DIABETES

Diabetes The full term for diabetes is actually Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes is a disease where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, the body’s sugar, used for energy. In people with diabetes, glucose levels build up in the blood and urine, causing excessive urination, thirst, hunger, and problems with fat and protein metabolism. In the United States, about 17 million people suffer from diabetes; it is the sixth leading cause of death by diseases. Diabetes is most common in adults over 45, or in people that are overweight or physically inactive. The highest count of people with diabetes is Native Americans. More women are diagnosed with the disease than men. In Diabetes, low insulin levels prevent cells from absorbing glucose. Because of this, glucose builds up in the blood. When this blood passes through the kidneys, they can’t absorb all of the excess glucose. The excess glucose then, spills into the urine. This triggers frequent need to go to the bathroom, greater thirst, and hunger. Additional symptoms may include: Dramatic weight loss, weakness, nausea, and blurred vision. Diabetes is classified in two types. Type one, usually called insulin dependent, the body produces too little insulin or none at all. Symptoms usually appear suddenly. Type one usually occurs in people under the age of twenty, usually around the age of puberty. Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks and destroys insulin producing cells. Type two diabetes is usually called non-insulin-dependent diabetes. This is when the body does produce insulin, but it can’t or won’t use it. Usually symptoms from type one diabetes are added upon in type two by: tiredness, skin sores that won’t heal, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. About ninety to ninety-five percent of Americans have type two diabetes.