Diabetes

Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic life long condition that is associated with high levels of sugar in the blood. Usually, when you eat food, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin that is responsible for the conversion and storage of glucose for energy purposes. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces insufficient or no insulin or when the body has an abnormal response to it. This causes high levels of glucose in the blood, with little or no energy reaching the body cells.
Types of Diabetes
There are three common types of diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is associated with insufficient secretion of insulin in the body. This happens when the body immunity system self-attacks the pancreas destroying the cells that produce insulin. This type is more prevalent in children and young people of both genders. People with type 1 diabetes require regular insulin medications to help regulate blood sugar levels.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Anyone with type 2 diabetes means that their body either secretes insufficient insulin or has an abnormal response to it. Type 2 diabetes is prevalent in middle-aged people and older adults. However, anyone, including children, can develop it.
3. Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in women, particularly during pregnancy. In most cases, the condition tends to disappear immediately or shortly after birth. However, women who develop gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in their life
Less common types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Diabetic patients do not experience uniform Symptoms. Instead, the symptoms often vary depending on the type of diabetes and the levels of sugar in the blood. In fact, people in the early stages of type 2 diabetes may not experience any symptoms at all. However, the most common symptoms include; fatigue, increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination patterns, unexplained reduction in body weight, blurred vision, recurrent infections, and slow healing of injuries and sores.
Treatment of Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition with no cure. Luckily, it is manageable by treatment through injections and oral medications such as metformin. These medications deliver insulin directly into the body, preventing blood sugar levels from becoming too high. Frequent checkups to monitor your blood sugars is also paramount. However, developing a healthy lifestyle of exercising and a proper diet remains vital in helping you to manage your body weight and sugar intake levels, enabling you to lead a happy and healthier life.