Diabetes - An Overview!

People suffering from diabetes have high levels of glucose in their blood.  

Glucose is a product of the metabolism of the food. Every organ of the body needs energy in the form of glucose to function. It is transported to the organs by insulin, a hormone that is secreted by the pancreas. People suffering from diabetes are beset with problems involving this whole process.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is mainly of two types: Type 1 and Type 2.

In a patient suffering from type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin to transport glucose to various tissues of the body. Such a situation precipitates when the immune system destroys the islet cells of the pancreas responsible for making insulin. Children and young adults are the most common victims of type 1 diabetes.

In a patient suffering from type 2 diabetes, the body cannot use insulin well. This is the most common form of diabetes and it usually affects middle-aged and older people.

In both cases, the body does not have enough insulin to transport glucose. This results in the concentration of glucose in the blood. In a prediabetic condition, the sugar level in blood is higher than normal, yet it is not high enough for diabetes. People having a prediabetic condition are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Even pregnant women can develop diabetes and are referred to as gestational diabetes. However, in most cases, this type of diabetes goes away after the birth of the baby.

Effects of Diabetes 

Too much glucose in the blood can damage kidneys, eyes, teeth, feet as well as nerves. It can also cause heart problems and even result in a stroke.

How to Control or Prevent Diabetes?

Diabetes can hardly be cured; it can be managed. Exercise and weight control are the most proven methods of controlling diabetes. In fact, the latest research suggests that diabetes may be cured with exercise and weight control.

The latest study suggests that too much fat inside the pancreas and liver is the main reason behind type 2 diabetes. It is true that even after normalization of fat in the liver and pancreas, diabetes cannot be reversed in most patients. Yet, there are examples where patients, even after suffering from diabetes for 24 years, have reversed type 2 diabetes after dramatic weight loss. This suggests that managing weight is definitely a good idea to avoid serious complications of diabetes in the long-term.

In a study involving 149 participants, 46% of the participants were made to follow a strict liquid diet. These people experienced remission of diabetes within one year.

Conclusion
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and it affects about 95% of all diabetic patients in the USA. Though instances of diabetes remission are very rare, strict diet control and weight loss programs can make a lot of difference. It may even lead to a complete remission of the problem.