Diabetes: causes, effects, prevention & control

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Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancrease is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate sugar levels in the body.
Type 1 diabetes: Characterised by lack of insulin production.
Type 2 diabetes: Results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. About 90% of people with diabetes in the world have type 2 diabetes. It is mostly as a result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.

How significant is diabetes?

More than 220 million people had diabetes by 2004.
WHO projected that deaths will double by 2030.
Almost half of diabetes deaths occur in people under the age of 70 years.
Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle income countries.

Health complications.

Elevated blood sugar is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidney and nerves. This paves way for the following:
Diabetic retinopathy- Is a significant cause of blindness that results from long term accumulated damage to capillaries in the retina. About 10% of patients develop severe visual impairment after 15 years of infection.
Diabetic neuropathy- Damage to nerves as a result of diabetes and affects atleast 50% of people with diabetes. Common symptoms include tingling, pain, numbness or weakness in the feet and hands.
Combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy in the feet can increase the risk of foot ulcers and eventual limb amputation.
Diabetes is amongst the leading causes of kidney failure. About 10-20% of people with diabetes die of kidney failure.
Diabetes increases risk of heart diseases and stroke. 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular diseases.

Prevention

To prevent type 2 diabetes, people should;
Maintain a healthy body weight.
Be physically active.
Early diagnosis can be accomplished through relatively inexpensive blood testing.
Tobacco cessation is important to avoid complications.

Control

People with type 1 diabetes require insulin.
People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medication but insulin can also be administered depending on the underlying cause.
Blood pressure control.
Proper diet.

Other interventions

Screening and treatment for retinopathy.
Blood lipid control.
Screening for early signs of diabetes related kidney disease and treatment.

I really wish I could help much more....but that's how much I could help you with.... If diabetic then I wish you well.. if not then take preventive measures.

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