Diabetes: Causes-Treatments

Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin to meet their body's needs and/or their cells don't respond properly to insulin. Insulin is important because it moves glucose, a simple sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. It also has a number of other effects on metabolism. Glucose is provided from the food we eat to the body which is used as a source of energy by the cells. If insulin isn't available or doesn't work correctly to move glucose from the blood into cells, glucose will stay in the blood. High blood glucose levels are toxic, and cells that don't get glucose are
lacking the fuel they need. There are two main kinds of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.More than 90% of all people with diabetes have type 2. Overall, about 30 million people in North America have diabetes. Only about two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes are aware of it and are receiving treatment because, for many people, early symptoms are not noticeable without testing.
This condition occurs most commonly in people of First Nations descent, Hispanics, and North Americans of African descent.
Another less common form is gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder.It's believed that a combination of genetic predisposition and additional (as yet unidentified) factors provoke the immune system into attacking and killing the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by insulin resistance.This means no matter how much or how little insulin is made, the body can't use it as well as it should. As a result, glucose can't be moved from the blood into cells. Obesity is a leading cause of insulin resistance – at least 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Some risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes include:
*.acanthosis nigricans (a condition causing darkened patches of skin)
*.being 40 years of age or older
*.blood vessel disease (e.g., damage to blood vessels in the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart, brain, or arms and legs)
*.First Nation,Hispanic, South Asian,Asian, orAfrican descent
*.giving birth to a large baby
*.high blood pressure
*.high cholesterol
*.a history of gestational diabetes
*.HIV infection
*.mental health disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia)
*.obstructive sleep apnea
*.polycystic ovary syndrome
*.prediabetes or impaired fasting glucose
*.use of certain medications (e.g., corticosteroids such as prednisone, certain antipsychotic medications, certain antiviral medications for HIV).

Currently, type 1 diabetes is not preventable. However, studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by adopting lifestyle changes that include eating a healthy diet and exercising. In addition, some studies have shown that certain oral antidiabetes medications may play a role in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes for people who are at high risk of developing it. Lifestyle changes and medications may prevent approximately 30% to 60% of type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin* continuously to survive. There are three important things a person can do to treat type 2 diabetes: *.make lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise
*.use medication
*.monitor blood glucose levels
As with many conditions, treatment of type 2 diabetes begins with lifestyle changes, particularly in your diet and exercise.
If you have type 2 diabetes, speak to your doctor and diabetes educator about an appropriate diet. It is also a good idea to speak with your doctor before beginning an exercise program to determine how much and what kind of exercise is appropriate.