subject: Diabetes Information and Medication [print this page] Diabetes Information and Medication Diabetes Information and Medication
Diabetes
Diabetes or also less commonly known as diabetes mellitus is a disease or condition in which the patient has high sugar concentration in his blood stream. There are three major types of diabetes
Type1 diabetes
Type2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes
Causes
The causes of diabetes can be either linked to the lifestyle or they may be inherited. Both, type1 and type2 diabetes can be accounted to person's unhealthy lifestyle and dietary habits. In type1 diabetes the body fails to produce enough insulin that is required to break down sugar during digestion. In type2 diabetes, the body does produces sufficient insulin however it fails to utilize the same to digest sugar. In both the cases the glucose in the body doesn't breaks down and is absorbed by the blood as it is during digestion. As body can't produce energy from un-broken glucose, body switches over to proteins and fats to produce energy. This results in polydipsia, polymia, polyphagia and loss of weight.
However gestational diabetes occurs in women during pregnancy if they had history of diabetes.
Symptoms
Diabetes is a very complex disease and it may result in blindness in adults. It may also result in other disorders like end stage renal disease (ESRD), gangrene, amputations, kidney failure, cardiovascular problems and neuropathy. Besides the symptoms listed above, it is known to cause increased risk of hypertension or high blood pressure and in some cases even strokes. Gestational diabetes is very dangerous for pregnant mothers and may even prove to be fatal for both mother and the child.
Treatment and Medication
Insulin injections and implantable insulin pumps are available than are capable of controlling high levels of blood sugars. Insulin injections are required to be taken just before having food so that it can effectively work with body's digestive system to break down the sugar content in the food. On the other hand the implantable insulin pumps have a built in smart chip that houses instruction to control the blood sugar based on mathematical logic. They secrete insulin in the body when the body sugar level is rising and this helps bring it down.
Medicines like hypoglycemic can be taken orally to help check diabetes. There are varieties of monitoring devices available that are very easy to operate and test the sugar level in blood in less than 15 seconds. This helps the patient actively monitor the sugar in their blood and take necessary medication or treatment when necessary.
Precautions and Prevention
Person with the disease or strong susceptibility should consider modifying one's lifestyle and diet. Proper exercising helps to some extent. People with hypertension, cholesterol and dyslipidmia need to be extra cautious. Monitor your blood sugar level regularly and when it falls beyond the acceptable bounds, seek medical attention.
