DIABETES is a chronic disease in which there is an alteration in the utilization of sugars due to partial or total deficiency of the hormone insulin or does not fulfill this function. Insulin allows sugar to enter cells to be used as an energy source if little or malfunctions, sugars accumulate in the blood, producing what is called hyperglycemia (levels above the normal sugar -glucose in the blood).
Between 3% and 5% of the population is diabetic, of whom the majority suffer from diabetes called Type II or adult (non-insulin dependent), and a lesser proportion (15%) , diabetes type I or infantile (precise insulin delivery). However, there are other types of diabetes: type mody (start in childhood but with characteristics of the adult), pregestational and gestational diabetes (incidence during pregnancy), diabetes III (beginning in the adult R & evolves as the II), diabetes secondary to organic disorders or disease of the pancreas, thyroid, adrenals, and carbohydrate intolerance. In the latter case, the hyperglycemia is less severe than in the rest. Regarding the most common types of diabetes, the causes are multiple and vary we refer to the type I or II:
- In type II, are implicated genetic factors (inheritance), obesity (80% of type II diabetics are overweight or obese), unbalanced diets (high-energy and high in simple sugars), sedentary lifestyle and aging population.
- In the Type I is influenced by a certain individual predisposition and immune system disorders (the body’s defense) and viral infections can trigger autoimmune reactions with destruction of pancreatic cells that secrete insulin. It is for this reason that those who suffer from the outset need to inject insulin.
As regards the manifestation of symptoms depends on the type of diabetes that is involved:
- Diabetes Type I: The most common symptoms are those resulting from an excess of blood glucose (hyperglycaemia). In its debut, the typical manifestations are described below. When blood glucose exceeds certain limits, can not prevent the kidney is removed through the urine (glucosuria). In addition, to eliminate this burden of sugar by the kidney is necessary in the very dilute urine sugar carries a large amount of water and urinate a lot diabetes (polyuria). By losing so much water, the body becomes dehydrated and very thirsty diabetic and drink plenty (polydipsia). On the other hand, as is using bad its main energy source (sugars), it stimulates your appetite more and eat a lot (polyphagia), although this does not solve the problem, so you lose weight and feel tired. Once you start the medical and dietary therapy, all symptoms remit.
- Diabetes Type II: No symptoms are described in type I, and for this reason it can be assumed that more than half of people who suffer are not diagnosed. In them, the symptoms are nonspecific and not so clear, because the origin of diabetes is not insulin but there is insufficient or that exploits wrong.
On the role of food in this chronic disease, we know that a balanced diet is a very important aspect to consider regarding prevention. In addition, in the person already diabetic diet is one of the mainstays of treatment, and who helps regulate levels of blood sugar and prevent complications in the short (hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia) and long term, sometimes together with the administration of insulin (type I) and others, together with the use of certain medications called oral hypoglycemic agents (AO), although these are not required in all cases (type II). Also recommended regular exercise (which increases the so-called good cholesterol in the blood, improves peripheral circulation and use of sugar by muscle, can reduce insulin doses), which is beneficial not only for people who have diabetes, if not all the population in general.
Tags: blood glucose exceeds, Diabetes Symptoms, Diabetes Type I, Diabetes Type II, inject insulin, Types of Diabetes
