Knowing the effects of diabetes is important in understanding what diabetes is and how it can impact one’s health in a number of ways. Unlike some other diseases, diabetes can affect many different parts of the body. Some people would say that diabetes is a disease that is multi-systematic. It can affect everything from the heart to the eyes. When the body is not able to convert sugars that are obtained from foods into energy because of low insulin levels sugars build up in the blood causing elevated sugar levels. This elevation of sugar in the blood can affect a person’s health greatly.
One of biggest and most deadly effects of diabetes is heart disease. Heart disease encompasses a number of different disorders all which have a negative effect on the functioning of the heart. Heart disease can include such conditions as hardening of the arteries which is known as atherosclerosis, heart palpitations, heart attacks, high blood pressure and hypertension. These conditions are known to be linked to diabetes because oftentimes the conditions that cause diabetes can also cause heart disease also. Eating foods that are high in fats and loaded with carbohydrates can increase blood sugars and the fats can also line the arteries causing high blood pressure and heart attacks. More people die of heart disease than other diseases each year and part of this can be linked to the connection with diabetes.
Other effects of diabetes include kidney problems. Renal failure occurs quite often in diabetic patients. People develop of number of symptoms which provide clues that there could possibly be problems with the kidneys. One of the more common signs of kidney problems as associated with diabetes is swelling of the extremities particularly the legs and the feet. This is known as edema and it is a sign that the body is retaining fluid. In many ways kidney disease becomes gradually worse until it is necessary for a person to undergo dialysis on a regular basis. Many individuals that have to undergo dialysis on a frequent basis to ensure that the impurities are removed from the blood do have diabetes.
Nerve damage is another result of diabetes. Nerve damage is very serious and should not be shrugged off and it is estimated that nearly half of the people that develop diabetes will experience some form of nerve damage. Nerve damage that is caused by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. Nerve damage occurs when glucose or sugar destroys the nerves that line the blood vessels. This can initially result in tingling or numbness in the finger or toes and eventually it will spread to other areas of the body. Nerve damage can be one of the most serious effects of diabetes because it can eventually make it difficult for people to feel when they have an injury. This is especially true with the feet which are prone to nerve damage as a result of the disease. Thus, it is very important for people with diabetes to take make their health professionals aware of any issues they may have with their nerves in order to combat the problem and prevent the spread of the nerve damage.
Overall, diabetes is a disease that should be keep under control as much as possible in order to decrease its negative effects on the body.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Being able to recognize the symptoms of diabetes is extremely important to identifying the disease and taking the necessary steps to reduce the effects of diabetes. Too often people feel poorly but, they shrug it off as general fatigue until one day they feel bad enough to go to the doctor where they learn that they have diabetes. There are a number of symptoms which are indicative of diabetes. Noticing these symptoms and promptly addressing them is very important in making sure that diabetes is kept under control.
Two symptoms that are very indicative of diabetes are excessive thirst and urination. These two symptoms go hand in hand, and they are a sign that the body has elevated levels of glucose. Many times people will have a desire for ice cold water to quench their thirst and they will drink large amounts of it only to then pass the water through urination. When individuals have diabetes their urine is sweet, and this is a sign of elevated levels of glucose in the body. Excessive intake and release of water is a symptom of diabetes that should be noted in order to curtail the effects of diabetes.
If an individual feels somewhat tired and can’t keep weight on the body then they may be experiencing the effects of diabetes. Fatigue is a symptom of diabetes that many people relegate to leading a busy lifestyle. However, there is a difference in feeling tired because of too much work and having a general feeling of sluggishness. When people feel tired most of the time this is a sign that something may be wrong with the body. In addition to fatigue, random weight loss or gain is also a symptom that is associated with diabetes. People respond to changes within the body in different manners. Some people may lose weight with diabetes whereas others may gain weight. Any noticeable, recent change in weight should be noted with a physician.
Change in vision is a sign of diabetes. There are many people that may associate a change in vision with aging, and in some cases this is the case. However, there are times when the vision changes are a result of the effects of diabetes. Such occurrences as double vision and blurriness can be caused by high blood sugar. This is because when glucose levels in the body are high the lens of the eyeball can swell causes changes in a person’s vision. As the blood sugar decreases the swelling of the lens of the eyeball decreases thus restoring vision. Diabetes can drastically affect a person’s vision and can lead to other more eye conditions such as cataracts.
Numbness is another symptom that is directly related to diabetes. One of the effects of diabetes is nerve damage. High levels of sugar in the blood can damage nerves in many parts of the body, particularly the fingers, toes and feet and legs. Anyone experiencing tingling or numbness in parts of the body should speak to their physician in order to determine the cause. If diabetes is determined to be the cause of the tingling and numbness that is related to nerve damage then the individual will have to commit to lifestyle changes to slow the progression of nerve damage.
Being aware of the different symptoms of diabetes is very important for effectively treating the disease.
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Source: www.effectsofdiabetwes.com
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Treatment of diabetes
this should be red AFTER THE NEXT ENTRY.
Diabetes treatment varies for each individual Successful treatment makes all the difference to long-term health, and achieving balanced diabetes treatment can be the key to living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Treatment varies for each individual, not simply on the type of diabetes that they have, but also more individual-specific diabetic treatment differences.
Treating your diabetes
Your diabetes treatment and management strategy should be agreed between you and your health care team.
The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep, within reason, blood glucose levels as near to normal as possible. Training in self management of diabetes forms an essential part of diabetes management.
Treatment should be agreed on an individual basis and address medical, pychosocial and lifestyle issues.
A variety of different factors have a role to play in treating diabetes, but the importance of balanced, co-ordinated diabetes treatment for all diabetics cannot be underestimated.
Regular and successful treatment decreases the risk of each patient developing diabetes complications.
The basics of diabetes treatment are broken down into each diabetic type below.
Treatment of Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes treatment is a daily task. Lack of insulin production by the pancreas makes Type 1 diabetes is particularly difficult to control.
Treatment requires a strict regimen that typically includes a carefully calculated diet, planned physical activity, multiple daily insulin injections and home blood glucose testing a number of times per day.
Treatment of Type 2 diabetes
Treatment typically includes diet control, exercise, home blood glucose testing, and in some cases, oral medication and/or insulin. Approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin injections.
sOURCE: WWW.diabetes.co.uk
Diabetes treatment varies for each individual Successful treatment makes all the difference to long-term health, and achieving balanced diabetes treatment can be the key to living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Treatment varies for each individual, not simply on the type of diabetes that they have, but also more individual-specific diabetic treatment differences.
Treating your diabetes
Your diabetes treatment and management strategy should be agreed between you and your health care team.
The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep, within reason, blood glucose levels as near to normal as possible. Training in self management of diabetes forms an essential part of diabetes management.
Treatment should be agreed on an individual basis and address medical, pychosocial and lifestyle issues.
A variety of different factors have a role to play in treating diabetes, but the importance of balanced, co-ordinated diabetes treatment for all diabetics cannot be underestimated.
Regular and successful treatment decreases the risk of each patient developing diabetes complications.
The basics of diabetes treatment are broken down into each diabetic type below.
Treatment of Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes treatment is a daily task. Lack of insulin production by the pancreas makes Type 1 diabetes is particularly difficult to control.
Treatment requires a strict regimen that typically includes a carefully calculated diet, planned physical activity, multiple daily insulin injections and home blood glucose testing a number of times per day.
Treatment of Type 2 diabetes
Treatment typically includes diet control, exercise, home blood glucose testing, and in some cases, oral medication and/or insulin. Approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin injections.
sOURCE: WWW.diabetes.co.uk
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes:
Many of the signs of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar. In both, there is too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of your body. High glucose levels in Type I are due to a lack of insulin because the insulin producing cells have been destroyed. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells become resistant to insulin that is being produced. Either way, your cells aren't getting the glucose that they need, and your body lets you know by giving you these signs and symptoms.
•What is Type 1 Diabetes?
•What is Type 2 Diabetes?
•Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
Frequent trips to the bathroom:
Are you visiting the bathroom much more lately? Does it seem like you urinate all day long? Urination becomes more frequent when there is too much glucose in the blood. If insulin is nonexistent or ineffective, the kidneys can't filter glucose back to the blood. They become overwhelmed and try to draw extra water out of the blood to dilute the glucose. This keeps your bladder full and it keeps you running to the bathroom.
Unquenchable Thirst:
If it feels like you can't get enough water and you're drinking much more than usual, it could be a sign of diabetes, especially if it seems to go hand in hand with frequent urination. If your body is pulling extra water out of your blood and you're running to the bathroom more, you will become dehydrated and feel the need to drink more to replace the water that you are losing.
Losing Weight Without Trying:
This symptom is more noticeable with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1, the pancreas stops making insulin, possibly due to a viral attack on pancreas cells or because an autoimmune response makes the body attack the insulin producing cells. The body desperately looks for an energy source because the cells aren't getting glucose. It starts to break down muscle tissue and fat for energy. Type 2 happens gradually with increasing insulin resistance so weight loss is not as noticeable.
Weakness and Fatigue:
It's that bad boy glucose again. Glucose from the food we eat travels into the bloodstream where insulin is supposed to help it transition into the cells of our body. The cells use it to produce the energy we need to live. When the insulin isn't there or if the cells don't react to it anymore, then the glucose stays outside the cells in the bloodstream. The cells become energy starved and you feel tired and run down.
Tingling or Numbness in Your Hands, Legs or Feet:
This symptom is called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as consistently high glucose in the blood damages the nervous system, particularly in the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is a gradual onset, and people are often not aware that they have it. Therefore, blood sugar might have been high for more than a few years before a diagnosis is made. Nerve damage can creep up without our knowledge. Neuropathy can very often improve when tighter blood glucose control is achieved.
Other Signs and Symptoms That Can Occur:
Blurred vision, skin that is dry or itchy, frequent infections or cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal are also signs that something is amiss. Again, when these signs are associated with diabetes, they are the result of high glucose levels in the body. If you notice any of the above signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be able to tell you if you have reason to be concerned about a diagnosis of diabetes.
Source: www.diabetes.about.com
•What is Type 1 Diabetes?
•What is Type 2 Diabetes?
•Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
Frequent trips to the bathroom:
Are you visiting the bathroom much more lately? Does it seem like you urinate all day long? Urination becomes more frequent when there is too much glucose in the blood. If insulin is nonexistent or ineffective, the kidneys can't filter glucose back to the blood. They become overwhelmed and try to draw extra water out of the blood to dilute the glucose. This keeps your bladder full and it keeps you running to the bathroom.
Unquenchable Thirst:
If it feels like you can't get enough water and you're drinking much more than usual, it could be a sign of diabetes, especially if it seems to go hand in hand with frequent urination. If your body is pulling extra water out of your blood and you're running to the bathroom more, you will become dehydrated and feel the need to drink more to replace the water that you are losing.
Losing Weight Without Trying:
This symptom is more noticeable with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1, the pancreas stops making insulin, possibly due to a viral attack on pancreas cells or because an autoimmune response makes the body attack the insulin producing cells. The body desperately looks for an energy source because the cells aren't getting glucose. It starts to break down muscle tissue and fat for energy. Type 2 happens gradually with increasing insulin resistance so weight loss is not as noticeable.
Weakness and Fatigue:
It's that bad boy glucose again. Glucose from the food we eat travels into the bloodstream where insulin is supposed to help it transition into the cells of our body. The cells use it to produce the energy we need to live. When the insulin isn't there or if the cells don't react to it anymore, then the glucose stays outside the cells in the bloodstream. The cells become energy starved and you feel tired and run down.
Tingling or Numbness in Your Hands, Legs or Feet:
This symptom is called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as consistently high glucose in the blood damages the nervous system, particularly in the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is a gradual onset, and people are often not aware that they have it. Therefore, blood sugar might have been high for more than a few years before a diagnosis is made. Nerve damage can creep up without our knowledge. Neuropathy can very often improve when tighter blood glucose control is achieved.
Other Signs and Symptoms That Can Occur:
Blurred vision, skin that is dry or itchy, frequent infections or cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal are also signs that something is amiss. Again, when these signs are associated with diabetes, they are the result of high glucose levels in the body. If you notice any of the above signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be able to tell you if you have reason to be concerned about a diagnosis of diabetes.
Source: www.diabetes.about.com
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