DIABETES
The Invisible Epidemic
DO YOU KNOW?
o Diabetes is a GLOBAL EPIDEMIC!
o It causes one death every 10 seconds
o 171 million people suffer from it in 2005 and it is projected to grow to 366 million by 2030 – WHO CONFIRMED!
“IF YOU DON’T MAKE OUT TIME FOR HEALTH TODAY, YOU’LL MAKE TIME FOR AILMENTS TOMORROW”.
WHAT IS DIABETES
Diabetes is a disease in which the body either does not produce or does not properly use insulin. Is a hormone the body employs to bring glucose from the blood into tissues to be used as an energy source?
Special cells in the pancreas called beta cells create insulin. If the efficiency of these cells is compromised due to poor cellular intake or elimination, they may become overburdened and can ‘wear out'.
In diabetes mellitus low insulin levels or poor response to insulin prevent cell from absorbing glucose. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood. When glucose laden blood passes through the kidneys cannot absolve all the excess glucose. The excess glucose spills into the urine, Accompanied by water and electrolytes ions required by cell to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell membrane. This cause frequent urination to get rid of the additional water and drawn into the urine; excessive thirst to trigger replacemet of lost water; and hunger to replace the glucose lost in urination.
SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES
1. Excessive thirst & increased appetite
2. Frequent urination
3. Dramatic weight loss
4. Irritability and blurred vision
5. Itching of the skin
6. Poorly healing wounds
7. Weakness and fatigue
8. Nausea and vomiting
TYPE OF DIABETES
Diabetes is classified into two major types and a specialist diabetes type that affect only pregnant woman. American, diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
Insulin-dependent Diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
A condition in which the body failed to produce insulin. This happen when the immune system mistakenly and destroy beta cells autoimmune disease.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)
This occurs when the body’s resist insulin combined with relative Insulin deficiency (this is when the body fails to utilize insulin properly).
GESTATIONAL DIABETES This is temporary diabetes which affect only about 4% of pregnant women but generally disappears after birth. webMD.com www.webcenter.health .
COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES
Brain
People with diabetes more likely to suffer from forgetfulness or memory loss and strokes
Eyes
High blood glucose can damage tiny blood vessel at the back of the eye, causing many eye problems, from blurriness to blindness.
Heart
Diabetes dramatically increase the risk of developing chest pain (angina) and heart attack.
Kidneys
Diabetes can damage the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste from the body
Nerves
High level of glucose in the blood can damage the network of nerves found throughout the body. This may cause feet and hands to tingle, burn, or feel numb. Overtime, and area may not notice if the food becomes injured or infected.
Blood Circulation
Diabetes can damage blood vessels’ throughout the body. This damage makes it easier for plague (fat deposit) to form in the vessel, preventing proper blood flow.
PREVENTIONS
According to the Joslin Diabetes centre at Harvard School of Medicine, the risk of diabetes can be cut by more than 50% by changes in diabetes and exercise.
DIETS
1. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Try picking from the rainbow of colours available to maximize variety, Such as spinach, broccoli or green beans with meals.
2. Choose whole-grain foods and over processed grain foods.
3. Include omega-3 rich fish like salmon mackerel in your meal two to three times a week.
Diets alone cannot supply the major nutrition needed in controlling diabetes, so supplementation is the key to achieving a full nutritional balance.
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