What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic life long metabolic disease. The condition is often caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both. There are three main type of diabetes, type 1 and type 2 and gestational diabetes. Individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease have to alter their lifestyle for the better.

Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed during childhood. Individuals diagnosed with the condition are often diagnosed before they reach 20. Those who are affected by the disease will need daily injections of insulin to live. There is no known cause for the condition, some believe, genetics, viruses and autoimmune problems may be the cause. Symptoms associated with type 1 diabetes include extreme hunger, thirst, fatigue and blurred vision.

Type 2 diabetes is very common. Most people develop this condition in their early adulthood. With Type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not make the proper amount of insulin to keep the blood glucose levels at a normal rate. Symptoms in type 2 diabetes include extreme thirst, hunger and fatigue. The condition is becoming more common because of lack of exercising and obesity. The disease can be controlled with diet and exercise. Some individuals may also need medication to keep their blood sugar reduced.

Gestational diabetes occurs while a woman is pregnant. Women who develop gestational diabetes have never been diagnosed with the condition until then. Most women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Women with diabetes are at risk with having complications during their pregnancy if they do not receive the proper treatment. Treatment includes modifying their diet, exercising and sometimes taking blood sugar lowering medications.