Types of Diabetes

DESCRIPTIONDiabetes pertains to a metabolous disorder that is associated with the lack or absence seizure of insulin, a protein that transports glucose into the cells of the trunk. Glucose, also simply known as sugars, is considered as the first gear source of muscle for the daily activities performed by the human body, such as walking and standing. In addition, glucose also serves as the main resource for the energy that is required to fuel cellular processes within the body, including that of growth and repair of cells and tissues. The nutriment items consumed by an individual in the main contain glucose and hence the presence of insulin is authorized for the transport of this macromolecule to the appropriate regions of the body.Insulin is mainly produced by the pancreas, which is a digestive organ that is strategically located next to the small intestines, where digestion unremarkably occurs. in one case the process of digestion has been completed in the intestines, the g lucose molecules transported into cells with the help of insulin. In everyday individuals, the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is enough to transport the glucose that is present in the meal consumed. On the other hand, individuals with diabetes show a lack or absence of insulin secreted by the pancreas, thus preventing the transport of the glucose molecules into the cells. Glucose is therefore left outside the cells and these persist in circulating in the blood. The continuous accumulation of glucose further ex slopes from the blood to the urine, which in turn atomic number 18 samples employed for the diagnostics of diabetes.CAUSES OF DIABETESDiabetes is generally caused by a number of factors, depending on the type of diabetes that has been positively diagnosed in an individual. Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), pertains to an autoimmune consideration that involves the incapacity of the body to combat infections (NIH, 2010a ). In this case, the immune system of an individual causes the destruction of the cells of the pancreas, thus decreasing and possibly preventing the production of insulin for glucose transport. The actual mechanism that triggers the destruction of the pancreatic cells by the immune system is still unknown and there be active efforts in the field of biomedical research that are attempting to realize this reaction.Type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), pertains to an addition in the level of glucose in the body due to aging, obesity or catching inheritance of the condition (NIH, 2010b). Type 2 diabetes is therefore more honey oilly observed among elderly individuals, as their metabolic rate generally slows subject as they age. Obese individuals tend to develop diabetes because their food choices are practically different from the recommended daily diet, thus increasing the likelihood that sugar-rich foods would be consumed on a regular basis.Gestational diabetes pertains to the increase in the blood glucose level of a female during pregnancy. This occurrence is usually linked to the gain in the bestow body weight of a woman during pregnancy, as well as the change magnitude in the physical activity of the woman as she advancees through the entire gestational period of 36 weeks or 9 months. contrasted types 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes often disappears once the woman has abandoned birth. The disappearance of the features of diabetes are possibly linked to the loss in the add body weight after birth, as well as the increase in the physical activity of the woman after delivery.EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DIABETESType 1 diabetes generally affects both males and females, yet there are certain characteristics that strongly associated with this metabolic disease. According to the World Health Organization, type 1 diabetes is more common among whites and is considered as a rare disease among non-white populations of A frica and Asia. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is commonly diagnosed in elderly individuals.Moreover, elderly individuals who are lumbering are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes because these individuals tend to be less active in physical activities. Certain populations are thus associated with type 2 diabetes, including those of African and Asian ethnicities. In the unify States alone, there are 24 million individuals with the age of 20 years old and above that have been diagnosed with diabetes (NIDDK, 2007). On the other hand, there are 12 million elderly individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes in the United States.TREATMENT OF DIABETESType 1 diabetes is generally do by with the administration of insulin on a daily basis. diligent are therefore taught how to inject insulin everyday, in order to maintain a normal level of insulin in their blood. Type 2 diabetes is usually treated with medications that assist in the digestion of glucose from the food items c onsumed. This medication is given on a daily basis using a tablet or condensation format. In addition to medications, a healthy diet is highly recommended to diabetic patients. This includes food items that are low in sugar content, such as green, leafy vegetables and fiber-rich fruits and grains.Exercise is also recommended for diabetic patients, as this assists in increasing the metabolic rate of the body. Diabetic patients are also educated on the condition of hypoglycemia, which is the extreme lowering of the blood glucose level of the body, resulting in fainting and a decrease in the arterial blood pressure. A dietician therefore plays an primary(prenominal) role in the design of the dietary regimen of diabetic patients. A regular check-up should also be performed every 3 to 6 months, wherein the abstemiousness blood sugar levels are determined, in order to evaluate the progress of the patient with the current dietary regimen.REFERENCESNational Institute of Diabetes and Dige stive and Kidney Diseases. (2007). National Diabetes Statistics, 2007. Downloaded from http//diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/DM_Statistics.pdf on July 8, 2010.National Institutes of Health. (2010a). Type 1 diabetes Thirty years of progress. Downloaded from http//www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Type1Diabetes.pdf on July 8, 2010.National Institutes of Health. (2010b). Type 2 diabetes Thirty years of progress. Downloaded from http//www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/Type2Diabetes.pdf on July 8, 2010.