In a healthy\nindividual the body is able to automatically control the level of blood glucose\ndepending on the body’s needs. However, in the case of a diabetic this\nautomatic control mechanism does not function properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blood glucose levels\nin a healthy person range from around 3.5 to 7 mmol\/l. Diabetics will have\nhigher blood glucose levels, often in excess of 15 mmol\/l.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glucose is produced when the body digests carbohydrates, starch or sugars<\/strong>. This glucose is transported in the blood to cells where they can be converted to energy to power the muscles. Any surplus is stored in the liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insulin is an\nessential hormone which enables the glucose to enter the cells or be stored in\nthe liver. In a diabetic patient however, insulin is either not produced at all\nor does not perform as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare 3 main forms of diabetes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 1 or Juvenile onset diabetes<\/strong>. This is\ncommonly diagnosed in patients under the age of 30. In type one diabetes the\nbody’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that\nproduce insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As\na result the pancreas no longer produces insulin.<\/strong> This type of diabetes\nis less common than type 2 and occurs in people with a genetic predisposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 2 also called mature onset diabetes<\/strong> occurs usually in\nthe age group above 30 but is known to also occur in obese teenagers and\nchildren. In this case the body produces insulin but it is not effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The third form of\ndiabetes is Gestational diabetes<\/strong>,\nwhich is a temporary condition occurring during pregnancy. However, women who\nsuffer gestational diabetes have a high likelihood of developing type 2\ndiabetes at some point in their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n High levels of blood\nglucose over long periods of time can cause many health problems including blood vessel damage, nerve damage, kidney\nand liver damage, impotence, problems with feet<\/strong> as well as increased risk\nof heart disease and stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is therefore\nextremely important to diagnose diabetes as early as possible so appropriate\ntreatment can be provided. However, many patients may have the disease but have\nno symptoms till glucose levels become extremely high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common\nsymptoms of diabetes are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Extreme\nthirst<\/strong>\n– as glucose builds up in the blood the kidneys have to work overtime to clear\nit out. As a result frequent urination is also common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tiredness and lethargy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blurred vision<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infections such as\nthrush<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unexplained weight\nloss (usually associated with type 1 diabetes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Appropriate treatment\ndepends on the type of diabetes. In the case of type 1 diabetes the body no\nlonger produces insulin. Hence, treatment invariably includes insulin\nreplacement therapy in the form of insulin injections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gestational diabetes\noccurs in pregnancy. Since oral diabetes medication may be harmful to the\nfetus, insulin injections may be prescribed where dietary adjustments and\nexercise are found to be inadequate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 2 diabetes is by\nthe far the most common and is reaching almost epidemic proportions in western\ncountries. This is very much a lifestyle related disease and is closely\nconnected with obesity and lack of exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type\n2 diabetes is often treated with a combination of dietary changes and an\nexercise regime.<\/strong>\nWhere these prove insufficient to control blood glucose levels oral medications\nmay be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many\ncategories of tablets used for treatment of type 2 diabetes each of which may\nact different. It is therefore quite common to combine more than one form of\nmedication. Categories of medication include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Category\n1<\/strong>\n– Sulphonylureas – This includes medications such as daonil, Glimel and\nDiamicron and helps by making the pancreas secrete more insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Category\n2<\/strong>\n– Meglitinides – Similar to Sulphonylureas these drugs stimulate production of\ninsulin in the pancreas. However, it generally has a shorter term effect,\ntypically about 4 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Category\n3<\/strong>\n– Biguanides – reduces absorption of glucose into the blood stream and also\nhelps improve sensitivity to insulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Category\n4<\/strong>\n– Acarbose – Affects the absorption of glucose from the small intestines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Category\n5<\/strong>\n– Thiazolidinediones – Reduces glucose released from the liver and helps\ninsulin work more effectively to reduce glucose levels in the blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many herbs have also\nbeen credited with an ability to reduce blood sugar levels or increase insulin\ntolerance. These include Bitter Melon,\nGarlic, Onion, Fenugreek, Bilberry, Asian Ginseng.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While limited success\nhas been recorded in lab tests, especially on animal subjects there is no\nevidence that herbs have sufficient impact on blood glucose levels to warrant\nuse of herbs as a treatment to the exclusion of all others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diabetes has no cure\nand treatment is geared towards reducing and postponing complications as long\nas possible while trying to maintain blood glucose levels as close as possible\nto normal levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also a sad fact\nthat oral diabetes medication becomes less and less effective as time passes\nand most diabetics will in the long term find themselves with no option other\nthan insulin injections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a healthy individual the body is able to automatically control the level of blood glucose depending on the body’s needs. However, in the case of a diabetic this automatic control mechanism does not function properly. Blood glucose levels in a healthy person range from around 3.5 to 7 mmol\/l. Diabetics will have higher blood […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":""},"categories":[514,37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n