The Silent Killer: Diabetes Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death by disease.
It is achronic disease that has no cure. Therefore it comes to no surprise that this disease hasacquired countless number of attentions. Unfortunately, 5. 4 million people in the UnitedState are unaware that they have this disease.
Until they do, they have already developedlife-threatening complications. This may include blindness, kidney diseases, nervesdiseases, heart diseases, strokes, and amputations. It is no wonder that diabetes is knownas the silent killer. Diabetes is condition where the body does not produce or properly useinsulin, which is a type of hormone that converts sugar, starches, and other types of foodsinto the energy that humans need everyday. It controls the blood sugar level and withoutit, death is inevitable.
There are two major types of diabetes: Type I, and Type II. Type Iis where the body does not produce any insulin also known as insulin dependent orimmune-medicated diabetes. It is a disease that destroys the cells in the pancreas thatproduces insulin. Type II, is where the body can’t make enough or properly use insulin,also known as non-insulin dependent.
Other specific type of diabetes may have its originfrom certain genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition inflection and other illness. The cause of this disease remains a mystery. Genetics, environmental factors, lack ofexercise, plays an important role in the cause of diabetes. Diabetes can cause differenttypes of problems depending on which types of diabetes they have. For Type I diabetes,two problems may occur: ketoacidosis, and hyperglycemia.
In ketoacidosis, your bodyproduces ketones. This occurs when your blood glucose level increases too high. Theproductions of ketones have its unpleasant results. Ketones can cause you to vomit, havetrouble breathing, become dehydrated, have dry itchy skin, and/or go into a coma. Hyperglycemia is where your blood glucose level is too low.
In results, one may feelshaky, tired, hungry, confused or nervous. Lastly, there may be complications for Type Idiabetes. Since the levels of glucose are high, it can damage organs. Eyes, kidney, andnerves can be damaged.
It may also provoke heart and blood vessels more likely. In TypeII diabetes, three types of problems can occur such as high blood glucose, low bloodglucose, and complications itself. In high blood glucose, there are times when your bloodglucose level may increase too high. This occurs more likely when one is under a lot ofstress.
When the glucose level does increase, problems such as headaches, blurry vision,thirst, frequent trips to the restroom, and dry itchy skin may occur. When the body lacksblood glucose, a problem such as low blood glucose may occur. This is also calledhypoglycemia. When hypoglycemia occurs, one may feel shaky, tired, hungry, nervousand confused. With all of these serious complications, it is highly recommended thatpeople get checked for diabetes before other problems arise.
Diabetes seems to betargeting at certain ethnic groups. Because of this information, a biological/genetic factormay be involved. The percentages, calculations, and estimates, seems to be pointing atthree ethnic groups: African American, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. According to the Diabetes American Association, it is estimated that African Americansare 1.
7 times more likely to have diabetes than Hispanic whites. Thus, HispanicAmericans are almost twice as likely to have Type II diabetes then non-Hispanic whites. There are even cases where in most tribes, half of the populations of the Native Americanhave diabetes. People who have diabetes have a certain nutritional management to keeptheir diabetes under control.
Because of the fact that there are different types of diabetes,there are different nutritional managements to suit each type with its specific needs. Fortype one diabetes, the goal of the nutritional management is to lower the glucose inblood, since the glucose level is too high. To control the level, diabetics must take insulinshots before meals, exercise, and/or maintain a healthy diet. The diet must be low in fat,have moderate amounts of protein, and have high complex carbohydrates. This mayinclude breads, cereals, noodles, or rice.
The diet must have consistency; it isrecommended that the same number of calories is consumed each day, and that the mealsand snacks are timed. Meals must never be skipped. Being active by exercising, helps thehuman body cells consume the glucose. The process helps lower the glucose levels inblood. Therefore, exercise is very helpful .
