Diabetes is a condition where you will find an increase in the level of sugar in the blood. Blood
sugar is controlled by insulin, a substance thst is produced by the pancreas. If insulin is missing or not enough is being produced,sugar absorbed from the food cannot be used as an energy source and its concertration increases in the blood. Excess sugar in the blood is removed by the kidneys, using up large amounts of water: so you may pass more urine to compensate for the loss of liquids. Another consequence is an increase in appetite and an increased consumption of food. The more you eat the more the intake of sugar increases resulting in an increase in blood sugar levels, therefore creating a vicious circle.
Is Diabetes Common?
There are around 200 million diabetic people in the world as it stands at the moment. however it is estimated that by 2025 there will be around 300 million. in the UK there is around 2 million people with diabetes. some of these do not even know they have it. It is estimated hower around 25% of the UK diabetics are insulin dependent.
Causes of Diabetes
THe causes of diabetes are not yet completely known.
Diabetes can be inherited and environmental factors can also play a part. These two factors when often together can cause an insulin deficit. As well as you body not producing enough insulin, in some cases,especially overweight people, the cells in your body can become resistant to the action of insulin.
In the case of children and teenagers certain viruses or alterations of the immune system can also bring on the disease.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes normally occurs in children or teenagers and also normally occurs in people for the first time below 30 years of age. It usually starts quickly with quite obvious symptoms. As the pancreas does not produce any insulin it is important and necessary to inject it in order to stay alive.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes usually occurs in people over the age of 40 years of age. The symptoms are not as progressive as Type 1 diabetes. Hence it can be unoticed for long periods of time. Type 2 diabetes occurs more often in overweight people and there is no weight loss when the disease occurs. This is the most frequent form of diabetes and represents the highest percentage of all diabetic cases. The pancreas continues to produce insulin but not in sufficient amounts. this form of diabetes can be treated with a change in diet and can alsobe controlled by tablets.
Management and Treatment:
Diabetes should be managed properly and taken very seriously as it does have dangerous short term effects. Complications occur when blood sugar levels get to high or to low which in some cases are life threating.
HYPOGLYCAEMIA: This occurs when your blood sugar levels drop to low. Most cases of this occur within insulin dependant diabetics. This can occur if a diabetic person forgets to eat a mealor does not have a high enough intake of carboyhydrates, or has over exercised.
Hypoglycaemia is a serious condition where the brain fails to recieve enough glucose and can lead to permanent intellectual impairment.
SYMPTOMS: The main sypmtons of this include sweating, weakness, hunger, dizziness, trembling, headache, palpitations, confusion and in some cases double vision. The behaviour can vary but it can come acroos as if the person is irritable, agressive and also uncoordinated movements. this can more often than not be mistaken for the person be nder the influence of alcohol. In a very bad case the person in question may slip into a coma due to blood sugars being extremely low.
TREATMENT: for this at least 20g of carbohydrate should be consumed. This can be found in the following examples:
- 2 slices of bread
- A snack size chocolate bar
- 100ml of Lucozade
- 300ml of non-diet Cola
- 3 Sugar cubes
Insulin dependant diabetics should always make sure that they do have some sort of sugar / glucose supplies with them at all times or close by to sure that if a hypo was to occur that it can be treated quickly. In the worst case senarion the person could slip into unconsiousness and here medical help Should be called upon immediately.
HYPERGLYCAEMIA: This is were blood sugar levels are abnormally high. This often occurs in untreated or in poorly managed diabetics. It can also occur in diabetics that are newly diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 or have been subject to infection, stress factors or surgery.
SYMPTOMS:
The Symptoms of Hyperglycaemia are the same as a diabetics:
- Thirst
- Passing of large amount of urine.
- Servere cases may result in confusion or the person falling into a coma. this requires emergency medical treatment with either insulin or fluid such as Glycogen.
