Diabetes Facts

Recognize the signs of diabetes

While diabetes was once recognized as an unfortunate disease that only affected a small number of people, statistics show that today 18 million people in the United States alone suffer from this disease. Perhaps even more surprising is the that nearly one third of these individuals may remain undiagnosed, largely to the failure to recognize the warning signs Most common in this disease. To increase the treatment of this health problem, it is important to understand how diabetes affects the body and the resulting symptoms that may occur.

People with diabetes are unable to produce or use insulin, a hormone that is the body needs to process starches and sugar into energy the body needs for most activities of life. There are currently four types of diabetes. Juvenile diabetes, also called Type 1 diabetes is usually first recognized in young adults or even earlier. This type of diabetes occurs as a direct result of the body being unable to produce insulin.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed at any time. Studies indicate, however, that some populations may be at greater risk of this form of diabetes than others. The elderly seem to be very risky and that Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders.

A third type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy, usually in a situation in which the patient has no history of diabetes. The number of women who suffer from this type of diabetes is relatively low, but it can be very serious for the mother and baby.

The last type of diabetes is actually pre-diabetes, which is a term used to describe a situation in which the levels of glucose in the blood are abnormally high, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes text. When the pre-diabetes is allowed to continue without treatment, major organs can be damaged over a long period of time.

One of the reasons that the symptoms of diabetes can be difficult to recognize is that they can appear either gradually over a long period of time or dramatically and suddenly. Some symptoms that can be noticed fatigue, frequent urination and excessive thirst. In some cases, sudden weight loss, urinary tract infections and disorders of vision can also be noticed.

Due to the fact that diabetes can lead to a number of serious health problems such as blindness, heart disease and nerve and kidney, it is extremely important that you test for diabetes if you suffer from symptoms associated with the disease. Although These symptoms are often associated with diabetes, keep in mind that in some cases of diabetes presents absolutely no signs or symptoms. Therefore, If you are over 45 or fall into a high-risk category, you should make a point to be tested for diabetes at least once every two years.

The test for diabetes is relatively simple and rapid measure the level of glucose in the blood. For accurate measurement of the test must be performed in the morning before food is consumed. levels of pre-diabetes usually be between 100 and 125 while the levels of diabetes are indicated by full glucose in the blood exceeds 125.

Although some cases of diabetes may require medication to correct the situation, others can be controlled with lifestyle changes such as weight loss and diet changes.

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