DIABETES

*Content Supplied by Sanofi.

**Content Supplied by BD.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

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Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use and store glucose (a form of sugar).

 

Glucose backs up in the bloodstream - causing one’s blood glucose (blood sugar) to rise too high.

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There are two major types of diabetes:

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Type 1 Diabetes (formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent): the body completely stops producing any insulin, a hormone that enables the body to use glucose found in foods for energy.

 

People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. This form of diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but can occur at any age.

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Type 2 Diabetes (formerly called adult-onset or non insulin-dependent): results when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin and/or is unable to use insulin properly (insulin resistance). This form of diabetes usually occurs in people who are over 40, overweight, and have a family history of diabetes.

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WHO IS AT RISK OF GETTING DIABETES?

 

• People with a Family History of Diabetes (siblings or parents)

• Overweight people

• Persons with high cholesterol,

• Persons with high blood pressure

• Physical inactive people

• Persons who had a stroke or heart attack

• Woman with a history of gestational diabetes(diabetes during pregnancy) are more likely to develop full-blown diabetes later in life

• Woman who had a new-born weighing more than 9 pounds at birth

• Woman with a history of Polycystic Ovarian Disease

 

**The risk of developing Diabetes also increases as people grow older. People who are over 40 and overweight are more prone to develop type 2 diabetes.

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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• being very thirsty

• frequent urination

• weight loss

• increased hunger

• blurry vision

• irritability

• tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

• frequent skin, bladder or gum infections

• wounds that don't heal

• extreme unexplained fatigue

 

COMPLICATIONS

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• heart attacks

• strokes

• blindness

• kidney failure

• blood vessel disease that may require an amputation (circulation problems) / gangrene

• nerve damage – neurogenic bladder, etc.

• impotence in men