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Diabetes Related
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What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most
of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for
energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called
insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes,
your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as
well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.
Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness,
kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.
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What are the symptoms of diabetes?
People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis.
They might have SOME or NONE of the following symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme hunger
- Sudden vision changes
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Feeling very tired much of the time
- Very dry skin
- Sores that are slow to heal
- More infections than usual.
Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in
the abrupt onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, now called type 1 diabetes.
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What are the types of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If not treated, it can cause problems for mothers and babies. Gestational diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but usually disappears when a pregnancy is over. Other specific types of diabetes resulting from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses may account for 1% to 2% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
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Can diabetes be prevented?
A number of studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly
reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes also appears to
be associated with obesity.
Researchers are making progress in identifying the exact genetics and
"triggers" that predispose some individuals to develop type 1 diabetes, but
prevention remains elusive.
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Is orange juice okay for people with diabetes?
No. People have a hard time believing this, but OJ is just as sugary (sometimes worse) as Pepsi, Coke or any other sugared drink.
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What causes type 1 diabetes?
The causes of type 1 diabetes appear to be much different than those for type
2 diabetes, though the exact mechanisms for developing both diseases are
unknown. The appearance of type 1 diabetes is suspected to follow exposure to
an "environmental trigger," such as an unidentified virus, stimulating
an immune attack against the beta cells of the pancreas (that produce insulin)
in some genetically predisposed people.
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Can Diabetes occur without any symptoms?
Yes indeed ! About 20% - 30% of people with diabetes are totally asymptomatic and are detected during routine health checkup or during testing for any other concomittant illness. This is more common with Type 2 diabetes who may be asymptomatic for more than 5-10 years by which time, complications of various organs might set in.
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Is diabetes a hereditary disease?
Diabetes is largely a hereditary disease with the inheritance being stronger in Type 2 diabetes. If both parents are diabetic, then the risk for the offspring is close to 100%. If either one of the parents is diabetic, there is 40% chance of the offspring getting diabetes. If parents and grandparents are diabetic, then the offspring are likely to develop diabetes at a early age - as early as - 20-25 years of age.
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Can diabetes be cured?
There are many claims that diabetes can be cured. There is no cure for diabetes except in very rare cases of spontaneous remission. Diabetes can only be control through diet and exercise and whenever necessary, medications.
However, regular use of Karnim has been shown to reduce sugar levels and increase the bodies resistance to various diabetes related problems.
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