What is diabetes and what are the symptoms? Does a cure to diabetes really exist?
In this article I’ll try to answer the above questions in simple layman’s terms.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body processes sugars absorbed from food and drink. Normally, sugar is broken down as it is digested, into a simpler form called glucose, which is then absorbed into cells to provide energy when required. An organ called the pancreas produces a hormone named insulin, which helps the absorbsion of glucose into the bodies blood cells. A properly function pancreas will adjust the level of insulin depending on the amount of glucose in the body. When you have diabetes, the pancreas stops working normally and the levels of glucose become too high and can eventually cause organ failure and diabetic comas.
The are two types of diabetes, named type 1 and type 2. A cure to diabetes would help both of these.
Type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas has stopped working normally and is not producing any insulin or very little. This will normally happen before the age of 30, but can strike at any age. The reasons for this are not fully understood, but it can be an inherited condition. Individuals with this form of diabetes will require regular injections of insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is very different. A person with this disorder will produce enough insulin, but the cells in the body have become resistant to it and are unable to absorb it. This condition will usually start in people of 35 years or older, but can affect anybody including children. Type 2 diabetes is generally caused by being obese (too fat), having little or no exercise, being genetically venerable or getting old.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are being very thirsty, urinating more frequently, getting tired and irritable, having extreme hunger, unusual weight loss.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes include any of the symptoms of type 1 and frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts or bruises that heal slowly, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, frequent skin , gum or bladder infections. A lot of the time people have no symptoms with type 2 diabetes.
If you have one of more of the symptoms, please go and see your doctor and get professional advice.