all about "DIABETES"

DIABETES is the most common and one of the most dangerous disease a person gets either by hereditary or by deficiency of insulin producing beta cells of "islets of langerhans" present in pancreas. 4 types of cells are found in "islets of langerhans" of which insulin is produced by beta cells . Hence diabetes or biologically called "diabetes mellitus" is basically a hormonal disorder where beta cells of pancreas fail to produce sufficient insulin needed by the human body and henceforth insulin has to be injected externallly to the body..the basic function of insulin is to decrease the glucose level of the body. It acts by increasing the rate at which glucose is transported out of the blood and into the cells and by stimulating muscle cells to take up sugar from the blood and convert it to glycogen.

Diabetes is of basically two types...TYPE 1...and TYPE 2..





WHAT IS DIABETES TYPE 1???

Type 1 diabetes is the autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys its own insulin producing beta cells of pancreas. With the body's natural supply of insulin cut off, blood sugar level rises. Type 1 occurs more frequently in children and young adults, but accounts for only 5-10% of the total diabetes cases nationwide.

ABOUT DIABETES TYPE 2..

Type 2 is a metabolic disorder where body is unable to properly use insulin to control blood sugar levels and in some cases..to make enough insulin..this is most common form of diabetes found and around 90-95% people have diabetes type 2...many of them bieng unaware of this disease.

Is Diabetes a Serious Health Problem?

Diabetes has:

Consistently ranked as a top-ten leading cause of death since 1932. .

By the year 2020, there will a total of 8 million people with diabetes in India:
4 million diagnosed with diabetes (two times the current number)
4 million with undiagnosed diabetes (three times the current number)



Can diabetes be prevented or controlled???

YES! Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent and control complications caused by diabetes. Regular physical activity is a protective factor against type-2 diabetes and conversely, lack of physical activity is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Researchers suspect that a lack of exercise is one factor contributing to the high rates of diabetes in Latinos.

Many people first become aware that they have diabetes when they develop one of its life-threatening complications:

1. Blindness
2. Kidney Disease and related disorders
3. Nerve Disease and amputations
4. Heart disease and stroke

Risk factors that seem to be more common are:

1. Family history of diabetes
2. Gestational diabetes
3. Impaired glucose tolerance
4. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance
5. Obesity, and
6. Physical inactivity.