Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is needed to convert food into the energy needed for daily life. Without insulin, the glucose would remain in the blood, and the body would not get the energy it needs, leading to a variety of medical problems, primarily in the eyes kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels, gums, and feet.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin completely. This is a condition that the person has no control over, and they will have the disease the rest of their life. People with type 1 diabetes have to take insulin and monitor their blood sugar daily in order to prevent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If their blood sugar does become too low, they have to eat something with sugar in it. If their blood sugar becomes too high, they have to exercise. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas either doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn't do its job. It is a result of obesity, and can be cured through healthy eating and exercise. Type 2 is treated with either an insulin shot or and insulin enzyme.
The long-term complications of untreated diabetes affect many parts of the body. Cataracts (the thickening and clouding of the lens), retinopathy (changes in the retina because of damage or growth problems in the retina's small blood vessels), and glaucoma (decrease in blood flow to the retina and optic nerve) can all occur in the eyes. People with diabetes who have not controlled their blood sugar levels over a long period of time are also more likely to develop kidney disease. Nerve damage is also common, and some symptoms are numbness, tingling, or sharp pains in the feet/lower legs. It can lead to serious problems, such as the inability to recognize a cut that may become dangerously infected before it is discovered. Untreated diabetes can also lead to heart problems such as heart attack, stroke, and blockage of blood vessels in the legs and feet (causing foot ulcers, infections, and loss of a toe, foot, or lower leg). Smoking, abnormal blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, poor management of blood sugar, and family history of heart attack or stroke before the age of 50 are risk factors that put a diabetic person even more at risk of heart problems. People with diabetes are also more likely to have gum disease, because they tend to have more plaque and less saliva (too much plaque on the teeth and not enough saliva can contribute to tooth decay), higher blood sugar levels (more sugar in the mouth also contributes to tooth decay), some loss of collagen (a protein in gum tissue) and poor blood circulation in the gums.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin completely. This is a condition that the person has no control over, and they will have the disease the rest of their life. People with type 1 diabetes have to take insulin and monitor their blood sugar daily in order to prevent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If their blood sugar does become too low, they have to eat something with sugar in it. If their blood sugar becomes too high, they have to exercise. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas either doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn't do its job. It is a result of obesity, and can be cured through healthy eating and exercise. Type 2 is treated with either an insulin shot or and insulin enzyme.
The long-term complications of untreated diabetes affect many parts of the body. Cataracts (the thickening and clouding of the lens), retinopathy (changes in the retina because of damage or growth problems in the retina's small blood vessels), and glaucoma (decrease in blood flow to the retina and optic nerve) can all occur in the eyes. People with diabetes who have not controlled their blood sugar levels over a long period of time are also more likely to develop kidney disease. Nerve damage is also common, and some symptoms are numbness, tingling, or sharp pains in the feet/lower legs. It can lead to serious problems, such as the inability to recognize a cut that may become dangerously infected before it is discovered. Untreated diabetes can also lead to heart problems such as heart attack, stroke, and blockage of blood vessels in the legs and feet (causing foot ulcers, infections, and loss of a toe, foot, or lower leg). Smoking, abnormal blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, poor management of blood sugar, and family history of heart attack or stroke before the age of 50 are risk factors that put a diabetic person even more at risk of heart problems. People with diabetes are also more likely to have gum disease, because they tend to have more plaque and less saliva (too much plaque on the teeth and not enough saliva can contribute to tooth decay), higher blood sugar levels (more sugar in the mouth also contributes to tooth decay), some loss of collagen (a protein in gum tissue) and poor blood circulation in the gums.