ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED ON DIABETES BY RAYMAN

*Sweetness of life, Bitterness till death.*

In 2012, an estimated i 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes and another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose

*What is diabetes?*

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either of these two cases
1.when the pancreas(the organ behind your stomach) do not produce sufficient insulin.
2.when the body cannot effectively utilize the insulin it produces.
 Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar(glucose) . Diabetes will lead to raised or elevated blood sugar known as *Hyperglycemia*. Over time, it leads to serious deleterious effects to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

We will take a look at the various types of diabetes.

So far, the types of diabetes have been discovered. These are the :
1. Type 1 diabetes
2.Type 2 diabetes
3.Gestational diabetes

*Type 1 diabetes*

It is also called insulin-dependent diabetes.This is  because it requires daily administration of insulin. It used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes due to the fact that it often begin during childhood.The cause of type1 diabetes is not yet known and its not preventable with current knowledge.

*Type 2 diabetes*

Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset) results from the body’s ineffective utilization of insulin . Type 2 diabetes comprises the majority of people with diabetes around the world.  It largely result from excess body weight and physical inactivity.

*Gestational diabetes*

This is characterised by high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy. It happens in about 4% of pregnancies.
Women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk of complications during pregnancy and at the point of delivery. They and their children are also at increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the future.

Moving further, we shall be taking about the problems or consequences associated with diabetes.
 *Consequences of diabetes?*

Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves:

Adults with diabetes have a 2-3-fold increased risk of heart attacks and strokes , chance of foot ulceration, infections and the eventual need for limb amputation. Diabetes is also among the leading causes of kidney failure.

In diabetes,  some subtle signs can be seen. These signs may be suggestive of diabetes. Furthermore laboratory testing should be carried out to confirm definitive conclusions.

*signs and symptoms of type 1and type 2 diabetes are:*

Increased thirst, Frequent urination , Extreme hunger , Unexplained weight loss , Presence of ketones in the urine ,Fatigue,Irritability,Blurred vision,Slow-healing sores,Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections

What are the risk factors associated with diabetes.

*Risk factors*

*Family history:* Your risk increases if a parent or sibling has type 1 or 2 diabetes.

*Weight:* The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.

*Inactivity:* The less active you are, the greater your risk.

*Age:* Your risk  of getting type 2 diabetes increases  as you get older.

*High blood pressure:* Having blood pressure over 140/90  (mm Hg) is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Cardinal signs and symptoms of diabetes should strongly be correlated with definitive laboratory findings.

*Laboratory diagnosis*

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test.

Random blood sugar test.

Oral glucose tolerance test.

Fasting blood sugar test.

Measures for the prevention of diabetes.

*Prevention*

1)Achieve and maintain healthy body weight;
be physically active at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days.
2)Eat a healthy diet
3)Avoid sugar and saturated fats intake
4)Avoid tobacco use , smoking increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Measures to reduce the deleterious effect of the disease.

*Treatment*
*1)Healthy eating:*You'll need to center your diet on more fruits, vegetables and whole grains — foods that are high in nutrition and fiber an