Millions of people around the world are inflicted by diabetes mellitus, or more commonly called diabetes. You may be suffering from this chronic disease without even knowing you have it. Even though it an incurable disease, you can lead a long, normal healthy life if the disease is properly controlled by following the proper treatment method.

Causes Of Diabetes

Diabetes is the result of failure of your pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin is necessary to help glucose enter into the cells of your body where it is used to release energy. When insulin is not available or is not functioning like what it’s supposed to be, glucose will not be able to penetrate into the cells. It will remain in your blood and when the blood glucose level is too high it will result in a condition called diabetes.

A pre-diabetes condition is a situation where the blood glucose level is higher than normal, but below the level where it would be classified as diabetes. If both this condition is left untreated, it will lead to other health problems such as renal failure, blindness, heart disease and even liver failure. Persons diagnosed with this condition should get immediate medical attention to avoid further complications because it can be managed quite easily by the patient himself.

Diabetes can be generally classified into 3 categories, i.e. Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. Type 1 is generally suffered by children or young adults. The most common form of this disease is Type 2 which is experience by most adults and older people. Gestation diabetes is when a pregnant woman experiences a high blood glucose level although prior to her pregnancy, she does not have this condition. This condition may also disappear after she delivers her child.

Is Diabetes An Inherited Disease?

The answer is not too clear. Statistics have shown that 10 percent of children suffering from Type 1 have a close relative with this type of disease. Scientist and medical researchers have recently identified that when a muted gene (SUMO-4) is present, the risk of getting Type 1 in children increases. However for Type 2, the role of genetics is unclear.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Most people do not know they are suffering from this disease because the symptoms can be quite obscure without actually screening for it. Some of the symptoms of diabetes include the following:

* frequent urination especially at night

* feeling thirsty and hungry frequently

* blurred vision

* losing weight without trying

* feeling tired or fatigue easily

* bruises and cuts which are difficult to heal

* numbness or tingling sensation in your hands and feet

* gum, skin or bladder infection that keeps coming back

Some of these symptoms are too obscure and leads to delayed diagnosis of this disease. Some patients do not even show these symptoms. When in doubt, consult your family doctor and have the screening process done.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects many people. More than 6 million Americans do not know they are suffering from Type 2 diabetes. As a precaution, persons above the age of 45 should undergo screening, especially if you are overweight. If it is confirmed that you have this disease, do not feel as if your life is ending soon. Get medical attention fast and you will lead a long normal life.