DIABETES
Diabetes: Diabetes is a lifelong disease in your body, where your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high. Glucose is an important source of energy for the body that comes from the foods that you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose enter your cells to feed your body the energy that it needs. But having too much glucose in your bloodstream can cause damage to your eyes and kidneys. More so, diabetes can lead to heart disease for some people. You can detect if you have diabetes with a simple blood test. Type 1 Diabetes is caused by genetics, but also by unknown factors leading up to the disease. Symptoms usually begin in one’s childhood or as a young adult. A person becomes ill with symptoms of high blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. As for Type 2 Diabetes, this can also come from genetics. But this type may or may not have any symptoms at all. It is usually detected in adults, although more and more children are being diagnosed for the disease as well. This type however, is preventable. With a healthy lifestyle consisting of exercise and healthy eating. If you are worried you may develop diabetes or already have it Click Here to Book an Appointment with a Doctor near you.
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Symptoms:
Symptoms for diabetes depend of how much your blood sugar levels are raised in your body. Some people who have Type 2 Diabetes do not show many symptoms, if any. However, for Type 1 Diabetes, the symptoms tend to come quickly and become more severe.
Some symptoms include:
- High blood pressure
- Extreme hunger
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Frequent urination
- Extreme thirst
- Blurred vision
- Frequent infections to the body
Causes:
Diabetes is typically caused by genetics and other unknown factors that trigger the disease.
When to see the doctor:
If you have symptoms of diabetes, consult your doctor for a blood test.
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Potential Risks:
Potential risks for Type 1 Diabetes include your family history and genetics. Also, diseases of the pancreas or any infections that can harm the pancreas, inhibiting its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 Diabetes can also come from genetics, but it is also increasingly found in children who suffer from obesity.
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Tests & Healthcare:
A simple blood test will detect whether or not you have diabetes. Your doctor can also detect if you are a strong candidate for becoming diagnosed with diabetes according to your lifestyle history, genetics, weight, and blood sugar levels.
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Treatment:
Depending which type of diabetes you have, your doctor will suggest insulin, oral medications, and/or blood sugar monitoring.
Your doctor may prescribe:
Your doctor may prescribe oral medications or insulin, depending on which type of diabetes you suffer from.
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Complications:
Diabetes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other issues involving it. You are more likely to have a stroke or heart disease when diagnosed with diabetes. Excess sugar from your blood can harm the blood vessel walls in your body. This can cause tingling and numbness to different body parts, especially the legs. Diabetes can also lead to kidney damage because of the millions of blood vessels it contains. It destroys the kidneys filtering system and can lead to kidney failure if it’s severe. Eye damage is also common because the blood vessels in your retina are destroyed and could cause one to go blind. There are many other complications besides these main points. Click Here to Book an Appointment if you are worried you may have diabetes and want to get a blood test.
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Prevention:
Genetics play a major role in the diagnosis of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes cannot be prevented unfortunately. However, Type 2 can be prevented with healthy eating and exercising regularly. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.
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Preparing for your Appointment:
If you are having symptoms of diabetes consult your primary care doctor. Be sure to make a list of symptoms to discuss with your doctor, and also be prepared to talk about your lifestyle and whether or not you eat healthy and exercise regularly. Your doctor will also want to know your family history and if anyone related to you has diabetes.
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Online References:
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/wp/diabetes/tc/diabetes-differences-between-type-1-and-2-topic-overview