What is Diabetes
Diabetes is the disease affecting the metabolism of glucose to a great extent. The glucose is required by the cells for energy production and normal functioning. This glucose comes in the blood from the food we eat and carried to the cellular level by an important hormone known as the insulin. Once the meal is consumed by the body, it breaks down into the glucose and other nutrients which are then absorbed in the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract. This glucose is then transferred from the blood stream to the cells. The diabetes develops when the body either can’t prepare insulin or can’t respond to the insulin. Diabetes can be mainly differentiated into two broad categories such as Diabetes Type 1 & Diabetes Type 2.
Diabetes Type 1
Type 1 diabetes also known as insulin dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, when the pancreatic ability to produce insulin is reduced.
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How Prevalent Is Diabetes Type 1?
By the end of 2013, almost 9.3% of the kids are known to be suffering from Juvenile diabetes. In general, diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death globally. The rates of diagnosed diabetes on the basis of race and ethnic background are
- 5% Non Hispanic or white adults
- 0% of Asian Adults
- 8% of Hispanics
- 2% of Non Hispanic blacks
- 9% of American Indians/Alaskan Natives
Factors responsible for Juvenile Diabetes
Various risk factors for the development of juvenile diabetes such as age, race, sex, geographical location and seasonality have been reviewed and confirmed.
- Age: – Age is the major risk factor accounting for more than or equal to 85% of all the diabetes cases less than 20 years of age. In general the incidence rate is progressively observed by birth and increase with increasing age. However the increasing incidence of the disease has been detected between the age group of 10-14 years.
- Gender: – It has been evidently observed that girls are less susceptible to autoimmune diseases than boys. However, the cases of juvenile diabetes are found to be equally affecting irrespective of gender discrimination.
- Genetic : – The expressions of some of the genes are known to be responsible for the susceptibility to diabetes type 1. Of the multiple genes implicated, the HLA class II complex on chromosome 6 are considered to be the prime cause.
- Geography: – The incidence tend to increase for people who are living away from the equator for an instance those who are living in Finland and Sardinia are known to be having higher rates as compared to those US people living in Venezuela.
Apart from these stated above many other factors are known to be responsible for the higher incidence of Juvenile Diabetes such as
- Exposure to certain viruses such as EB virus, Mumps and Cytomegalovirus
- Early exposure to cow’s milk.
- Low vitamin D level
- Drinking water containing many pesticides such as nitrates.
- Early or late introduction of cereals or gluten in the baby’s diet.
- The preeclampsia of the mother.
- Being born with jaundice.
Symptoms Associated with Type 1 Diabetes
The signs and symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes can come on quickly and may include
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Bedwetting
- Extreme hunger
- Unintended weight loss
- Irritability and mood swings
- Fatigue and weakness
- Blurred vision
- Vaginal yeast infection in females
Prognosis associated with Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes can be diagnosed generally with the blood tests for examining blood sugar level at fasting and after meal. Apart from that many other examinations can help diagnose the problem at the early stage such as
- Skin and bones of the feet and legs are brittle or get numb.
- Illness such as pneumonia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fruity mouth odour
What goes wrong in Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is the complication occurring at any stage but more prevalent in young children. The Human body needs glucose for the generation of energy which is obtained from the food we eat. The foot is broken down into the glucose and other essential molecules immediately after its consumption. In order to move glucose from the blood stream to cells, where it gets metabolize for the energy generation; Insulin is required. Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas.
In type 1 diabetes, due to autoimmune reaction, body’s own defense system can damage insulin producing beta cells; due to which insulin production is stopped. Without enough insulin glucose gets accumulated in the blood stream itself. This build up of glucose may lead to hyperglycemia.
Diabetes Type 2
Type 2 diabetes formerly called as non insulin dependent diabetes occurs as a result of body’s inability to utilize insulin. It is the most common form of diabetes accounting for more than 90 % of the diabetes cases.
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How Prevalent Is Diabetes Type 2?
By the end of 2013, estimated deaths due to diabetes were almost 2 million. The epidemiology survey has concluded that more than 80% of the deaths are from low and middle income countries. WHO has projected that diabetes can be the seventh leading cause of death globally by the end of 2020.
Factors responsible for Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers are not able to fully understand underlying cause of diabetes 2. However, some factors are commonly found to be responsible for type 2 diabetes as follows
- Weight: – Being overweight is the primary risk factor for being susceptible to diabetes. The more fat you have in your body, the more resistance develops for the use of insulin.
- Fat Distribution: – If the fat is being stored in the belly region of the body the risk of developing diabetes is higher than that of storage of fat in the other parts.
- Inactivity: – Since with the increasing physical activity the weight is being controlled and hence the susceptibility to the diabetes. It is advised to incorporate a habit of atleast 60 minutes workout routinely.
- Family History: – The risk associated with the disease increases with the family history of the person; as there is strong genetic link up associated with the disease occurrence.
Apart from these stated above many other factors are known to be responsible for the higher incidence of Diabetes such as
- Age
- Race/Ethnicity
- Prediabetes
Symptoms Associated with Type 2 Diabetes
The signs and symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes can often develop slowly. In fact for years it can go unnoticed, although some of the common symptoms can be taken as warning signals such as
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Irritability and mood swings
- Fatigue and weakness
- Blurred vision
- Vaginal yeast infection in females
- Darken areas of the skin
Prognosis associated with Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes can be diagnosed generally with the blood tests for examining blood sugar level at fasting and after meal. Apart from that many other examinations can help diagnose the problem at the early stage such as
- Skin and bones of the feet and legs are brittle or get numb.
- Illness such as pneumonia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fruity mouth odour
What goes wrong in Type 2 Diabetes?
As against type 1 diabetes, patients with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin; however the insulin cannot be utilized by the body for the metabolism of glucose may be because the insulin is either not sufficient or the body is unable to recognize insulin for its function. Thus, due to body’s inability to transfer glucose to different cells, its accumulation in the blood stream increases. This cause the condition known as hyperglycaemia. Also since cells are not able to use glucose for the energy generation, their function is severely halted.