Battling Diabetes

Diabetes - An Introduction to Diabetes

Diabetes, a disease characterized by chronic high levels of glucose in the blood, is not the major problem it once was. Prior to the end of the 19th century, it might well have been a death sentence for many. Excess glucose can have a number of ill effects, including poor cut healing or kidney damage, even coma. With the advancement of monitoring and insulin delivery methods, it’s often now little more than another daily task to perform.

Though the underlying causes are not fully understood, diabetes results from either too little insulin being produced or ineffective use of it by the body. In Type 1 diabetes, for example, the islet cells of the pancreas fail to produce an amount of insulin adequate to allow blood glucose to enter cells where it’s used for energy. In Type 2, the cells may resist insulin’s action, once again leaving too much glucose in the blood.

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By Adrian Whittle

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body cannot reduce the level of the sugar in the blood. This causes a number of problems. Sugar is the primary source of energy to the cells and without this energy the cells starve. This is a major concern, especially to people with type 1 diabetes, and insulin replacement therapy is needed to facilitate this process. High levels of sugar in the blood for many years has effects on many of the body’s organs and systems. Thus many people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes will have a poor circulation system. Their immune system may not be as responsive or efficient and they may have an increased risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Another common complication of diabetes is problems with the eyes. The most common problem is known as diabetic retinopathy and is a consequence of the poor circulation. This article will discuss diabetes and retinopathy and other eye problems that may occur.

Diabetes retinopathy is the most common complication of the disease in the eye. To a lesser extent a diabetic can suffer from cataracts and glaucoma but they are generally easy to detect and treat. Retinopathy is not that easy to spot and it is important that get a regular eye examination annually as part of the ongoing treatment for diabetes.

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Many factors contribute to the onset of diabetes, including genetic predisposition and diet. But exercise can help reduce the odds of getting and the severity of this disease.

Diabetes comes in two types, Type I and Type II. In either case, the body has difficulty regulating the level of blood glucose. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body’s activities.

One basic reason is the inability to produce the proper amount of insulin, a hormone that helps transport glucose to the cells. In Type I diabetes the body can’t produce adequate insulin, so the loss has to be made up from the outside, usually via injection. This is the more serious type and control of the condition requires obtaining medical advice.

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