There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is an insulin deficiency condition that people are born with. Type 2 diabetes develops gradually as a person grows older. It can appear anytime, in anyone. Undetected and untreated, Type 2 diabetes can represent a very serious life-threatening disease.
Diabetes is a condition that affects the way your body uses food. During digestion the body converts food into glucose for energy. To get the glucose into your cells, the body uses a hormone produced by the pancreas gland: insulin.
In those individuals with diabetes, the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is either absent or too little, or, the body simply doesn’t assimilate it. The result is that digestion creates glucose the body can’t use. The glucose builds up in the blood causing high blood sugar levels, or diabetes.
Fortunately, when diabetes is detected early, it can often be controlled by diet and exercise. In more serious cases, oral medications may be prescribed to reduce the body’s blood sugar level, or insulin injections may be prescribed to boost the body’s ability to assimilate the excess glucose. Untreated, over time diabetes may harm your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.
The good news is that there is a lot you can do to prevent diabetes by eating a healthy diet, controlling your weight and getting regular exercise. Even those who develop diabetes can, with some relatively simple lifestyle changes, keep their blood sugar under tight control and avoid or delay other serious health problems.
The most common warning signs of diabetes are: fatigue, excessive thirst, increased appetite, frequent urination, sores that won’t heal, sexual problems, blurry vision, and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet. Anyone who is experiencing any of these symptoms, or has a family history of diabetes, or is significantly overweight, should see their primary health provider and have periodic blood sugar tests performed.
If you are a family member caring for an aging relative living in New Jersey, Expert Home Care can help you keep your senior safe and healthy. Please call us at 800-848-2336.
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