Healthy Lifestyle

Description
Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose metabolism, which disrupts the storage and use by the body of this fuel for energy. This disorder is the result of a failure, partial or complete pancreas to synthesize insulin or an inability of cells to use insulin to absorb glucose. As it is poorly absorbed by the cells, glucose accumulates in the blood and cause hyperglycemia (increased blood concentration of glucose). The cells were deprived of their primary energy source, it follows necessarily important physiological consequences.

Glucose is an essential source of fuel for the body. It comes from two sources: food rich in carbohydrates that we ingest and liver (which stores glucose after a meal and empties into the blood as needed). Once extracted from food by the digestive system, glucose enters the bloodstream. For the body’s cells can use this vital energy source, they need the intervention of a hormone called insulin, which is synthesized by the pancreas. Insulin allows glucose to move from the blood into cells to play its role of fuel. This is the starting point of the normal metabolism of glucose.

The main types of diabetes

* Type 1 : Also called “diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes, the type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin or does not produce enough due to a virus attack or toxic or Following an autoimmune reaction that destroys the beta cells of the body, which are responsible for the synthesis of insulin. This type of diabetes is reaching especially children and young adults, although the incidence in adults appears to be growing, which makes the somewhat antiquated term “juvenile diabetes”. It affects approximately 10% of diabetics.

* Type 2 : Often referred to as the names of “non-insulin dependent diabetes or” adult-onset “diabetes type 2 is characterized by the fact that the body becomes resistant to insulin. This problem usually occurs in people over 40 years, but here the incidence is growing rapidly among young people. This type of diabetes, by far the most common, affecting almost 90% of diabetics.

* Gestational Diabetes : Is any diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, usually during the second or third quarter. Gestational diabetes is temporary and disappears shortly after birth, but can cause complications for both mother and child. The relevance of its detection and its treatment is questioned by some.

There is another form of diabetes, diabetes insipidus. A rare disease caused by insufficient production of antidiuretic hormone called vasopressin. Diabetes insipidus accompanied by an increased flow of urine (urine very dilute), while blood glucose remains quite normal. Thus, it has nothing to do with diabetes mellitus. It’s called “diabetes” insipid, because as in diabetes mellitus, urine flow is abundant. However, urine is insipid rather than sweet (the term comes from the old methods of diagnosis: the taste of urine).

Possible complications

In the long term, people with diabetes who have inadequate control of their disease risk various complications, mainly because a prolonged hyperglycemia causes tissue damage of blood capillaries and nerves, and a narrowing of the arteries.
These complications do not affect all diabetics, and when they do, it is very different degrees.
Apart from the chronic complications, poorly controlled diabetes (omission or miscalculation of doses of insulin needs suddenly change in medication due to illness, stress, etc..) Can cause severe illness need to know recognize.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

It is a condition that can be fatal. In people with type 1 diabetes untreated or receive inadequate treatment (lack of insulin, for example), the glucose stays in the blood and is no longer available for use as an energy source. The organization should replace another fuel, fatty acids. However, the use of fatty acids produces ketones, which in turn increase the acidity of the body, a condition that causes severe symptoms requiring intensive care emergency.
Symptoms : A fruity breath, dehydration, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Without intervention, difficulty breathing, a state of confusion, coma and death can occur.
How to detect : the presence of ketones in the urine (4 mmol / l to 16 mmol / l or 70 mg / dL to 290 mg / dl) and high capillary blood glucose (usually around 20 mmol / l ( 360 mg / dl) or higher).

Hyperosmolar state

When type 2 diabetes is not treated, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome may occur. This is a true medical emergency that is fatal in more than 50% of cases. This condition is caused by the accumulation of glucose in the blood, sometimes up to 35 mmol / l (630 mg / dl).
Symptoms : increased urination, intense thirst and other symptoms of dehydration (weight loss, loss of elasticity of the skin, dry mucous membranes, rapid heartbeat and low blood pressure).
How to detect : a capillary blood glucose exceeds 20 mmol / l (360 mg / dl) (there are no ketones in the urine).

Tags: Diabetes, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, glucose, hyperglycemia, insulin