Diabetes has acquired its name from the Greek word “siphon”. Diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism and the endocrine system, and is a blood-related disease. It has two forms: Diabetes mellitus (from the Greek word for sugar) and Diabetes insipidus. The main causes of this disorder are that either the body does not produce enough insulin, as happens in type 1 diabetes, or it does not use the available insulin in a proper manner, as in type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body convert glucose into energy. The factors which contribute to diabetes include lack of exercise, excessive weight, age, poor diet and, most importantly, genetics.
The symptoms of diabetes are fatigue, as the body does not get enough energy due to non-absorption of glucose, unquenchable thirst due to frequent urination, and weakening of the eyesight as a consequence of loss of excess body fluid in the form of urine. A diabetic person is also susceptible to frequent infections, like urinary tract infections, colds and flu. Another symptom is a tingling or burning feeling in the hands and feet. Most of the time diabetes goes unchecked because the symptoms are harmless.
A number of tests have been devised to help find out if you are diabetic. The fasting plasma glucose test, done in the morning, is a relatively cheap and easy test. It measures the blood sugar levels when one is not eating. The random plasma glucose test does not require fasting and can be done at any time. This type of test is the easiest and does not require any preparation. The oral glucose tolerance test involves checking blood glucose while fasting and then asking the patient to drink a super-sweet solution, after which the test is repeated, the results are compared to the standard, and if your reading is higher than normal then you have diabetes. Other tests involve glycated hemoglobin, urine tests and finger-prick tests.
It is sad that diabetes is a life-long disease. Even if you undergo treatment in the form of medication, diet change and exercise to get your sugar levels under control, you are still diabetic.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Type 1 Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile onset diabetes are some of the other terms that refer to type 1 diabetes, a lifelong disease that marks insufficient insulin production for proper regulation of the body’s blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 3 percent of all...
-
Diabetes Medications
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes medications are attempted when normal diabetic diet, weight loss and exercise fail to bring blood sugar to a normal range. They include oral drugs and hypodermal injections. Medication usually starts when the average blood glucose levels are greater than 150 mg/dl (8 mol). Diabetes...
-
Diabetes Mellitus
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The word diabetes is taken from the Greek word diabainein which literally means ‘passing through.’ This is in direct reference to excessive urination, a major symptom of diabetes. Mellitus, on the other hand, is from the Greek word mel meaning ‘honey’ and was added to...
-
Diabetes FAQs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes is a disease that causes the blood glucose levels go above normal, i.e. above 80-120 mg/dl. The hormone insulin secreted by the pancreas keeps blood glucose level low. Diabetes occurs when your body either doesn’t make sufficient insulin or you lack the mechanism of...
-
Symptoms of Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes is a disorder of the body’s sugar-regulation abilities. Most of the time it goes undiagnosed because the symptoms are not very clear. There are many symptoms, but they don’t appear in all cases. The symptoms include frequent urination (polyuria), which occurs because of the...
-
Diabetes Supplies
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes is a lifelong disease and can affect any one at any age or time. For many years this was considered to be a life-threatening disease, as there was no remedy. With improvements in research many therapies have been developed. The first step in controlling...
-
Diabetes Medication
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Blood glucose control is managed by proper meal planning, weight loss and exercising. At times however, these actions are not adequate to bring blood glucose levels down to their normal range. Medication is in the form of oral pills and insulin shots. Blood glucose levels...
-
Juvenile Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Juvenile diabetes is a chronic disorder caused by the body’s inability to manage sugar or glucose and store it properly to be used as fuel. When the body can’t efficiently break down glucose to be absorbed by the cells, it stays in the blood and...
-
Feline Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Even cats are not spared from the dangers of diabetes. Feline diabetes is a complex yet common disorder in cats caused by insufficient insulin production or the cat’s inability to respond to insulin. Feline diabetes is very similar to diabetes and how it affects humans,...
-
Managing Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
With proper medication, diet and physical activity any diabetic person can live a normal risk free healthy life. Many sites on the Internet provide useful tips for managing diabetes. The most important step in managing diabetes is to know the disease. A clear understanding of...