Diabetes – Too much sugar can kill you

Diabetes is one of the disease states that is referred to as a silent killer. It is a major health issue all around the world. While type 1 diabetes is usually in children and remains relatively rare, Adult onset diabetes or type 2 diabetes is far more common.

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disease, that affects the way the body utilizes food for energy. In a healthy person, food is broken down into glucose (a form of sugar) and that glucose acts as a source of fuel for the body. In order for the body to use the glucose as fuel, insulin must be present and that insulin allows the glucose to access the cells. Typically, the pancreas produces an adequate amount of insulin transfer the glucose from the blood to the cells, however in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and in type 2, either not enough is being produced or the body doesn’t respond properly to the insulin. In these cases, the diabetic cannot utilize the glucose properly and ends up with large amounts of glucose in the blood.
In the short term, the large amounts of sugar in the blood may not cause any damage to the organs in the body, but it can cause a person to feel tired and weak, be thirsty, and urinate a lot, be susceptible to infections and have blurry vision. It can even lead to dehydration in some cases and coma. In the long term, high blood sugar and lead to damaging complications. It can cause diabetic retinopathy that can ultimately lead to blindness, kidney disease which can lead to kidney failure resulting in a need for either dialysis or a kidney transplant, and nerve disease and circulation complications in the legs which can lead to amputations.
Diabetes can be caused by lifestyle or genetic factors. Regardless of the cause, the devastating effect is the same. However the good news is that diabetes is a manageable disease. It can be managed with lifestyle changes and drug and or insulin therapy. Proper diet and exercise can literally transform a diabetics life.
Signs of diabetes.

Frequent trips to the bathroom: Are you visiting the bathroom constantly? Does it seem like you urinate all throughout the day and night? Constant urination can be caused by too high blood sugar. Because the blood insulin is nonexistent or ineffective, the kidneys can’t filter sugar back to the blood. So they take in more water in an attempt to dilute the blood sugar in the organ. This results in a constantly full bladder.

Significant Thirst: If you constantly feel thirsty despite your intake of water or fluids then, it could be a sign of diabetes, especially if you suffer from frequent urination.

Weight loss: If you haven’t changed your diet or exercise regimen and you find yourself shrinking, it can be a cause for concern. Because the body cannot break down sugar, it starts to look for an alternative source of fuel, and as a result starts to break down muscle tissue and fat for energy.

Weakness and Fatigue: When the sugar is stuck in the bloodstream and can be translated to the cells for energy then the cells cannot regenerate and become starved for energy and this causes the individual to feel tired and worn down.

Tingling or Numbness in hands, legs or feet: This symptom is called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as high blood sugar in the blood damages the nervous system, particularly in the extremities.

Blurred vision, extremely dry or itchy skin, constant infections or wounds that take an unusually long time to heal can also be signs that there is problem. If you notice any of the above signs, see your doctor as soon as possible, then you can be tested to see if you have diabetes.