Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the body has
trouble using the sugar it gets from food for energy. Sugar builds up in the
bloodstream. High blood sugar can have immediate effects, like blurry vision.
It can also cause problems over time, like heart disease and blindness.
There are two main types of
diabetes: type 1 diabetes (once called juvenile-onset diabetes) and type 2
diabetes (once called adult-onset diabetes). Both are caused by problems making
or using insulin, a hormone that makes it possible for cells to use glucose,
also known as blood sugar, for energy.
When you eat, your body breaks down
carbohydrates into a simple sugar called glucose. It also produces a hormone
called insulin that signals the body's cells to absorb glucose from the
bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin,
or stops making it altogether. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells
don't respond to insulin. Either way, since sugar can't get into cells, it
builds up in the bloodstream.
Too much sugar in the blood can
cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms. These include:
- blurry vision
- intense thirst
- need to urinate often
- fatigue
- numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Type 1 diabetes often comes on
suddenly. It usually strikes children and teenagers, but can appear later in
life. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning it happens because the body's immune
system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body's insulin-making cells. Type 1
diabetes can't be cured, but it can be managed by taking insulin before eating.
Type 2 diabetes takes longer to
develop. It can begin any time from childhood onward. Type 2 diabetes is
usually triggered by being overweight or obese and not getting much physical
activity. Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes weight loss if needed, daily
exercise, a healthy diet, and medications.
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