Diabetes
Diabetes is any of the disorders that are associated with the poor functioning of the hormone insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas to help the body store and utilise sugar and fat from food. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin, produces too little, or when the body is unable to utilise insulin properly.
Insulin is essential to the body because it helps in regulating the chemical processes of the body cells. The body is composed of millions of cells and insulin helps to control their rate of absorption of glucose or energy from foods and drinks.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas produces little or stops producing insulin. It is usually due to an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin. A shortage of insulin means that the body cells are unable to absorb glucose. The type 1 diabetes symptoms include increased thirst, blurred vision, fatigue, extreme hunger, frequent urination, irritability, and weight loss.
The condition is managed by taking insulin several times daily. Insulin is essential to the body cells. Other methods of managing the condition include monitoring blood sugar levels frequently, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disorder in which the body is unable to utilise insulin production properly. In type 1, the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. In type 2, the pancreas can produce insulin, but the body cells are unable to absorb the insulin properly. The situation creates a state of insulin resistance. Signs of type 2 diabetes include fatigue, extreme hunger and thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, infections, slow wound healing, and blurry vision.
The symptoms appear gradually because the body usually continues to function with low insulin supply. Managing type 2 diabetes is done with medication, insulin therapy for patients that are unable to produce enough insulin, and lifestyle changes.
Medication-induced diabetes
Medication-induced diabetes is a condition of secondary diabetes that is caused by the use of certain medication. In some cases, the condition is reversible when the drugs are discontinued, and in some other cases, the condition may be permanent.
Some of the medications linked to medication-induced diabetes are Thiazide diuretics and Statins. The other drugs are Corticosteroids, Beta-blockers, and Antipsychotics. Medication-induced diabetes can is preventable by making healthy lifestyle changes while on the medication.
Genetic Disorders and Conditions
Diabetes is a complex condition with no apparent causes. A history of a type of diabetes may make a child prone to the condition. Anyone with a family history should be aware of the symptoms and make appropriate lifestyle changes. There are also other types of diabetes besides types 1 and 2 and gestational diabetes with an active genetic link.
Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare form of diabetes caused by changes in a single gene. If a parent has this gene mutation, any of their children have a 50% chance of inheriting the condition. The child may develop the condition before age 25 regardless of their lifestyle, weight, or ethnic group. Some of the other types of hereditary diabetes are Wolfram Syndrome and Alström Syndrome.
Pancreatic Disease
The pancreas produces fluids that help to break down food and hormones required to control blood sugar levels. Some of the common pancreatic diseases are acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Acute pancreatitis causes can be due to an inflammation of the pancreas, commonly caused by gallstones, excess alcohol consumption, trauma and medications.
The acute pancreatitis symptoms include severe upper abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Treatment is with medication.
Chronic pancreatitis is associated with progressive destruction of the pancreas. The condition is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, cystic fibrosis and other hereditary disorders of the pancreas. The chronic pancreatitis symptoms are upper abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and weight loss. Chronic pancreatitis treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. Pancreatic cancer grows insidiously without symptoms. The most obvious sign is a yellowish colouration of the skin known as pancreatitis jaundice. The condition is resistant to many standard treatment procedures. Early detection is important.