Definition
of Diabetes
Diabetes
mellitus is a chronic disease caused by the inability of
the pancreas to produce insulin or to use the insulin produced
in the proper way. Over 14 million Americans suffer from
one form or another of this disease.
After a meal, a portion of the food a person eats is broken
down into sugar (glucose). The sugar then passes into the
bloodstream and to the body's cells via a hormone (called
insulin) that is produced by the pancreas.
Normally,
the pancreas produces the right amount of insulin to accommodate
the quantity of sugar. However, if the person has diabetes,
either the pancreas produces little or no insulin or the
cells do not respond normally to the insulin. Sugar builds
up in the blood, overflows into the urine and then passes
from the body unused. Over time, high blood sugar levels
can damage:
Eyes
-
leading to diabetic retinopathy and possible blindness
Blood vessels - increasing
risk of heart attack, stroke and peripheral artery obstruction
Nerves - leading to foot
sores and possible amputation
Kidneys - leading to kidney
failure.
Diabetes
has also been linked to impotence and digestive problems.
Causes
& Factors
The
cause of Type I diabetes is genetically based, coupled with
an abnormal immune response.
The
cause of Type II diabetes is unknown, but medical experts
believe that Type II diabetes runs in families. A person
can inherit a tendency to get Type II diabetes, but it usually
takes other factors to bring on the disease.
| Factors
associated with an increased risk for Type II diabetes
include: |
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•
|
Sedentary
lifestyle |
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•
|
Obesity
(weighing 20 percent above a healthy body weight)
|
|
•
|
Advanced
age |
|
•
|
Unhealthy
diet |
|
•
|
Family
history of diabetes |
|
•
|
Improper
functioning of the pancreas |
|
•
|
Minority
race (higher risk in Black, Hispanic, American Indian,
westernized Asian and native Hawaiian populations)
|
|
•
|
Medication
(cortisone and some high blood pressure drugs) |
|
•
|
Women
having given birth to a baby weighing more than 9
lbs. |
|
•
|
Previously
diagnosed gestational diabetes |
|
•
|
Previously
diagnosed IGT |
Symptoms
of Diabetes
Usually,
the symptoms of Type I diabetes are obvious. That is not
true for Type II. Many people with Type II do not discover
they have diabetes until they are treated for a complication,
such as heart disease, blood vessel disease (atherosclerosis),
stroke, blindness, skin ulcers, kidney problems, nerve trouble
or impotence.
The
warning signs and symptoms for both types are:
Type
I: Frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme
hunger, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, blurred
vision, irritability, nausea and vomiting.
Type
II: Any Type I symptom, plus: unexplained weight
gain, pain, cramping, tingling or numbness in your feet,
unusual drowsiness, frequent vaginal or skin infections,
dry, itchy skin and slow healing sores.
Note:
If a person is experiencing these symptoms, they should
see a doctor immediately.
Diagnosis
of Diabetes
Besides
a complete history and physical examination, the doctors
will perform a battery of laboratory tests. There are numerous
tests available to diagnose diabetes, such as a urine test,
blood test, glucose-tolerance test, fasting blood sugar
and the glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) test.
A
urine sample will be tested for glucose and ketones
(acids that collect in the blood and urine when the body
uses fat instead of glucose for energy).
A
blood test is used to measure the amount of glucose
in the bloodstream.
A
glucose-tolerance test checks the body's ability to
process glucose. During this test, sugar levels in the
blood and urine are monitored for three hours after drinking
a large dose of sugar solution.
The
fasting blood sugar test involves fasting overnight
and blood being drawn the next morning.
The
glycohemoglobin test reflects an average of all
blood sugar levels for the preceding two months.
