The ‘Not-so-sweet’ side of Diabetes

Do you often get up in the middle of the night to urinate? Are you always feeling hungry or thirsty, but despite this, you are losing weight and often feeling tired? Have you noticed any change in your eyesight? Is your vision getting blurry? If so, visit your doctor right away and have your blood sugar checked. Symptoms such as excessive excretion of urine (polyuria), thirst (polydipsia), constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue, are symptoms common to diabetes sufferers.

If you have indeed been diagnosed with diabetes, sadly you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. The WHO projects that diabetes-related deaths will double between 2005 and 2030. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a set of related diseases in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar (specifically, glucose) in the blood.

Though diabetes is a disease which involves high blood sugar levels, it definitely is not a “sweet” experience. When a person eats, the body gets glucose from the food consumed. Insulin, a hormone in the body, helps the glucose get into the cells to provide the body with energy. In Type 1 diabetes (T1D), the body stops producing insulin or does not produce enough insulin to regulate blood glucose level; while in Type 2 diabetes (T2D), the more common type of diabetes, the body is not able to produce or utilize the insulin well. Without sufficient insulin, the glucose remains in the blood.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes ultimately lead to high blood sugar levels, a condition called hyperglycemia. Over time, hyperglycemia damages the retina of the eye, the blood vessels of the kidneys, the nerves, and other blood vessels. Damage to the retina from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) is a leading cause of blindness, while damage to the kidneys from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) is a leading cause of kidney failure. Damage to the nerves from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)  is a leading cause of foot wounds and ulcers, which frequently lead to foot and leg amputations. Damage to the nerves in the autonomic nervous system can lead to paralysis of the stomach (gastroparesis), chronic diarrhea, and an inability to control heart rate and blood pressure during postural changes. Diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis (the formation of fatty plaques inside the arteries), which can lead to blockages or a clot (thrombus).  Such changes can then lead to heart attack, stroke, and decreased circulation in the arms and legs (peripheral vascular disease). Diabetes predisposes people to elevated blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.  These conditions both independently and together with hyperglycemia, can increase the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and other blood vessel complications. Diabetes can contribute to a number of acute (short-lived) medical problems such as infections, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome.

A simple blood test can help tell you if you have diabetes. Ask your doctor about the A1C test. This blood test can show you the average amount of glucose in your blood during the past 2 to 3 months. Best to have this test done at least twice a year. Your A1C result plus your blood glucose meter results can show whether your blood glucose is under control. Your A1C result plus your blood glucose meter results can show whether your blood glucose is under control. The A1C target for most people with diabetes is below 7 percent. Find out from your doctor what would be the right A1C target for you.

Having prolonged uncontrolled and unmanaged blood sugar can result in serious health complications. Regular exercise, weight control, and sensible food intake can help you keep your diabetes under control. Besides this, it is also necessary to monitor your glucose levels and take the medicines prescribed to you.

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References:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre
http://www.emedicinehealth.com
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

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