Diabetes is a type of a metabolic disease typified by increased serum glucose levels. Diabetes has two forms. Type I diabetes mellitus is due to the body not producing the adequate amount of insulin, and type II diabetes mellitus is due to the insensitivity of cellular receptors to insulin. Type 1 Diabetes is usually precipitous and occurs much earlier in life, while Type 2 Diabetes is insidious in onset and occurs in adulthood. The latter is more common, with 90% of diabetics having Type II Diabetes. Another form of diabetes is called gestational diabetes which as the term suggests occurs during pregnancy. It is usually a precursor to type II diabetes in women.
Diabetes - What are Its Pathognomonic Signs and Symptoms?
The three hallmark symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. Frequent micturition results from the kidney's attempts to dilute the excess sugar which it can't filter back to the periphery by extracting more water from the circulating blood. Polydypsia or increased thirst occurs in response to the loss of water in the blood. Insulin is the principal hormone that regulates the uptake of glucose from the blood and into most cells which means deficiency in this substance (Type I Diabetes) or the insensitivity of its receptors (Type II Diabetes) would mean cellular starvation, which the diabetic feels as increased hunger, weakness and fatigue.
Learning What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes
Microvascular changes usually occur with diabetes. Diabetics can affect blood vessels in the retina of the eye which can lead to reduced vision, and potentially blindness. Numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet and decreased sensation in the skin, may also result from nerve damage due to diabetes.
Diabetes Management and Prevention
At present, diabetes cannot be cured completely, but it can be managed to allow the patient to live as normally as possible. To manage diabetes, doctors prescribe lifestyle changes as well as hypoglycemic drugs. Still, it is better to prevent the disease than cure it. Exercise and a well-balanced diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes. At present, type I diabetes cannot be prevented. To prevent complications of diabetes, patients are encouraged to visit their health care providers at least four times a year. For more information on diabetes management, visit this link.
Complications
Left untreated, diabetes can result to serious complications. Diabetes can result to blindness as aforementioned. Diabetes sufferers also have higher risk of developing sores and infections in their lower limbs. Compounding this problem is the delayed healing of these lesions, which can sometimes lead to the extremity being amputated due to gangrene. Diabetics also have higher risk of developing kidney problems and dying at a much younger age than non-diabetics.
Diabetes - What are Its Pathognomonic Signs and Symptoms?
The three hallmark symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. Frequent micturition results from the kidney's attempts to dilute the excess sugar which it can't filter back to the periphery by extracting more water from the circulating blood. Polydypsia or increased thirst occurs in response to the loss of water in the blood. Insulin is the principal hormone that regulates the uptake of glucose from the blood and into most cells which means deficiency in this substance (Type I Diabetes) or the insensitivity of its receptors (Type II Diabetes) would mean cellular starvation, which the diabetic feels as increased hunger, weakness and fatigue.
Learning What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes
Microvascular changes usually occur with diabetes. Diabetics can affect blood vessels in the retina of the eye which can lead to reduced vision, and potentially blindness. Numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet and decreased sensation in the skin, may also result from nerve damage due to diabetes.
Diabetes Management and Prevention
At present, diabetes cannot be cured completely, but it can be managed to allow the patient to live as normally as possible. To manage diabetes, doctors prescribe lifestyle changes as well as hypoglycemic drugs. Still, it is better to prevent the disease than cure it. Exercise and a well-balanced diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes. At present, type I diabetes cannot be prevented. To prevent complications of diabetes, patients are encouraged to visit their health care providers at least four times a year. For more information on diabetes management, visit this link.
Complications
Left untreated, diabetes can result to serious complications. Diabetes can result to blindness as aforementioned. Diabetes sufferers also have higher risk of developing sores and infections in their lower limbs. Compounding this problem is the delayed healing of these lesions, which can sometimes lead to the extremity being amputated due to gangrene. Diabetics also have higher risk of developing kidney problems and dying at a much younger age than non-diabetics.
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Worldwide, there are already 285 million diabetes sufferers. Go here for more info on diabetes - what are the signs and symptoms of Diabetes.
