Diabetes

Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus, in contrast to Diabetes Insipidus) is a non-communicable (not transmitted by direct contact) disease in which the body does not produce insulin or sufficient insulin or doesn't properly utilize the insulin made. Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. In humans, the blood glucose levels normally vary from about 70 milligrams per decilitre of blood to about 110 milligrams per decilitre. After a meal, the blood glucose levels are maintained by a process called homeostasis, which in this case involves a combination of specific hormones.


The illustration above shows two cycles occurring separately to maintain homeostasis in the body. When glucose levels are too high the pancreas secretes insulin to convert excess glucose to gycogen for storage. When glucose levels are too low the pancreas produces glucagon to convert stored glycogen to glucose, resulting in an increase in glucose levels.

Diabetes prevents the body from converting ingested food into energy and, with the constant rise in blood glucose levels, balance is not maintained as required. Complications are very likely to occur as the blood glucose levels continue to rise. Long term complications include cardiovascular disease, retinal damage (which may lead to blindness), nerve damage and microvascular damage, which commonly causes erectile dysfunction and poor healing of wounds.

The cause of diabetes is not exactly known. A Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is conducted to determine whether pre-diabetes is evident. A fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg per dl signals pre-diabetes while a level above 126 mg per dl signals diabetes. With the OGTT, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg per dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two hour blood glucose level is over 200 mg per dl, that person has diabetes.

The best way to prevent diabetes is to maintain a balanced diet that suits you and increase the level of physical activity, if you hardly exercise on a weekly basis. If you are curious about your risk for diabetes take this simple risk test.....Diabetes Risk Test