We shall be discussing Diabetes today because it’s becoming a growing issue within the society.

Now we begin to ask ourselves what really causes diabetes. Scientists believe lots of factor can cause it and some of these factors include environment factors, residence, genetic, lifestyle and also diet.

It is to be noted that in West Africa, diabetes is more common among the wealthy and that is why people call it “disease of opulence,” and it’s common in the urban areas because they tend to eat foods that contain too much fats and refined sugar and hardly have time for physically exercise.

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a “metabolic disorder caused by different factors characterized by a chronic high level of blood sugar with disturbances to carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.

Scientists have divided diabetes into four types namely;

1 Type 1 diabetes mellitus or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or type 1 diabetes, is also known as juvenile onset diabetes.

2 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), or type 2 diabetes – adult-onset diabetes) is found in individuals
who are insulin-resistant and who usually have relative insulin deficiency.

3 Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.

4 Tropical diabetes, tropical diabetes mellitus is not common and is thought to be related to malnutrition.


Type 2 Diabetes is caused when the pancreas stops producing enough of the hormone insulin, which helps us absorb blood sugar and turn it into energy, or when the body doesn't use it properly.

Lots of people are prone to develop type 2 diabetes especially those that are overweight, people over 20 years and people who have it in their family.

Signs of diabetes include slow healing of wounds, peeing too frequent, being thirsty too often, and feeling very tired when little work is done and blurred vision.

Type 2 Diabetes in the long run can cause total blindness, it can damage the nerve, it can lead to stroke and high chance of having a heart attack.

This is why it’s always good to pop into any government Hospital every 3 months for a test. People with recurrent high blood sugar level for years are prone to have type 2 Diabetes.

People with type 1 Diabetes are in a safer situation compare to people with type 2, type 1 means the pancreas is not producing any insulin and people with type 1 has to watch their sugar level very closely and needs to inject insulin when needed because once left uncontrolled it will surely lead to type 2 Diabetes

HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF DIABETES

As symptoms develop gradually, many people have Type 2 Diabetes for years before they're diagnosed.  The only way to know whether you have it is to get tested.  So if you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you could be at risk:

1 Always feeling thirsty
2 Going to the toilet more often
3 Always feeling tired
4 Being overweight
5 Experiencing blurred history
6 Losing weight for no apparent reason
7 Suffering from frequent infections
8 Experiencing numbness in the hands and feet
9 Having high blood pressure
10 Slow healing wounds
Source: http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/

HOW TO MANAGE TO TYPE 2 DIABETES

There is good news - it can in some cases be prevented. And even if you do develop the condition, it may be able to be controlled by a combination of good diet, losing weight (if you're overweight) and exercise. Some people do require medication to help control their blood glucose levels.

SOURCE: http://healthexamined.com/diabetes-spot-it-and-manage-it/