What we need to know about Diabetes

By: Zoha Rehman

There are 2 forms of diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes and Type Diabetes 2. The way our body normally is that it breaks the food we intake into sugar. This sugar is known as glucose. Glucose helps the cells in our body function properly and gives us energy. The hormone, insulin takes the glucose that’s in our blood and stores it for when we need energy later. Diabetes mellitus, means that our body doesn’t produce the necessary amount of insulin or the body can’t use it.

When our body has increased levels of glucose, if not treated properly can have serious consequences on our body such as strokes, damaging our nerves, blindness, heart and kidney disease.

Type 1 Diabetes is known as insulin dependent diabetes. This form of diabetes generally starts in childhood. Type 1 Diabetes means that the body can’t produce insulin. Its necessary to take insulin either via insulin pens or syringes amongst a few.

Its important to checking blood sugar levels, being careful in what’s being eaten, exercising and taking insulin.

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 Diabetes, its known as “non insulin dependent” diabetes. Often the body is resistant to insulin either by not making the necessary amount of insulin. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep glucose levels stable.  Type 2 diabetes arises from lifestyle. So the good news is one can avoid getting type 2 diabetes by taking the precaution in the foods and by exercising. People who are obese are more prone to Type 2 diabetes then those who are not obese. Similar to Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 diabetes can be managed by exercising daily, being careful of the foods being eaten and medications.

There are symptoms that can indicate you might have diabetes, these include:

  • Having dark patches on the back of the neck
  • Fatigue
  • Numb feet
  • Hunger
  • People without diabetes normally urinate 4-6 times during a day. People with diabetes may be urinating more then around 6 times in a day.
  • Dry mouth
  • Wounds take a while to heal
  • Itchy skin
  • Blurry vision