Ailments, Maladies, and Conditions | May, 2012


You entered Sugar, the more common name is...

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus

Common Names:

Diabetes, Sugar


About Diabetes Mellitus:

What is Diabetes?

To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food is digested. First, a sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body. Second, the pancreas makes insulin to move the glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used for fuel. People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels. This is because their pancreas does not make enough insulin and/or their muscle, fat and liver calls do not respond to insulin normally.

A good blood sugar level first thing in the morning before food or drink should be 80 to 120. Two hours after meals your levels should be 160 or less and at bedtime they should be 100 to 140.

There are three major types of diabetes. The causes and risk factors are different for each type:

•Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in children, teens, or young adults. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown.

•Type 2 diabetes makes up most of diabetes cases. It most often occurs in adulthood, but teens and young adults are now being diagnosed with it because of high obesity rates. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it.

•Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes.

A healthy diet and regular exercise may prevent Type 2 Diabetes, it also helps to maintain healthy levels along with treatment.

Frequent Symptoms:

Blurry Vision,  Excess Thirst, Fatigue, Frequent Urination, Hunger, Weight Loss.


Diabetes Mellitus

Treatment Options:

Lifestyle changes and natural remedies may help to control blood sugar levels, but your doctor may also recommend medication to lower and maintain them. It is important to work with your doctor, because high blood sugar levels over time can damages the retina of the eye, the blood vessels of the kidneys, the nerves, and other blood vessels. This can lead to blindness, kidney failure, sores that never heal and sometimes amputations of toes, feet or legs.