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What is Diabetes?

What are the types of Diabetes?

What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by a deficiency in production of insulin by the pancreas or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced. Such a deficiency results in increased concentrations of glucose in the blood, which in turn damage many of the body's systems, in particular the blood vessels and nerves.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas (a conglomerate gland lying transversely across the posterior wall of the abdomen) to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. In other words sugar, starches (etc.) constitute the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes these from the blood in the form of energy into the cells. One gets diabetes when the body does not produce or properly use the insulin produced by the pancreas. This results in increased concentrations of glucose (also called blood sugar) in the blood. Such glucose build-up in the blood can deprive the cells of energy and, in time, affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and legs.

Glucose, which is carried by blood to all the cells in the body, comes from food and is also made in the liver and muscles. Blood always has some glucose in it because the body needs glucose for energy to keep going. But too much glucose in the blood is not good for health. Thus, one gets diabetes when the blood sugar becomes too high, and this in turn damages many of the body's systems.

The actual cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetic (hereditary) and environmental (acquired) factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise, appear to play roles.

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There are two principal forms of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. There are also what are known as pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes related to pregnancy, which can be either Type 1 or 2.
Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as insulin-dependent) results from the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin, thus allowing glucose to enter the blood stream. This form develops most frequently in children and adolescents, but is being increasingly noted later in life.

Type 2 diabetes (formerly named non-insulin-dependent) results from insulin resistance, or the body's failure to properly use insulin produced by the pancreas, combined with relative insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes is much more common and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases worldwide. It occurs most frequently in adults, but is being noted increasingly in adolescents as well. Type 2 diabetes increases the risk for heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women. Diabetes in pregnancy may give rise to several adverse outcomes, including congenital malformations, increased birth weight and an elevated risk of perinatal mortality. Strict metabolic control may reduce these risks to the level of those of non-diabetic expectant mothers.

Certain genetic markers have been shown to increase the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is strongly familial, but it is only recently that some genes have been consistently associated with increased risk for Type 2 diabetes in certain populations. Both types of diabetes are complex diseases caused by mutations in more than one gene, as well as by environmental factors.

The classic symptoms of diabetes are:
     o Severe thirst and hunger
     o Frequent and excessive secretion of urine
     o Weight loss and tiredness
     o Sores that are difficult to heal
     o Dry and itchy skin
     o Loss of feeling and tingling in the feet
     o Blurry vision
These symptoms may be pronounced in Type 1 diabetes and less marked in Type 2 diabetes. In the Type 2 form, it can also happen that no early symptoms appear and the disease is only diagnosed several years after its onset, when complications are already present.

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