Learning that you have diabetes can cause stress and perhaps initiate a period of denial. Sometimes the news is down-played by calling it just a mild case of diabetes or a touch of sugar in your blood. Those messages imply that diabetes is not serious, but in fact diabetes is a life-long chronic illness and can contribute to complications that affect many of your body's organs and systems. Millions of Americans begin to feel better and live a longer, healthier life by learning about and managing their diabetes.
Identification
Glucose, also known as blood sugar, fuels the work of most cells in the body. Diabetes involves a metabolic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism that alters the body's ability to regulate and use glucose. It usually results from not enough insulin produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose in the blood or ineffective use of insulin by the cells that cannot get the glucose out of the blood stream and into the cells for use as fuel.
Effects
When glucose fails to gain entry into the cells, it accumulates in the blood. This leads to acute and chronic complications. Early and aggressive treatment, according to Eleanor Whitney and Sharon Rolfes, significantly reduces the risk of long-term complications related to diabetes.
When glucose is chronically elevated in the blood, it alters glucose metabolism in all cells of the body. Distended cells in the lenses of the eyes cause blurry vision. The structure of blood vessels and nerves become damaged and compromise circulation and nerve function. When nerve tissues deteriorate, a painful prickling sensation may progress to loss of sensation in the hands and feet.
Complications
Atherosclerosis, an accumulation of lipid or fat deposits along the inner walls of arteries, tends to develop earlier and progress more rapidly in persons with diabetes. Capillaries, small blood vessels, may develop and contribute to loss of kidney function and loss of vision. Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure and blindness, according to Eleanor Whitney and Sharon Rolfes in "Understanding Nutrition."
Significance
Injuries, especially in the feet, may go unnoticed and lead to amputation. Poor blood glucose control can lead to excessive hunger, eating and weight gain. Diabetic acidosis or high acidity in the blood and body fluids can lead to a diabetic coma. Cause of death for more than 80 percent of people with diabetes involves cardiovascular disease, especially heart attack, according to Whitney and Rolfes.
Considerations
Diabetes can be treated with medication, nutritional therapy and physical activity. Keeping blood sugar in control is the primary goal of treatment. Persons with diabetes can live a long and productive life by managing their diabetes and keeping their blood sugar as close to normal levels as possible.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Type 2
- American Diabetes Association: Food & Fitness
- "Understanding Nutrition, Ninth Edition"; Eleanor Noss Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes; (2002)
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
- "Krause's Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy, 10th Edition"; Mahan and Escott-Stump; (2000)
