November is Diabetes Awareness Month and new research on diabetes suggests that close to 30 percent of adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed – the same rate as people with HIV.
Diabetes is a disease when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin or the body is unable to process it properly. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood. Diabetes can affect both children and adults.
There are three main types of diabetes, those being Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin. It usually starts in young people under the age of 30, including very young children and infants, and the onset is sudden and dramatic.
Type 2 diabetes is caused when the insulin, which the pancreas produces, is either not enough or does not work properly. About 85 to 90 percent of all people with diabetes are Type 2, and many people who have this condition are not diagnosed.
Most Type 2 patients are over 40. They are usually overweight and do not exercise. Type 2 diabetes may be treated successfully without medication. Often loss of weight alone will reduce glucose levels. Eating patterns and exercise play important roles in the management of this illness.
Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Both mother and child have an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future. High blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause serious damage to the delicate parts of the body and lead to blindness, heart attack or stroke, kidney failure, impotence and amputation.
Symptoms of diabetes:
– Urinating frequently
– Weight loss
– Frequently thirsty
– Extreme tiredness
– Lack of energy
– Blurred vision
– Tingling and numbness of the feet
– Bruises and cuts are slow to heal
It is however possible that with Type 2 diabetes, symptoms may not appear.
A person is particularly at risk if:
– They are over the age of 35
– Have a family history of diabetes
– Are overweight
– Have high blood pressure
– Have high cholesterol
One can take precautionary measures in preventing diabetes or managing their diabetes. Exercising, eating healthy foods, managing your weight, reducing your stress levels and not smoking are ways in which to control and prevent diabetes.
You can also check your glucose levels regularly at your nearest clinic which will be the only way that you know if you are pre-diabetic or diabetic.
