Your organs play vital roles in keeping your body operating smoothly. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when blood glucose in the body is not normal. The pancreas is the organ that deals with the conversion of glucose from food, into energy for your body. Insulin is the hormone that transfers glucose into energy. 

In some instances, the body may lack the capacity to make enough insulin or can even halt production of insulin completely. This causes the glucose in your blood to go un-used, and over time to build up in the blood. High blood glucose causes damage to the smallest pathways in the circulatory system. Overtime, this damage can cause some of the organs associated with these pathways to reduce in function, or worse to cease function altogether. 

Diabetes is a severe, chronic disorder. It is a top 10 cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is most commonly categorized into three types(though there may be many more types of this disease). 

Gestational Diabetes 

This type of diabetes is only found in pregnant women. All women who are pregnant should be tested for this disease. The disease usually goes away after pregnancy. 

Type 1 diabetes 

This is the condition whereby the body is not able to produce insulin, as the body’s immune structure purposely attacks the pancreas cells that handle insulin production. This type of diabetes is usually associated with young people and children, but it can be diagnosed at any age. For the body to cover the deficiency of insulin, people affected by this type 1 diabetes must consult with a clinician. Supplementing the body with insulin as prescribed by your clinician, can keep the body in working order indefinitely. 

Some symptoms of diabetes: 

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pains
• Fruity breath
• Dry skin
• Difficult breathing

Treating type 1 diabetes usually requires the injection of insulin in the body through syringe pen or insulin pump to maintain blood glucose levels in the normal range. 

Type 2 diabetes 

This is the most common type of diabetes, usually detected between the early 30s to late 40s, although the disease can affect people of any age. Diabetic patients with type 2 are usually able to produce a small amount of insulin which may be inadequate. Also, the cells in the body may fail to respond to insulin as they should. This is called insulin resistance. 

Surveys show that diabetes affects 1 in 4 people above 65 years of age. About 9.4% of the US population have diabetes. People with diabetes may be more susceptible to heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, foot issues, kidney ailments, and eye complications(to name a few). 

A few more diabetic symptoms: 

• Weight loss
• Hunger Pangs
• Fuzzy vision
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination and thirst
• Feet and handnumbness

Health experts diagnose and detect diabetes through blood tests. 

Many people manage their type 2 diabetes by maintaining normal blood sugar and blood pressure levels, planning a healthy diet and planning daily physical exercise. Always consult a clinician before changing diet or exercise. It is vital to contact and consult a clinician as soon as you suspect you may have diabetes. Their input is required as you navigate the disease. They may also prescribe certain medications that lower blood sugar levels. 

Minimize the chance of developing diabetes type 2 by managing your body weight and exercising regularly when approved by your clinician. Take precautions by learning about diabetes and improving your knowledge about the disease. 

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.