Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Diabetes - Curse of Western Living?

Diabetes - Curse of Western Living?

Our bodies change food into glucose or sugar through a process of digestion. Sugar travels through the body in the blood stream. Some of this sugar is used for energy,and some is stored in muscles and the liver for later use. Excess sugar is made into fat and stored throughout the body.
So what is diebetes mellitus? Diabetes mellitus is classified in to 4 separate types: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and Pre-Diabetes (known as impaired glucose tolerance in other countries). This illness is the result of little or no insulin, a hormone which controls how the body uses sugar. Due to this relative lack of hormone, there are serious long term health implications including an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
The treatment of diabetes is complex involving at times an aggressive approach when infection threatens. No doubt there are many proclaimed alternative treatments along the lines of diabetes herbs or diabetes supplements but you should exercise care here.
In some people, due to obesity, there is an increased resistance to the action of insulin. The pancreas produce insulin for the body. The Beta cells in the pancreas produce this important hormone to let sugar into the blood and the body cells and muscles. It is the only energy source the brain can use for fuel. A lack of sugar in the blood leads to a situation known as hypoglycaemia which can cause you to even lose consciousness if particularly severe.
In diabetes mellitus, either the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or cells in the body are resistant to the insulin produced. Because of this, sugar remains in the blood, leading to high blood sugar levels. This is refered to as hyperglycaemia and the excess is responsible for complications including diseases of the heart, eye, kidney, nerves and other organs. Also it can spill over into urine which does not usually happen. Any product that is thought of as a diabetes herb or diabetes supplement will not stop sugar spilling into urine but control of blood sugar through diet, exercise and diabetic medications will.
So a simple test for diabetes would be to test a urine sample and see if there is sugar present. A woman with frequent thrush/cystitis symptoms within the space of a year should seek advice as sugar in the urine may be a causative factor in some cases.This would be more unusual in men but then the onset of impotence can be a sign of disease such as heart disease and/or diebetes mellitus in men.
In Type 1 diabetes, previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the beta cells located in the pancreas. The pancreas is unable to produce any insulin and the hormone must be delivered from outside of the body through an injection or a pump. This condition is most common among children and young adults but can occur at any age.
In Type 2 diabetes, previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes, the usual cause of high sugar in the blood is due to insulin resistance. Cells do not respond to insulin and are unable to absorb glucose. Because the insulin is not able to be used, the pancreas continues to produce it at high rates and often Type 2 diabetics maintain a high level of insulin in their blood. Eventually, though, the pancreas is unable to meet the demand and gradually loses its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diagnosed cases.
Pre-diabetes, formerly called borderline-diabetes, is a condition prior to diabetes where patients have marked metabolic difficulties. If not treated, these are likely to lead to Type 2 diabetes. This will be discussed further in the chapter on prevention.
There are 20.8 million people with diebetes mellitus in the United States. One-third are unaware they have the condition and are therefore untreated and at higher risk for complications. Also, more worringly, 41 million people are thought or considered to be in the borderline and considered pre-diabetic.
Direct and indirect medical costs, lost days from work, long term complications including mortality, cost the United States approximately $40 billion a year. Diabetes affects men and women and in most cases these days not family medical history but lifestyle factors are responsible .For many, diebetes mellitus is a disease of excess calories and obesity.
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Diabetes - Curse of Western Living?