Watching what you eat no longer is a means of losing weight to feel and look good.

Now a days it is essential that both young and old watch what they eat to avoid getting diabetes. Long ago diabetes was very rare disease not known to the masses, however today the term rolls off the tongue. Diabetes affects 246 million people world wide and that number is expected to rise to 380 million by the year 2025. Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It is caused when insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is unable to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin or both. To understand diabetes it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several thing happen when food is digested. A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body. An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscles, fat, and liver cells where it can be used as fuel. People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their pancreas does not make enough insulin. Their muscle, fat and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally. There are three major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed when they are older than age 20. In this disease the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause in unknown. Genetics, viruses and autoimmune problems may play a role. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It makes up most of diabetes cases. It usually occurs in

adulthood, but young people are increasingly being diagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise. Lastly is gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Type 1 diabetes is really not preventable since it occurs during the youth of the patient, as state above the causes of that specific type of diabetes is unknown. Therefore regulating the disease is the best bet for the patient to live a healthy normal life. Regulation can come in the form of diet and exercise as well as the administration of insulin. Overall it is essential that all individuals with diabetes monitor their blood sugar frequently to avoid major symptoms. Type 2 diabetes unlike type 1 diabetes is onset through an unhealthy lifestyle that causes the pancreas to overload and cause insulin production to go out of whack. So with this type of disease it is essential that the patient follow a good diet at all times. A diet that follows the USDA Food Pyramid, is the optimal; limit sugar intake is important also. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Pregnancy is very stressful to the body and many changes occur, therefore once a woman contracts gestational diabetes it is essential that she watches what she consumes and well as monitors her blood sugar on a regular basis. Having gestational diabetes not only affects the mother but can wreak potential hazards on the fetus.

Diabetes is a silent killer because many people suffering from this affliction are unaware that it exists. So it is important that people eat well and exercise frequently. Also at regular check ups maintain an open discourse with their physician so that symptoms are readily detected. Diabetes is on the rise and it is important that there is a greater wealth of knowledge available in order to limit its increasing numbers.

References

Alemzadeh R, Wyatt DT. Diabetes Mellitus. In: Kliegman RM, ed. Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders;2007:chap 590.

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes -- 2008. Diabetes Care. 2009; 32:S13-S61, 2009.

BD Medical: http://www.bd.com/press/newsroom/diabetes.asp

Eisenbarth GS, Polonsky KS, Buse JB. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR. Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 31.

Standards of medical care in diabetes--2007. Diabetes Care. Jan 2007;30 Suppl 1:S4-S41.