Learn More About Diabetes and Its Early Signs
Nowadays there are countless illnesses that threaten human life, and one of the most common is diabetes. But what is diabetes after all? We provide information on the forms of this disease, but by far the most widely spread is diabetes mellitus.
This is actually a group of malfunctions in the metabolic systems of the human body, which consequently leads to high sugar levels in the blood and other symptoms. There are three known types of diabetes mellitus, each one named by the defect that has caused it.
Type one diabetes is due to the organism’s incapacity to produce and secrete insulin, thus letting glucose and sugar in the blood flow rise. Without injecting insulin, those with this type of diabetes could die due to multiple failures arising from sugar deposits in both blood and tissues.
The second type of diabetes is the one that is not insulin dependent, but rather resistant to this hormone. The mechanism is actually based on the incapacity of the cells to use insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. This one is the most common type of diabetes, and if discovered in the early stages, the hyperglycemia can be controlled with medication.
Another type of diabetes which many don’t take too seriously is the gestational one. It is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in the context of pregnant women. It is treatable and in some cases it disappears after the delivery. Although it is a rather common disease, there are many unfortunate people who are not well informed and who do not know the symptoms of diabetes, thus they do not know what to do in certain situations.
The earliest signs of diabetes are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia. The way they are related to each other is actually very simple, as they all have in common a metabolic disorder involving sugars and insulin. Because of the high level of glucose in the blood flow, the kidneys send messages to the brain, which increases diuresis (polyuria).
Because of this increase in water and electrolytic elimination, the body needs more food and water, which explains the resulting polydipsia and polyphagia. Although these are the first and most common diabetes symptoms, there are some others that point to this disease.
Some people complain of weight loss, lethargy, abdominal pain, nausea and even vomiting, then go to a hospital, consult a specialist and find out they have diabetes type one. After this diagnosis has been made, their lives usually change dramatically, as they are strongly recommended to take up a diabetic diet and live more healthily.
It seems that type two is determined by genetic and social factors, which means that it is either inherited or caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. On the other hand, type one diabetes can be set off by infections with viruses, most likely Coxsakie B4, which is an enterovirus.
It is vital to remain positive, even when the diagnosis points towards diabetes because after all, it does not need to be a death sentence, but a push to change one’s lifestyle, start a diabetes diet and feel different.