Diabetes Faq - part 1

by Maruthi on August 25th, 2005

The following are the frequently asked questions about diabetes:

What is diabetes?

What are the types of diabetes?

What causes diabetes?

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Is it possible to prevent diabetes?

Is diabetes contagious?

What is diabetes?

Glucose is the main source of energy for the human body. The food that we eat is converted into glucose (sugar) and is taken to the cells of our body. This is achieved with the help of a harmone called insulin, produced by pancreas (a gland present near stomach). The function of pancreas is to produce enough insulin to take the sugar to the cells, from our blood. When pancreas does not produce the required amount of insulin (or does not produce insulin at all) the body loses is main source of energy. Since glucose is not is not transferred to the cells, it builds up in the blood. This condition is known as diabetes.

What are the types of diabetes?

There are three major types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes:

In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks its own insulin producing cells of the pancreas. This results in little or no production of insulin. To provide insulin to the body, the diabetic patient should take insulin from external source(s) daily. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 to 10% of all diagonised diabetes cases. Type 1 diabetes mainly occurs in children, but it can occur at any age.

Type 2 Diabetes:

Unlike type 1 diabetes, in type 2 diabetes enough insulin is produced by the body. But the body is not able to make effective use of the insulin. The exact reason for this is not known, but the result is same as type 1 diabetes. Glucose builds up in the blood and since it doesn’t reach the cells, the body is deprived of energy. This is the most common type of diabetes, occuring in about 90 to 95% of all the people diagonised with diabetes.

Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes occurs only in pregnant women. It usually disappears once the pregnancy is over. However, there is a good chance of type 2 diabetes occuring later on, in those women who have had gestational diabetes.

What causes diabetes?

Some of the causes of diabetes are

Family history (hereditary)
Physical inactivity
Old age
Obesity

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Some of the symptoms that can point to diabetes are:

Excessive thirst and hunger
Urge to urinate frequently
Tiredness
Weight loss
Nausea
Visions changes etc

Is it possible to prevent diabetes?

It is possible to prevent (at least delay) diabetes through

Right food
Weight loss
Good level of physical activity

Is diabetes contagious?

No.