Diabetes (type 1): The facts we should know

Traditionally thought to be a quite uncommon disease, Type I diabetes affects just about one out of every 250 people, both adults and young, living in the US today. Although the term "juvenile" has long been associated with this type of the disease, as in Type I juvenile onset diabetes, the illness may actually occur at any time in life, and appears equally among both men and women.

There are thousands things that can go wrong with your body. Consider this short list:

• Beta hydroxylase deficiency -
• Dwarfism stiff joint ocular abnormalities -
• Anonychia -
• Dystrophinopathy -
• Arthrogryposis spinal muscular atrophy -
• Chronic hiccup -
• Cantu Sanchez Corona Fragoso syndrome -
• Costochondritis -
• Cantu Sanchez Corona Hernandes syndrome -
• Alopecia -
• Erysipelas

Fortunately, even most doctors have not heard of some of these. But even though it is considered fairly uncommon, you probably know someone with Type I Diabetes.

Symptoms

While the symptoms of Type I diabetes tend to be subtle in most cases, if not treated, they will eventually become fairly severe. Some of the most common symptoms include:

Blurry vision - Frequent urination - Frequent skin, vaginal, or urinary tract infections - Dry mouth, even after drinking - Increased hunger, even just after eating - Increased thirst - Heavy or labored breathing for no apparent reason

Some of the more serious signs associated with Type I diabetes that demand an emergent need for medical attention may include:

Abdominal pain Shaking, trembling Fruity or sweet smelling breath Loss of consciousness, rarely in extreme cases

Causes

Scientists still aren't aware of some of the factors leading one to have Type I diabetes. But, they do know that a tendency to the condition may be inherited from one or both parents. Researchers have discovered that Type I diabetes may also be caused by something in the environment that causes a problematic reaction within the body's immune system. However, they are not sure as to the exact origin of these triggers.

Diagnosis

For an accurate diagnosis of Type I diabetes, a doctor must check for abnormal blood sugar levels by performing a blood test, or also testing for the presence of glucose or keystone in the urine. With today's knowledge, there is no way to test for impending Type I diabetes, or a method to prevent one from developing this type of diabetes.

Treatment

There are many, of all ages, who enjoy long, quite healthy lives despite having Type I diabetes. It's imperative to keep blood sugar levels under tight control, which may be achieved by eating the right foods, getting enough exercise, and the correct insulin therapy consistently one or more times a day. Anyone with this form of the disease must have insulin injections in order to properly manage their blood sugar level, which will also have to be tested regularly.

Without treatment, Type I diabetes may evolve into or cause several serious conditions, some of which may be life-threatening. Kidney damage is a quite common problem in those with the disease with a condition known as nephropathy. Other possible complications include retinopathy, which causes a loss of vision, heart disease, poor blood circulation and gastrointestinal disorders which may also result without medical treatment.

Although a serious disease, Type I diabetes is a disease that can still be successfully managed with the right medical care.

Diabetes check, have you check yourself?

Image via WikipediaDiabetes mellitus, or the sugar and sweets disease. Every time we eat or drink, glucose ( a form of sugar in foods) levels in the blood rise. This in itself, isn't bad since your pancreas, produces hormone called insulin, Insulin enables glucose to enter the body's cells which, in turn use the sugar as an energy source. Without the insulin your elevated blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) will persist and cause serious health complications. Diabetes mellitus has two types, The insulin dependent type (Type 1) is the less common but more severe form. It usually appears in young people under the age of 35 and most commonly between the ages 10 and 16. The insulin producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed, probably as a result of an immune response to a viral infection and insulin production ceases almost completely. Without regular injections of insulin, the sufferer lapses into a comma and dies. The more common non insulin dependent type of diabetes or (Type 2), on the other hand, starts slowly and develops mainly on people over 40 and who are overweight. Nine out of ten diabetics suffer from non insulin dependent type. It is a silent disease and is always discovered accidentally during a routine medical examination or only after complications develop. Insulin is produced but not enough to meet the body's needs. Often the body develop resistance to insulin.

Ask yourself these questions to know if you have sugar problems:

• Do you pee a lot?
• Are you always thirsty and always hungry?
• Are you losing weight?
• Do you have vaginal itchiness?
• Is a member of your family diabetic?
• Are you overweight?
• Do your children have large birth weight?

So this is what happening, when our blood sugar increases it may cause a number of problems including wound infections, blindness, and kidney infections. A person with diabetes also increases his risk for heart disease by two or four times, and have has two to four times more chances of having a stroke. Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes, It is thus important to guard against becoming diabetic, because prevention is the key to diabetes.

Here's what to do, have a healthy diet. Lower your intake of saturated fats or fat from animal sources. Eat more fiber. Type 2 diabetes is a preventable disease, and can be avoided by eating and living healthy.

Exercise, Do so for for at least 30 minutes, five to seven times a week, If you're on the heavy side, lose weight. Studies have shown that losing five to 10 percent of your weight and eating healthy can swing the probability of you not developing diabetes by as much as 58 percent.