Diabetes Mellitus(DM) popularly called Diabetes is a disease in which the blood glucose level in the body is too high.This come about either because the rate of insulin production in the body is inadequate or because the cells cannot respond properly to the insulin or both. in other words the body is unable to properly use and store glucose( a form of sugar) and this cause the glucose to pile up in the bloodstream, thereby causing your blood glucose (also referred to as blood sugar)to rise too high.
Diabetes can occur in anybody and people who have close relatives with the disease are likely to have the disease.Other risk factor of developing diabetes includes obesity,physical inactivity,high cholesterol,high blood pressure.
Types of Diabetes:The following are types of Diabetes
Type 1: This results from the inability of the body to produce insulin.This normally manifest in young children and is unrelated to lifestyle choices.
Type 2: This results from insulin resistance a condition in which the cells fails to respond to insulin properly or the body doesn't use the insulin properly.This is generally linked to poor health choices, overeating,lack of exercise and bad lifestyle habits.
Gestational Diabetes: This occurs in pregnant women without previous history of developing high blood glucose level. This tend to clear up or greately improve after birth.
Symptoms: The following are symptoms of Diabetes:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Frequent Urination
- Drastic weight loss
- Excessive hunger
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry Vision
- Dry Skin
- Sores that doesn't heal on time
Quick Facts about Diabetes:
- Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults
- About 10-20% of Diabetes patients develops kidney disease
- About 1/3 of people with Diabetes don't know they have it
- Diabetes can be prevented.Thirty minutes of moderate-intense physical activity and a healthy diet can drastically reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
- Almost 90-95% of diabetes cases is Type 2 and only about 5% is Type 1.
- Diabetes is a silent killer as their is usually no major early symptoms of the disease apart from feeling thirsty.
- Every year it is estimated that about 3.2 million people in the world die as a result of Diabetes and its related causes.
- According to WHO 246 million people in the world are living with Diabetes.This is almost 60% of the world's adult population.
- A Harvard study shows that eating one serving of cooked oatmeal, two to four times a week, was linked to a 16% reduction in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and one serving of cooked oatmeal five to six times a week, was linked to a 39% reduction risk.
- Smoking can increase Diabetes risk by constricting the blood vessels,and raising the blood pressure.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of Kidney Failure.
- Diabetes is responsible for over one million amputation each year, a large percentage of cataracts,and at least 5% of blindness worldwide.
Eat balance diet, exercise moderately and stay away from unhealthy lifestyle choices that could increase your risk of developing Diabetes.
