Diabetes is the world's fastest growing chronic disease. It is controlled by taking medicine and through lifestyle changes and it never goes away. Speaking from personal experience, I can attest to the immense amount of help it is to understand this condition thoroughly, the medication and the lifestyle adjustments required and the reasoning behind this. This empowers the person diagnosed to take control of his or her diabetes.
What is diabetes?
When we eat food, the carbohydrates that we consume are digested and go into our blood in the form of glucose (sugar). The glucose in our blood needs to enter the body's cells so these cells can turn the glucose into energy. In order to turn glucose in to energy, our bodies require insulin.
Insulin is the key that opens the door for glucose to move from the blood to the cells of the body. When a person's body stops producing insulin (type 1 diabetes) or is not producing an adequate amount of insulin (type 2 diabetes), the blood sugar levels (BSLs) begin to rise. When this happens a person is said to have diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that never goes away. In the majority of cases it cannot be cured; it can only be controlled by medicine. What type of medicine a person uses to control his or her diabetes depends on the type of diabetes he or she has been diagnosed with.
Types of diabetes
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is where a person's pancreas (the organ responsible for insulin production) produces no insulin at all. People diagnosed with this type of diabetes require insulin injections before every meal and once before bed. This type of diabetes was previously called juvenile onset diabetes or Insulin-Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM).
Type 2 diabetes is where the pancreas is not producing insulin in adequate amounts or there is insulin resistance. People with this type of diabetes need to take pills to bring about blood sugar control. This type of diabetes was previously called adult onset diabetes or Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). These terms are not used anymore as many type 2 diabetics are using injectable insulin to bring about better control of their blood sugar levels. In addition to this, more and more young people are being diagnosed with this previously named "adult onset" diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is diagnosed when increased blood sugar levels (BSLs) occur in pregnancy. This type of diabetes is dangerous for the baby and the mother and puts the mother at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
The causes and risk of getting diabetes?
It is not completely certain what causes type 1 diabetes. It appears environmental triggers are involved, such as exposure to certain viruses. The cause of type 2 diabetes is associated with lifestyle factors such as being overweight, eating poorly and not getting enough exercise. These reasons are called risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the more likely that person will get diabetes.
Type 1, type 2 and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) causes also include hereditary factors. If somebody in your family has been diagnosed with diabetes, you are overweight, have poor dietary intake and don't get enough exercise you are at high risk for getting diabetes.
There is a great myth in society that diabetes is caused by a person drinking or eating too many sweets. If you or a family member have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is not helpful to assign blame to yourself or others for the situation. Nobody knows the full extent that genes play in causing diabetes.
Living with diabetes
Whether you, a family member or a close friend of yours have been newly diagnosed as a diabetic or have had this chronic disease for many years, diabetes is something that can be very overwhelming at times, especially when first diagnosed. People need time to grieve and adjust. For the newly diagnosed diabetic, many changes are going to be required and these changes need to happen immediately or damage to vital organs could occur.
Living with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes requires a major lifestyle adjustment. The most important thing a person with diabetes can do is to get a firm understanding of what exactly diabetes is and what are required in medications and lifestyle changes in order to take control. The newly diagnosed diabetic needs to know what type of diabetes is present so he or she can know how to take the right medication. He or she needs to know how to manage side effects, such as what happens when the blood sugar levels (BSLs) go too low.
Managing diabetes
Understanding diabetes and how to control diabetes empowers the person to make the necessary adjustments in order to take effective control. Many people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes achieve full, active and successful lives in spite of this chronic disease.
Knowing what diabetes is, the different types of diabetes, and the causes brings understanding of the disease. Understanding the disease allows the diabetic to understand the rationales behind medication use, lifestyle adjustments involved and why the condition requires self management and cannot just be "left to the professionals."
More information can be found at Diabetes Australia.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Rhys Emmanuel - Living and doing development work as a medical professional in Asia has given me unique insight into many areas of life and work and a ...
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