What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease equating to a lack of insulin in the body. Either the pancreas is not producing enough insulin, the body is resisting what insulin is being made, or the body stops producing insulin altogether.
Insulin is normally produced by an organ behind the stomach called the pancreas, which is meant to regulate the proper amount of sugar or glucose in the human body. Without the proper amount of insulin, abnormally high levels of sugar will circulate the body, causing high blood sugar or glucose levels.
Glucose is usually a form of energy that is transported throughout the body to the appropriate cells needing fuel. When glucose levels rise in the blood stream the pancreas should distribute insulin which will essentially push glucose into the cells, giving the body energy. Without insulin, glucose levels will build up in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar.
Diabetes is actually defined by having a blood glucose level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more after an overnight fast.
What is the Difference in Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes makes up about 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. 1.25 million Americans live with type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the pancreas stops creating insulin. This is normally a genetic disease where the immune system attacks essential parts of the body. Type 1 diabetes was originally called juvenile diabetes, and symptoms usually appear during childhood or adolescence.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, making up 95% of those diagnosed with diabetes, and affecting an estimated 18 million people in the United States.
Type 2 diabetes is known as adult-onset diabetes, usually occurring in people 40-years or older. However, a recent increase in child obesity has led to an increase in type 2 diabetes diagnosis in children.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin, or when the body simply resists the insulin that is being produced.
What Does Diabetes Have to Do With Pregnancy?
Gestational diabetes affects 4% of all pregnancies. Pregnancy can cause a change in hormones which will sometimes lead to insulin not functioning properly. Gestational diabetes is more likely to occur in pregnant women over the age of 25, pregnant women with a family history of diabetes, or pregnant women who were above an average body weight before pregnancy.
It is important to get tested for diabetes when trying to become pregnant, and during pregnancy.
What Does HIV Have to Do With Diabetes?
Those who live with HIV are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes than those without HIV. Some HIV medicines may cause high blood sugar, and bring on type 2 diabetes.
Blood glucose testing is very important before and after beginning HIV treatment.
What Symptoms are Brought on by Diabetes?
- Urinating often
- Feeling very thirsty or hungry (even if you are eating or have just eaten)
- Extreme fatigue/lethargy
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty or heavy breathing
- Cuts or bruises that heal slowly
- Itchy skin
- Frequent yeast infections
- Erectile dysfunction
- Weight loss (even though you are eating more (Type 1))
- Tingling/numbness/pain in hands and/or feet (Type 2)
Is There a Cure for Diabetes?
There is currently no cure for diabetes. However, certain lifestyle changes can lead to Type 2 diabetes remission.
Unfortunately, there are frequent claims to the cure of diabetes, but it is important to be skeptical of false medical claims. A true cure to diabetes would be proven successful in repeated clinical trials, but no such cure exists quite yet.
Living With Diabetes
For most, living with diabetes does not change very much about day-to-day life. There are a few simple lifestyle changes that can make managing diabetes easy:
- Regularly monitoring blood sugar or glucose levels
- Regular exercise
- Controlling blood pressure
- Regular check-ups
- Meal planning
- Pairing medication with the proper diet
