Simply put, diabetes is the inability of the body to properly handle sugars. When we eat or drink our pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin is released into the blood and helps regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Diabetes is a state where this process is not working properly. This is due to:

– No insulin produced, often called type 1 diabetes, and requires the patient to use insulin injections, or …

– Insulin is produced, but the body becomes resistant to it. What makes ineffective insulin. This is normally called type 2 diabetes and is increasingly common.

Searches latest show that 2 out of 100 people suffer from diabetes. Alarmant of half these people do not even know they have. Many people have diabetes without being aware of it because someone with diabetes appears to be no different than any other person.

Someone may have diabetes for months or even years without realizing they have the condition. The danger is that if diabetes is not immediately life threatening the long-term effects of high blood sugar can be harmful to health. No prolonged diabetes and high blood sugar may, later in life, cause problems in many organs including the kidneys, eyes, nerves and heart. This May his dark, but the control of blood sugar by a combination of medicine, diet and exercise will largely reduce the long-term complications.

The easiest way to check if you have diabetes is to get a blood sugar check with your doctor. A small sample of blood obtained by pricking a finger is checked using a small electronic tester. A normal blood sugar is generally between 72 - 126 mg / dl or 4 - 7 mmol / l (1 mmol / l = 18mg/dl). Diabetes is diagnosed when the body is unable to maintain the level of sugar in the blood within these limits. The unit of measurement used (mmol / l or mg / dl) will depend on which country you live in.

The diagnosis of diabetes may occur in the blue during a routine check-but more often it results from the person suffering the symptoms of diabetes. These symptoms may be much or little, mild or severe depending on the individual.

The symptoms are as follows:

Nothing at all (???) No it’s not a typo. It is true many people do not feel a different effect and are surprised to discover they have diabetes. However, even if you feel you must end your take diabetes seriously and act on the advice of a doctor.

THIRST (polydipsia) It is a very common symptom. Often, it seems no matter how much you drink your mouth still feels as dry as Death Valley. The problem is compounded before diabetes is diagnosed by patients drinking copious quantities of sugary drinks …! Of course, it only increases the level of sugar in the blood and causes an increase in thirst.

INCREASED urinate (polyuria) Another very common symptom. Patients need to urinate frequently and spend large volumes each time. Moreover, this symptom does not take into account the time for sleep is constantly disrupted by the obligation to visit the bathroom during the night. It is a mistake to think this is caused by increased thirst and drink more. The opposite is true. High level of sugar in the blood to spread in the urine which makes syrupy. To counter this law on water is drawn from the body, causing dehydration and therefore thirst.

WEIGHT LOSS Glucose is the form of sugar which is the principal organ of fuel. Diabetics can not deal properly so it passes through the urine and outside the body. Less fuel, the body’s reserve tissues are broken down to produce energy with weight loss.

Other symptoms include constipation, fatigue, lack of energy, tingling or pins and needles in hands and feet, blurred vision and increased infections.

If you met any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you are diabetic, but it might be advisable to consult your doctor to be sure.

If it does transpire that you have diabetes please do not panic. It may come as a shock and it will result in changes in your life. While (currently) incurable, it can be treated as long-term complications are reduced or eliminated. As a result May actually increase your health and life expectancy compared to before when you do not take care of your body whatsoever. It requires discipline and self-control but there is no reason for anyone with diabetes can live full and perfectly normal life.

Diabetes is growing at an epidemic pace in the United States, there is no arguing that. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, with 6 million of them not even knowing it. Unfortunately, many people have no idea what diabetes really is, or what symptoms to look for. Diabetes is a serious health issue. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in this country, and there is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes at this time. Here’s a quick diabetes for dummy overlook to help you better understand.

How do people get diabetes?

When we eat any kind of food, our body takes that food and turns it into energy, or better said, into sugar while digesting it. This is what gives us the energy we need to survive. And during this process, insulin is produced from our pancreas which controls the sugar in our bloodstream. This entire process is what keeps our body healthy.

Without the pancreas producing this insulin, the sugar will stay in our blood and begin to create serious health issues. High blood sugar can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. And without treating high blood sugar, it can be fatal. In diabetes for dummy’s, it is vital to get tested regularly to make sure your normal blood sugar levels are safe.

What types of diabetes are there?

Type 1 Diabetes - This type of diabetes usually is associated with adolescents and children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in approximately 1 in every 400-600 children. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the cells that the pancreas makes into insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes patients have to have daily insulin injections in order to survive. There is no known cure yet, but new methods are on the horizon.

Type 2 Diabetes - This type of diabetes is the most common, occurring in 90-95% of all cases. With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas simply can not continue to produce the insulin that is required, or the cells just don’t respond to the insulin any longer. Most of the time, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise plan. But, if that fails, oral medication can be prescribed to get it under control.

Gestational Diabetes - This form of diabetes is only found pregnant women. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and it usually occurs in 2-7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is caused from the pancreas not being able to keep up with the required amount of insulin to control the glucose level. Gestational diabetes will usually go away after a pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.

Tests for Gestational Diabetes are usually done around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is the time insulin resistance usually starts.

Pre-Diabetes - This is also called borderline diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is diagnosed when patients are showing the signs of having high blood sugar levels and are starting to have trouble in keeping them down. One of the most important facts to realize in diabetes for dummy’s is that over 40 million people have Pre-Diabetes. That is astounding. If left untreated, Pre-Diabetes will almost always turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Anyone with Pre-Diabetes needs to change their diet and start on an exercise program. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Also, have your blood sugar levels checked frequently.

As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. The only option available to anyone with Type 1 Diabetes is to have a pancreas transplant. But, that is not a great option with the possibilities of other problems arising such as the body rejecting the new pancreas, not to mention the surgery itself. Science is working feverishly on new ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.

There are even efforts to produce an inhalation device that puts out insulin instead of having to have daily injections. These advancements are on the horizon and will be available in the not too distant future. In the meantime, diabetes for dummy says to check your blood sugar levels, and know what they are. You only have one body and we all need to take care of it as best we can.