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.