5 posts tagged “diabetes symptoms”

The Causes of diabetes are still not fully understood. Neither are medical scientists able to explain why some people develop diabetes and others don’t. Certain factors have, however, been clearly identified which contribute to the development of diabetes.

Is Diabetes Inherited?

Heredity is a major factor. That diabetes can be inherited has been known for centuries. However, the pattern of inheritance is not fully understood. Statistic indicates that those with a family history of the disease have a higher risk of developing diabetes than those without such a background. The risk factor is 25 to 33 percent more.

Children are most likely to develop diabetes if either or both parents are diabetes, or if the expectant mother became diabetic, or if the mother was a confirmed diabetic prior to conception. This may not always be true. It is possible for parents who were, or are diabetic and the other remains free from the disease.

It is, however, essential that the blood sugar level of an expectant mother who is diabetic be maintained within the normal range, so that diabetes is not passed on to her child. It the blood sugar level is kept under control, the infant may not have nay symptoms of inherited diabetes, but a risk factor cannot be ruled out.

One reason why diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes runs in the family is because of the diabetes gene. But even it is caused by genetic factors beyond your control; there is no reason to suffer from it. Diabetes mellitus cannot be cured in full sense of the term, but it can be effectively controlled so that you would not know the difference.

Intensive genetic research is currently underway to identify genes associated with both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. In a study sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of USA the relatives at risk of type-1 diabetes are being treated with low doses of either insulin or an oral medication to determine if drugs may prevent the disease.

Surveys show that in India diabetes is more prevalent among males than females. In this population, family history of diabetes mellitus was present in 5.5 to 11.6 per cent. Amongst diabetics, 18.3 per cent urban and 6.4 percent of rural population had a direct relative with diabetes. Therefore, genetic predisposition in India is comparable to that observed in other parts of the world.

Diet: A Self inflicted Causes

Diabetes has been described by most medical scientists as a prosperity’ disease, primarily caused by systematic overeating. Not only is eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrates harmful, but proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar, may also result in diabetes if taken in excess.
Too much food taxes the pancreas and ultimately its normal activity of producing insulin gets paralyzed. It is interesting to note that diabetes is almost unknown in countries where people are poor and cannot afford to overeat.

The incidence of diabetes is directly linked with the consumption of processed foods rich in refined carbohydrates, like biscuits, bread, cakes chocolates, pudding and ice creams. In Britain, during the war when only whole wheat bread was available the incidence of diabetes dropped by 55 percent.

Parents should take great care to develop correct dietary habits in their children. Children should be prevented from becoming addicts to harmful foods like ice cream, cakes, jam, jelly, peppermint, chocolates and other sweets. The amount of food given to children should be such as would allow growth but not obesity. Children should be convinced about the importance of exercise and games and sports should be encouraged. Ideal body weight and a proportionate body is an almost certain guarantee against diabetes.

The Obesity Trigger

Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes. Studies show that 60 to 85 % of diabetics tend to be overweight. In the United States of America, about 80 percent of type –2 non-insulin dependent diabetics are reported to be overweight. During the Second World War, when there was a decrease in the average weight of the people, the incidence of diabetes came down dramatically. The greater the obesity, the greater is the mortality rate due to complications of diabetes.

Excess fat prevents insulin from working properly. The more fatty tissue in the body, the more resistant the muscle and tissue cells become to body insulin. Insulin allows the sugar in the blood to enter the cells by acting on the receptor sites on the surface of the cells. In obesity, where a person is overweight by 20 percent of the ideal weight or has high uric acid, or some syndromes, receptors are sparse and functionally idle. This is observed in patients developing diabetes around the age of 40 years, and having type-2 non-insulin dependent diabetes. It is estimated that the incidence of diabetes is four times higher in persons of moderate’s obesity and 3 times higher in persons of severe obesity. It has been rightly said; Heredity is like a cannon and obesity pulls and trigger.

Older people often tend to gain weight, and the same time, many of them develop and mild form of diabetes because who are over weight can often improve their blood sugar simply by losing weight. In some cases, it is all that is required to bring blood sugar back into the normal range. Even small weight loss can have beneficial effects, reducing blood sugar levels, or allowing medicines to work better. However, sudden gain in weight may cause diabetes to return. It is therefore important for older people to keep their weight down to normal. Among those detected to be diabetic, almost one third are overweight.

Virus Infections

Pancreatic infections with Coxsackie’s B virus can result in beta cell damage, development of autoantibodies and, consequently, type-1 insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Some of these can be diagnosed by a viral antibody test and islet cell antibody test. Screening for antibodies can indicate potentially juvenile diabetes in a family on the basis of auto-immunity.

The Lifestyle Risk

A sedentary lifestyle, resulting from lack of physical work and exercise, plays an improvement role in the development of diabetes. The less active a person, the greater the risk of developing diabetes. Modern conveniences have made work easier. Physical activity and exercise helps control weight, uses up a lot of glucose (sugar) present in the blood as energy and makes cells more sensitive to insulin. Consequently, the workload on the pancreas is reduced.

Exercise also adds to the muscles mass. Normally, between 70 percent to 90 percent of the blood sugar is absorbed into the muscles. A reduction in muscle mass-either due to age of physical inactivity—reduces the storage space for blood sugar, and it remains in the blood stream.

Smoking: An Important Risk Factor

Smoking is another important risk factor. Among men who smoke, the risk of developing diabetes is doubled. In women who smoke 25 or more cigarettes a day, the risk of developing diabetes is increased by 40 percent. Smoking also reduces retinal blood flow and increases the risk of developing retinopathy. It also decreases insulin absorption and limits joints mobility. Smoking, in combination with diabetes, greatly enhances the likelihood of premature mortality. It also depends upon the number of cigarettes a day a person smokes and the number of years he has been smoking.

Age

A risk of type-2 diabetes increases, as one grows older, especially above the age of 45 years. Part of the reason is that is people grow older, they tend to become less physically active, lose muscle mass and gain weight. With life styles becoming more sedentary, there has been an increase of diabetes among people in there 30s and 40s.

Stress and Tension

Stress can be emotional or physical, such as a surgery or a serious infection, an accident or an emotional shock. Another very urban trait, the high stress lifestyle, not just amongst the young unwardly mobile, but increasingly in all walks of life, is a relatively new phenomenon in India. Since there is a known connection between stress and diabetes mellitus, those who are under stress and/or lead an irregular lifestyle, need to take adequate precautions and make necessary lifestyle adjustments.

Pancreatic insufficiency caused by stress, can lead to diabetes. Grief, worry and anxiety resulting from examinations, death of a close relative, loss of a joy, business failure and strained marital relationship, all a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause sugar to appear in the urine.

Organic Disorders

Diabetes may be associated with some grave organic disorders like cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral diseases. Diabetes may also be caused by a variety of other factors. These include certain metabolic and genetic disorders, inadequate secretion of insulin by the pancreas, malfunctioning of other endocrine glands like thyroid, pituitary and adrenal, excessive consumption of alcohol and the use of the certain drugs.

Race

Although the reasons are unclear, people of certain races are more likely to develop diabetes than others.

Dr John Anne is a herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on Herbs and Alternative health. For more helpful information read about Diabetes Causes at Diabetes Treatment Website.

It does not always take a long time for the onset of Type 1 Diabetes. This type of diabetes can form in only a matter of weeks, so it is important that you know the symptoms that will alert you to the need of a checkup by your physician. Since Type 1 Diabetes is a long-term illness, it is imperative in the successful management of the disease to get an early diagnosis.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

The initial Type 1 Diabetes symptoms can come on strongly and suddenly, and include:

•    An increase in the production of urine caused as the body tries to rid itself of excess glucose in the urine

•    Excessive thirst

•    Weight loss

•    Increased appetite

•    Fatigue caused by the inability of the body to convert glucose into energy

•    Blurred vision

•    Nausea and vomiting

•    Irritability and mood changes

Early Diagnosis and Management of Type 1 Diabetes

The importance of early diagnosis and management of Type 1 Diabetes symptoms is due to the fact that other complications can arise from diabetes that is not treated. Some of these complications can be life threatening, thus the need to quickly seek a medical diagnosis if more than one of the above Type 1 Diabetes symptoms becomes present. Some of these complications include:

•    Retinopathy –this is a disorder of the eyes that occurs when the tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye become damaged by high blood sugar. Early detection and treatment, as well as managing your blood sugar is essential in order to avoid blindness, which can result if this disorder is left untreated.

•    Neuropathy – nerve damage caused by high blood sugar that can lead to pain and numbness in certain areas. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common form and affects the nerves in the legs, feet, and hands. Autonomic neuropathy is less common and involves the nerves that control such body functions as digestion and urination.

•    Nephropathy – damage to the kidneys that is caused by high blood sugar. If diabetes and nephropathy is left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure.

•    Diabetic ketoacidosis – This occurs when the body produces acidic substances called ketones to as a substitute energy fuel that is usually derived from glucose. The symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, lethargy, fatigue, and if left untreated can result in coma or death.

•    Hypoglycemia – This condition can be caused when too much insulin is taken and not enough carbohydrates are consumed to balance out the extra insulin. The symptoms of this condition can include irritability, blurry vision, trembling, headache, sudden sweating, dizziness and weakness, and confusion. If not treated, hypoglycemia can lead to a coma.

•    Atherosclerosis – this condition involves heart and blood vessel problems that result from unmanaged high blood sugar. People who have Type 1 Diabetes are at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and other problems associated with poor circulation.

•    Foot problems – foot problems are often associated with diabetes. People who suffer from peripheral neuropathy, which can cause numbness in the feet, often do not notice sores on their feet, which can lead to infection. Sores that are left untreated for a long period of time are at risk for gangrene, which is the death of soft tissue because of a lack of blood flow. This can lead to the need for amputation of the foot, and even the leg or part of the leg.

The Importance of Management

The complications above demonstrate the importance of recognizing Type 1 Diabetes symptoms as quickly as possible. Once a physician has diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes, it is imperative that you find a plan of management that is suitable to you as an individual and treat the disease as a long-term illness that can cause adverse complications if left untreated. Managing your Type 1 Diabetes involves more than just cutting down on the sweets – proper management of your diabetes will include an entire lifestyle change as well as medications in some cases. A healthy lifestyle should always include, first and foremost, a healthy diet along with a regular exercise routine. 

Dr John Anne is a herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on Herbs and Alternative health. For more helpful information read about Diabetes Diagnosis at Diabetes Treatment.

Too Sweet for Diabetes

Sugar is part of a whole slew of meals. The carbohydrates that we eat are later on converted into sugar or glucose while it undergoes the processes inside our body. These sugars are what we use for energy.  However, there are really foods that are pure sugar or contain a lot it, which can cause the sugar level in our blood. When this sugar level increase, we may suffer diabetes and other ailments.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease resulting from the increase of blood sugar level above its normal values. The sugars in the blood are supposed to be transported to the cells of the body. But if a person has diabetes, the sugar build up in the blood. The build up of sugar is caused one of the following reasons: either the pancreas is not producing enough hormones called insulin that helps the glucose get into the cells or the body can not make use of the insulin as it is supposed to be.

Diabetes is a disease that exists not only on its own but could trigger a lot of complications and other diseases to surface. These diabetes complications include heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. It has become one of the major causes of death all over the world.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Like any other sickness, diabetes surface symptoms that should be monitored. These are physically manifested symptoms that could easily diagnosed so if anyone is suffering from the following, seeing a physician is recommended. Diabetes have the following signs: extreme hunger and thirst, excessive drying of the skin, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, slow healing sores, tingling or numbness of hands or feet, sudden vision blurredness.

When the diabetes is insulin-dependent, other symptoms include nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.

Types of Diabetes

There are three kinds of diabetes that could be developed to specific age range or condition of people. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 1 diabetes is commonly developed among children while non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 2 diabetes is developed among adults. There is also the kind of diabetes that only pregnant women can acquire. The gestational diabetes, though, is not permanent because it disappears as soon as the pregnancy is over; however, if it is not treated it can cause a threat to both the mother and the baby.

Type 2 diabetes is affected by old age, obesity, family history of the ailment, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, lack of physical activities and race or ethnicity.

Causes of Diabetes

Though researchers have found out what are the things that causes the acquisition of diabetes, the determination of the exact causes of the disease is yet to be discovered. They say that the causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. Type 1 seemed to be developed from environmental triggers like unidentified virus that attacks the pancreas and causes it to malfunction in producing insulin.

Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is closely associated with being obese and regular physical activities can help prevent the development of which.

Therapies and Treatment for Diabetes

When a person has developed type 1 diabetes, his or her blood glucose levels should be closely monitored through regular glucose tests. Since most food intake contains sugar or substances that will later on be converted to sugar, it is necessary that the food to be eaten is also monitored or measured. Healthy diet, exercise and insulin injections are the basic treatments for type 1 diabetes. However, the insulin should be balanced with metabolism of the body in terms of physical activities and food intake.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes is almost the same with that of type 1. Blood glucose should also be closely monitored; however, some people are required to take some oral medications to avoid blood sugar to increase beyond normal parameters. Since this type of diabetes is not insulin-dependent, insulin injections are not required.

Dr John Anne is an ayurvedic doctor having years of experience in the field of Ayurveda and Alternative medicine. Read about Diabetes Symptoms at Diabetes Treatment website.

In medical parlance, this disease is known as "diabetes mellitus" - diabetes from the Greek word for siphon, to illustrate the excessive thirst and urination, which is characteristic of this condition, and mellitus from the Latin word for honey - as urine of a diabetic person contains sugar and is sweet.

Commonly, this disease is called diabetes.

There are many types of diabetes, but the three most common are:

1.    Type 1 diabetes

2.    Type 2 diabetes

3.    Gestational diabetes

1. Type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin dependent diabetes):

This is an autoimmune disease where the body's own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. It can appear at any age, although mostly under 30 (very often in childhood or during teens), and is caused by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or people genetically predisposed. This type of diabetes, is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes.
It is not really known what causes type 1 diabetes and it is not caused by eating too much sugar or sweets.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin much earlier. Common symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme weakness. If not timely diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person with type 1 diabetes can go into life-threatening diabetic coma, also known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

2. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes):

This is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all diagnosed people. It is also known as late-onset diabetes, and is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.

Type 2 diabetes is genetic in origin, but other factors such as excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, ethnicity and faulty diet are its major risk factors. Symptoms may not show up for many years, and by the time they crop up, considerable harm may have been done to the body.

In this condition, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for reasons unknown, the body cannot use the insulin effectively – termed as insulin resistance. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make proficient use of its main source of energy.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, frequent urination, excess thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds. Some people may show no symptoms.

Type 2  diabetes is a progressive, lifetime condition; and over time, it may be difficult to keep the blood glucose level in the target range. However, good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of complications.

One can do this by:

1.    Eating healthy meals and snacks

2.    Following regular physical activity

3.    Taking diabetes medications (including insulin), if prescribed.

3. Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy. In most cases, all diabetic symptoms disappear following delivery. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 % chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years, especially if they were overweight before the pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by blocking effects of other hormones (estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen) on the insulin that is produced, a condition referred to as insulin resistance. Normally, the pancreas is able to make additional insulin to overcome insulin resistance. However, when the production of insulin is not enough to overcome the effect of the placental hormones, gestational diabetes results.

Carbohydrate intolerance is diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal level after delivery, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes later on; while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life.

Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
 
The complications of gestational diabetes are usually manageable and preventable. The key to prevention is careful control of blood sugar levels as soon as the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made.

Other types of diabetes -

4. Diabetes insipidus:

Diabetes insipidus is an uncommon condition, that occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water as they perform their function of filtering blood. The anti-diuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin) controls the amount of water conserved. Diseases of the kidney (for example, polycystic kidney disease) and the effects of certain drugs may also cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

The common symptoms are excessive urination and extreme thirst.
 
5. Syndrome X:

Syndrome X, also known as the "metabolic syndrome" or "Insulin Resistance Syndrome", is a condition that is linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
It is characterised by abdominal obesity, elevated levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Other symptoms include smoking, high fat and calorie diet, pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome.

This is more common in older people than in younger people. In addition, women were more likely to have the syndrome than men.

For more helpful information visit Types of Diabetes and Diabetic Food
 

The symptoms of diabetes most of the time begin gradually, and can be difficult to identify initially. They may include fatigue, sudden weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing of wounds, frequent urination - especially at night, and excessive thirst. When there is extra glucose in the blood, the body gets rid of it through frequent urination. The loss of fluids induces extreme thirst, leading to more frequent urination.

A doctor may also suspect a patient to have diabetes if he has health problems related to diabetes, such as heart disease, changes in vision, numbness in the feet and legs or sores that are slow to heal. These symptoms do not mean that the person has diabetes, but anyone with these problems should definitely see a doctor.

A person with diabetes may actually show no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes, in particular, develops slowly, even for years before it is diagnosed. When symptoms develop, they vary from person to person. The two symptoms that occur in most people with the disease are increased thirst and frequent urination.

The way these symptoms develop differs for Type I and Type II diabetes. In Type I diabetes, they usually show up slowly in children or adolescents over a period of a few days or weeks. In Type II diabetes, symptoms develop even more slowly, over a period of years - in adults over the age of forty. Adults often do not realize they have diabetes mellitus. The condition may only be discovered maybe during a routine physical examination for some other ailment.

Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Type - 1 diabetes symptoms:

Symptoms of Type - I diabetes often come suddenly and very severely. They include:

• exceptional thirst (polydipsia)
• dry mouth
• frequent urination (polyuria)
• weight loss
• feeling weak and tired
• blurred vision

Type - 2 diabetes symptoms:

Mostly, people with Type 2 diabetes don't notice any symptoms, or the symptoms are experienced gradually. They include:

• blurred vision
• cuts or wounds that heal slowly
• itchy skin
• increased thirst
• dry mouth
• frequent urination
• leg pain

Gestational diabetes symptoms:

• increased thirst
• increased urination
• weight loss in spite of good appetite
• fatigue and weakness
• nausea and vomiting
• frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina and skin
• blurred vision
• irritability

Other warning symptoms of diabetes mellitus include:

• Flu-like symptoms - like a viral illness, along with fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite.
• Weight gain or loss – as the body is trying to compensate for lost fluids and sugar, one tends to eat more than usual and gain weight. On the other hand, one may also eat more than normal, but still lose weight because the muscle tissues don't get enough glucose to generate growth and energy. In fact, most people with type 1 diabetes are at or below their normal weight.  
• Blurred vision - high levels of blood sugar draw out fluid from the tissues in the body including the lenses of the eyes. For most people this causes only mild vision problems. Nevertheless, for others, the effects may be much more serious, even blindness. 
• Slow healing sores or frequent infection - bladder and vaginal infections can be a particular problem for women. 
• Nerve damage (neuropathy) – excess sugar in blood can lead to loss of sensation in hands and feet. One may also experience burning pain in legs, feet, arms and hands. Many men, above the age of 50 and older with diabetes may experience some degree of sexual dysfunction from damage to the nerves that help produce an erection. 
• Swollen and tender gums - Diabetes increases the risk of infection in gums and in the bones that hold teeth in place. One may also develop sores or pockets of pus in gums.
• Frequent yeast infections. 
• Velvety dark skin changes of the neck, armpit and groin, called acanthosis nigricans.
• Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
• Impotency

Diabetes sometimes goes unrecognized early, because people usually think they are urinating more, simply because they are drinking more. It is better to get oneself checked by a doctor before one starts restricting his fluid intake.

If one has any of these symptoms, contact a professional doctor right away to be tested. Even people with pre-diabetes can have an increased risk from heart disease as seen in people with diabetes.

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