The number of people around the world suffering from diabetes
has skyrocketed in the last two decades, from 30 million to 230 million,
claiming millions of lives and severely taxing the ability of health care
systemsto deal with the epidemic, according to data released Saturday by
the International Diabetes Federation.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which your body cannot properly store and use
fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose, a form
of sugar. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice,
potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs
insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas.
There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational
diabetes. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy.
Types of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous clinical disorder with numerous
causes. Two main classifications of diabetes mellitus exist, idiopathic
and secondary.
Idiopathic diabetes is divided into two main types; insulin dependent and
non-insulin-depenedent. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM (Type 1)
is defined by the development of ketoacidosis in the absence of insulin
therapy. Type 1 diabetes most often manifests in childhood (hence also
called juvenile onset diabetes) and is the result of an autoimmune
destruction of the b-cells of the pancreas. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus, NIDDM (Type 2) is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia but
rarely leads to ketoacidosis. Type 2 diabetes generally manifests after
age 40 and therefore has the obsolete name of adult onset-type diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can result from genetics defects that cause both insulin
resistance and insulin deficiency. There are two main forms of type 2
diabetes:
1. Late onset associated with obesity.
2. Late onset not associated with obesity.
Sample meal plan
Choose foods you like and which satisfy you, and include carbohydrate
foods in each meal or snack to help manage blood glucose levels. You can
eat your main meal at lunch or dinner.
Get help immediately if Diabetes symptoms occur
Occasionally, the onset of diabetes - particularly Type 1 - can be abrupt.
It can lead to a condition called 'keto acidosis', which is a medical
emergency. The symptoms of this condition are loss of appetite, weight
loss, vomiting, excessive passing of urine, altered consciousness and,
finally, coma. Seek medical help immediately if these symptoms occur.
Exercise And Diabetes During Pregnancy:
Women that were more physically active and exercised on a regular basis prior to becoming pregnant and while pregnant are less likely to develop diabetes during their pregnancy.
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