Thursday, March 28, 2024

Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. The body no longer produces insulin and glucose levels rise. Treatment with insulin injections is always required for survival. It is usually diagnosed as an acute condition.

In type 2 diabetes, a person’s pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or their body doesn’t react properly to insulin, called insulin resistance. Insulin is used by the body to manage glucose (sugar) levels in the blood and helps the body to use glucose for energy.

Facts about diabetes

1. About one third of all people with diabetes do not know they have the disease.

2. Type 2 diabetes often does not have any symptoms

3. Only about five percent of all people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes

4. A meal plan for a person with diabetes isn’t different from that which is recommended for people with diabetes

5. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

6. People with diabetes are twice more likely to develop heart disease than someone without diabetes.

7. Good control of diabetes significantly reduces the risk of developing complications from getting worse.

Common symptoms of diabetes:

Urinating often.

Feeling very thirsty.

Feeling very hungry – even though you are eating.

Extreme fatigue.

Blurry vision.

Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal.

Weight loss – even though you are eating more (type 1)

Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)

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