healthy eating and close monitoring of blood glucose levels. People who have type 1 diabetes often have to supplement insulin with daily injections or by wearing an insulin pump for 24 hour care. Sometimes those with type 2 diabetes also require insulin or other medications. Diabetes affects many different parts of the body, so it is important that patients seek regular care from endocrinologists, undergo eye exams and practice foot care.

Prevention

• Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented by eating healthy, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight. Preventing type 1 diabetes is more difficult, as researches have yet to identify the exact triggers. Currently, there are no proven cures for diabetes and scientists are working to find one. Often, type 2 diabetes can actually be reversed by losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle in terms of diet and exercise.