Sunday, September 17, 2006
What is Diabetes?
Insulin a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates carbohydrate metabolism, which controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin also, among other things, affects carbohydrate homeostasis, which can change the liver's ability to release the fat that it stores. In the pancreas, there is a section called the islets of langerhans. This section contains billions of hormone producing cells, 65-80% of which are beta cells. Beta cells (β-cells) are the cells that produce insulin.
Diabetes is divided into two categories: Type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes (also called insulin dependent diabetes) is cause by an immunities disorder. In this case, the immune system thinks that the beta cells produced are not supposed to be in the body. This causes the body's natural antibodies attacks the beta cells. This unfortunately has the effect of no insulin being produced.
Type 2 diabetes (also called non-insulin dependent diabetes) is where insulin is still produced by the beta cells. In this case, one of 2 things occurs. Either the body's cells do not properly respond to the produced insulin, or the amount of insulin produced by the beta cells is not sufficient enough to meet the body's needs. It is a myth that diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar. It was once thought that people with diabetes are not allowed to consume sugar, but when you have diabetes, you can still enjoy your favorite sugary foods as long as they are part of a normal diet.
Symptoms of diabetes include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurry vision, increased fatigue, unusual weight loss, or irritability. Diabetes can cause numerous problems. Such problems include: Neuropathy (a type of nerve damage), Nephropathy (a type of kidney disease), heart disease, Retinopathy (a type of eye damage), amongst many others. If you think you or someone you know has diabetes, you or they should be checked out immediately. Your doctor can help you keep your diabetes under control by having you lose weight, change your diet, and increase your exercise. If this is not enough, many medications are available, including insulin injections and other treatments.
Diabetes is divided into two categories: Type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes (also called insulin dependent diabetes) is cause by an immunities disorder. In this case, the immune system thinks that the beta cells produced are not supposed to be in the body. This causes the body's natural antibodies attacks the beta cells. This unfortunately has the effect of no insulin being produced.
Type 2 diabetes (also called non-insulin dependent diabetes) is where insulin is still produced by the beta cells. In this case, one of 2 things occurs. Either the body's cells do not properly respond to the produced insulin, or the amount of insulin produced by the beta cells is not sufficient enough to meet the body's needs. It is a myth that diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar. It was once thought that people with diabetes are not allowed to consume sugar, but when you have diabetes, you can still enjoy your favorite sugary foods as long as they are part of a normal diet.
Symptoms of diabetes include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurry vision, increased fatigue, unusual weight loss, or irritability. Diabetes can cause numerous problems. Such problems include: Neuropathy (a type of nerve damage), Nephropathy (a type of kidney disease), heart disease, Retinopathy (a type of eye damage), amongst many others. If you think you or someone you know has diabetes, you or they should be checked out immediately. Your doctor can help you keep your diabetes under control by having you lose weight, change your diet, and increase your exercise. If this is not enough, many medications are available, including insulin injections and other treatments.
