What is Diabetes? What Causes Diabetes? What are Its Symptoms?

Studies have shown that the percentage of the U.S. population with diabetes is approaching 8 percent. This means that about 24 million people suffer from this serious condition. Half of those are between the ages of 40 and 60. First of all, when most people hear the word “diabetes” they think of sugar. While this is an obvious connection, the relationship between sugar and diabetes is a bit more complex than just “too much or too little.”

In basic terms, diabetes is a problem with body metabolism. When someone suffers from diabetes the body doesn’t use digested food properly. Our bodies break down complex food types into a particular type of glucose. This sugar type is carried through the body in the bloodstream so that the glucose can be used as fuel to keep our bodies active.

Insulin is the key to getting this form of sugar into the body’s cells. Insulin is a natural hormone produced in the human pancreas. When the body produces the proper level of insulin the glucose passes into our cells as intended. The bodies of diabetes sufferers don’t produce insulin in the right amounts. It follows that the cells don’t receive the glucose as they should and the glucose remains in the bloodstream. The body doesn’t have the fuel it needs to function, even as the glucose is collecting in the blood.

There are three distinct types of diabetes – Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys pancreas cells that produce insulin. In Type 2 diabetes (the most common form) is generally connected to age, weight, lack of exercise and heredity. The pancreas may produce enough insulin but it isn’t used correctly. Eventually the production of insulin drops off significantly.

Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women. The condition usually ends after the birth of the baby. However, women are very likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life if they have had gestational diabetes. Medical research has long been focused on youth diabetes that strikes those under the age of 20. There also some very specific types of diabetes that occur in specific individual situations.

Diabetes is often discovered by a blood test taken after an individual reports symptoms to the doctor that might indicate the condition. The list of symptoms includes: Type 1 – frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, extreme weight loss and fatigue; Type 2 – same symptoms as Type 1 plus blurred vision, increased infections, slow healing of minor wounds and bruises.

In many cases, death certificates report heart disease as the cause when diabetes may be a part of the root cause. A number of other complications follow the onset of diabetes, including kidney malfunction, nerve damage and poor circulation that leads to loss of feet and legs due to necessary amputation. Diabetes can be managed with insulin injections, diet changes and different work/exercise programs. Regular testing is necessary to monitor blood-glucose levels.