Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Important Aspects about Your Diabetes

Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) is a major health concern affecting approximately 26 million American people. Approximately 57 million American people are in the pre-diabetes stage. Many times the symptoms of diabetes go unnoticed and are often regarded as side effects of an active lifestyle.


Diabetes occurs when the body cannot properly convert food into energy. It’s a chronic condition which is associated with long term complications that affects various parts of the body. Over time, the high glucose level caused by the diabetes can lead to several health problems. It may be necessary for you to visit an urgent care clinic if you consistently experience the following symptoms:

•    Frequent urination
•    Extreme thirst
•    Extreme hunger
•    Extreme tiredness
•    Irritability
•    Blurred vision
•    Unexplained weight loss


There are three main types of diabetes mellitus (DM)

Type 1 DM (Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes)
results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump.

Symptoms include:  
Excessive thirst
Frequent urination including bedwetting
Excessive hunger
Unexplained weakness and fatigue
Weight loss
Blurred vision 

Vaginal discharge or itch in young girls
Nausea and vomiting


Type 2 DM (Non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes)
results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.

  
Symptoms include:
Blurred vision
Tiredness
Urinating more frequently
Feeling thirsty all the time
Numbness and tingling in the feet or legs and
Recurrent infections
 

Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.
Although the carbohydrate intolerance generally returns to normal after the birth, the mother has a major risk of developing everlasting diabetes while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life. Self-care and dietary changes are essential in treatment.


A test called A1C measures the average glucose concentration during the previous 2-3 months. You can greatly reduce the risk of complications by maintaining a number of 7% or less. Your cholesterol should also be measured and kept within healthy levels. The three parts of your cholesterol that should be measured are LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides. Doctors such as those at AOK Emergency Room recommend the following cholesterol goals for people with diabetes: 

•    LDL: less than 100 mg/dl
•    HDL: greater than 40 mg/dl for men and greater than 50 mg/dl for women
•    Triglycerides: less than 150 mg/dl


It is also important for people with symptoms of diabetes to keep their blood pressure under 130/80.

Whether a patient has been diagnosed with diabetes or is in the pre-diabetes stage, it is never too late to make healthy changes. Maintaining a diet that is low in sugar and fat along with regular exercise will help you combat this disease. While the emergency care doctors at AOK Emergency Room state that certain other factors such as family history and a patient’s age can contribute to the disease, taking control of your health through diet and exercise is a step in the right direction. Call (281) 542-3998 to know more about your Diabetic problems.
 


 


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