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Diabetes - Types, Risk Factors and Symptoms

by Wayne Wargo (PenWay.org)

Diabetes affects the manner in which the body handles carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This blood sugar level is regulated by insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas, which is dependent upon one's eating habits.

Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death, but people can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.

Diabetes is a serious and chronic disease and is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). But the truth is that this disease is reversible. This disease is a condition where the body is unable to automatically regulate blood glucose levels, resulting in too much glucose (a sugar) in the blood. Currently there are about 23.6 million people in the US who have been diagnosed with diabetes and about 6 million more who have the disease and are unaware of it.

A person who has tingling or numbness in their hands, legs or feet should be aware of the symptom called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as consistently high glucose in the blood damages the nervous system, particularly in the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is a gradual onset, and people are often not aware that they have it. Therefore, blood sugar might have been high for more than a few years before a diagnosis is made. Nerve damage can occur without our knowledge. Neuropathy can very often improve when a tighter blood glucose control is achieved.

Actually, there is no clear symptom for diabetes. The most common symptoms of diabetes are as follows:

- being thirsty all the time; - frequent urination; - increased hunger; - feeling tired all the time; having an excessive fatigue

However, there are some other symptoms of diabetes, such as:

- vision changes; - recurrent skin infections very difficult to heal; - tingling or numbness you may feel in your extremities; - gums disorders; - hair loss and many others.

There are two different types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as "childhood", "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes) is not exclusively a childhood problem; the adult incidence of type 1 is noteworthy — many adults who contract type 1 diabetes are misdiagnosed with type 2 due to confusion on this point.

Type 2 Diabetes (non insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes): This type of diabetes is a result of body tissues becoming resistant to insulin. It is usually hereditary.

Type 2 Diabetes is more common than Type 1 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. Conditions associated with type 2 diabetes include hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Type 2 diabetes may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Up to two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms.

Obesity is the single most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. An estimated 20% of all cases of new onset type 2 diabetes are in individuals between the ages of 9-19. The more you know about type 2 diabetes, the more you'll be able to take the right steps to take control of your condition.

If neglected, diabetes can lead to various complications such as damage to the kidneys, heart disease, nerve damage, hypoglycemia (drastic reduction in glucose levels). Diabetes is a serious disease and there is no treatment to reverse it. However, it can be brought under control by diet and medication.

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