National Diabetes Month

byMBobb

774 followers

12 years ago

November is National Diabetes Month. This is hitting home to me because I was recently diagnosed with having the beginning stage of this disease. So as I am doing my research, I will share with you what I am learning.

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is defined as "a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot produce enough or effectively use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose from food to enter the body’s cells where it is converted into energy needed by muscles and tissues to function. As a result, a person with diabetes does not absorb glucose properly, and glucose stays circulating in the blood (hyperglycaemia) damaging tissues over time. This damage leads to life-threatening health complications." (taken from http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/5e/what-is-diabetes)

There are three types of diabetes:

• Type 1
• Type 2

• gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces close to zero insulin (a hormone needed to allow sugar to enter cells to produce energy). Without the insulin, a person would die. This disease is usually found in young children, but can be diagnosed in an adult. Although there is no cure, with regular medicine, care and exercise, a person can live a love and healthy life

Type 1 diabetes often develops suddenly and can include symptoms such as:

• abnormal thirst and dry mouth
• frequent urination
• extreme tiredness/lack of energy
• constant hunger
• sudden weight loss
• slow-healing wounds
• recurrent infections
• blurred vision

(symptoms taken from http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/5e/what-is-diabetes)

• Type 2 diabetes

Where as Type 1 does not produce insulin, in Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas IS producing insulin, but the body is rejecting it or it is not producing enough. In this case, this leads to a build-up of glucose in the blood. This is very life-threatening, but with regular care, exercise, and a healthy life style, you can manage the condition. In this Type2, insulin may be prescribed to help in the maintaining of this disease.

Some of the risk factors include:

• obesity
• poor diet
• physical inactivity
• increasing age
• family history of diabetes
• ethnicity
• poor nutrition during pregnancy affecting the developing child

(risk factors taken from http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/5e/what-is-diabetes)

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

This particular diabetes is diagnose in women, usually during pregnancy. This is important to know because if left untreated, it can indeed affect the fetus. During the pregnancy, the physician will monitor and treat the disease. Gestational diabetes mellitus normally disappear after birth, but the said mothers are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the future

Reason for sharing

Last month I wrote about breast cancer. This month I am concentrating on diabetes. We are on this site to be successful and hopefully wealthy. But if we forget to take care of ourselves, we will not be around to enjoy our new found freedom. Whatever you do, do not forget about self. Yourself is the most important thing you have. Stay healthy and aware. Healthy body equals a healthy mind which leads to SUCCESS!