A Basic Introduction to Diabetes
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A Basic Introduction to Diabetes
Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about diabetes by visiting; http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/what-is-diabetes.html
Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood sugar levels to become extremely high. At the time of writing there are approximately 177 million diabetics although this number is expected to increase significantly in the future. Diabetes is generally caused by your pancreas not producing enough insulin or your body’s cells not responding to insulin. There are a number of different types of diabetes and in this article I am going to discuss each of them in a little more detail.
1) GESTATIONAL DIABETES:- This is a form of diabetes that develops in approximately 5% of pregnant women. It is a temporary condition that generally occurs during the second half of pregnancy and disappears when the new baby is born. Gestational diabetes is thought to be caused by hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Although it is only temporary it can still have a number of negative effects if it is not managed properly. These include pre-eclampsia (a type of high blood pressure) and macrosomia (having a baby with a high birth weight). Poorly managed gestational diabetes can also increase your chances of contracting type 2 diabetes in later life.
2) PRE-DIABETES:- This condition refers to people with higher than normal blood glucose levels. It develops when your cells start to resist insulin or your pancreas starts to produce less insulin. The cause of this is not clear but inactivity and obesity are thought to be huge risk factors. Pre-diabetic’s blood glucose levels are not considered high enough to be full type 2 diabetes. However, it is an early warning sign for the condition. Pre-diabetes can be reversed by making positive lifestyle changes but if ignored it almost always developed into type 2 diabetes.
3) TYPE 1 DIABETES:- This type of diabetes develops when your pancreas stops producing insulin. This is generally the result of your immune system attacking the pancreas although nobody is sure what causes the immune system to act in this way. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes but it is a much more serious condition. Positive lifestyle changes alone are not enough to treat this condition. It needs to be treated with insulin injections and also needs to be monitored regularly using a glucometer.
4) TYPE 2 DIABETES:- This is the most common form of diabetes. Like pre-diabetes it develops when your pancreas produces limited amounts of insulin or your cells stop responding to insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes can generally be managed through eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly but around 40% of sufferers require insulin injections as well.
I hope this article has given you a better understanding of the different types of diabetes. If you suffer from any of the above conditions then you need to start making some positive lifestyle changes. Modifying your diet, doing more exercise, regularly checking your blood glucose levels and if necessary using insulin injections can really help you manage diabetes and reduce any negative complications.
Every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative but it is intended for general information only. Diabetes is a medical condition and this article is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your doctor or a qualified medical practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding any form of diabetes you should seek the advice of your doctor immediately.
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