What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the manner in which your body uses food for energy is adversely affected. Under normal circumstances, the sugar you consume is digested and broken down to glucose. The glucose then moves around in your blood waiting to get into cells so that it can be utilized as fuel. A hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, helps the entry of glucose into cells. A healthy pancreas rightly adjusts the amount of insulin according to the level of glucose. When this process collapses, blood sugar levels become too high and diabetes sets in.

There are three types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person fails to produce any insulin. Although this type of diabetes occurs mostly before a person reaches 30, there is no guarantee that it won't strike at any other time. There are various theories about the causes of Type 1 diabetes, including genetic disorder, but the bottom line is that the pancreas makes little or no insulin making frequent insulin injections essential.

Most diabetics are found with Type 2 diabetes, in which insulin is produced by the pancreas in adequate quantities but the cells develop resistance to it. It generally occurs in people above 35, but even children aren't spared. It's mostly caused by obesity, lack of physical exercise, old age and perhaps genetic predisposition. Gestational diabetes can occur in some pregnant women, but it goes away after the baby is born.

The symptoms of diabetes are often innocuous and considered unworthy of attention. But early detection and treatment of the disease can prevent major complications in the future. Some symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, excessive thirst, too much hunger, abnormal weight loss, sense of fatigue, and blurred vision. It is wise to consult a doctor without delay if you have one or more of the above symptoms.

Studies are still continuing to find methods of prevention and cure of diabetes. Trials are in progress involving treatment of close relatives of diabetic persons to examine whether certain medicines can prevent the disease in those who run a higher risk of developing it.

As of now, the only known remedy for Type 1 diabetes is a pancreas transplant. But the method is fraught with risks as it might seriously damage the person's health. Researchers are now also working on transplanting the beta cells only. However, although theoretically promising, the process has failed to yield the desired results so far.

It is true that there is still no absolute cure for diabetes, but scientists are working tirelessly all the time to find some ways to prevent and treat this disease. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and several other researches have shown that people can and really do live happy and healthy lives with diabetes. There is a widespread belief that eating excessive sugar is one of the main causes of diabetes. But researchers have now busted this long-standing myth. They say there is no need for a person to avoid his/her favorite sweets as long as they are part of his/her diet plan.

• Janny Raines
• 26/03/2009, 6:59 PM
• 0 Comments