Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by high blood glucose levels. This occurs when the body is unable to either produce or use insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a chronic disease for which there is no cure. However, it can be controlled with medication. According to 2007 statistics from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 23.6 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes. The ADA estimates there are a further 6 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed in people aged 20 and over each year.
Types
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type I is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes and is the rarest form of the disease. It usually occurs before the age of 40, most often developing in adolescence or young adulthood. Type 2 diabetes usually affects people over the age of 40 and is the most common form of the disease, affecting 85 percent to 95 percent of all people with diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and affects one in 20 women.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar but arise much more quickly in Type 1 diabetes. In addition, Type 1 symptoms are usually more severe. Typical symptoms include weight loss, fatigue and persistent thirst. As the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes arise much more slowly, usually over a number of years, they may go unnoticed. As such, it may be many years before Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed.
Treatments
Thanks to rapid advances in medical research, there are a number of diabetes treatments available. Patients with diabetes need insulin to keep their blood glucose levels under control. There are three groups of insulin available: human insulin, animal insulin and insulin analogs. Human insulin does not actually come from humans but is designed to mimic human insulin. According to Diabetes UK, most people use a mix of human insulin and insulin analogs. Many people with Type 2 diabetes will take tablets to lower their blood glucose or may use incretin mimetics, which are drugs designed to help the body produce more insulin and reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
Lifestyle
People with diabetes often need to make certain lifestyle changes to keep their condition under control. Diabetes UK recommends eating three balanced meals per day and exercising regularly. Diabetes UK adds that while drinking alcohol in moderation is still permitted, patients who smoke should try and give up as soon as possible. According to Diabetes UK, giving up smoking is "one of the most positive things you can do to both improve your health and reduce your risks of the long-term complications associated with the condition."
Myths
There are a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding diabetes. Some believe that you catch diabetes from other people, while some think that people with diabetics have to eat special diabetic food. Diabetes is not contagious and while special diabetic food is available, people with diabetes do not have to confine their diet to this kind of food as long as they eat a healthy balanced diet. It is also a myth that diabetes is caused by eating sugar. While eating high-sugar foods may cause weight gain, which is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, it's possible to have a high-sugar diet and never develop the disease.
