an introduction
Recently, a large number of diseases have been reported, either because of widespread contaminants, or because of erroneous health habits that have been followed by many people. One of the most common and common diseases among people today is diabetes, with an estimated 250 million people worldwide, and this number is expected to double over the next 20 years. Because of the prevalence of diabetes among a large segment of people, the 14th of November was designated annually for diabetics called “World Sugar Day”, so that it is the same day that Frederick Banting was born insulin discovery with the help of Charles Best.
Diabetes
It is a chronic disease that accompanies the human throughout his life as soon as he is infected. The person suffers from this disease due to the large increase in the level of sugar in the blood caused by a decrease in insulin hormone produced by the member of the pancreas, which works to burn sugar and turn it into energy to benefit the body, Pancreatic dysfunction.
There are three types of diabetes. In the first type, the immune system attacks pancreatic cells responsible for the production of insulin, which leads to the lack or decrease of insulin in the body, which occurs in the so-called type I diabetes, which is common in children and may occur during adulthood. If the body can not consume insulin to burn sugar properly occurs the so-called type II diabetes, which affects humans at any age, but it is common after the age of forty. The third type is what is known as gestational diabetes, which affects pregnant women, a temporary condition that may end at the end of pregnancy or continue to the postpartum.
No treatment has been found to cure diabetes, but the sooner the disease is detected, the more likely it is to diagnose the symptoms. Therefore, a person can protect himself from the dangers that may result from the disease being penetrated and controlled by the patient. To a comprehensive treatment plan including diet modification in collaboration with a nutritionist, as well as exercise, and pharmacotherapy under the supervision of a specialist diabetes and endocrine.
It should also raise the patient’s awareness of diabetes, how to care for himself and his health and stay away from the wrong lifestyle, which has a great impact in protecting him from the dangers of this disease, because in the case of neglect of diabetes, it will lead to serious complications, most important kidney failure, Cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and amputation of the lower limbs.
Symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes symptoms vary by age group. As mentioned earlier, type 1 diabetes is common in children, and the second type may occur at any age. It may also vary by gender, so that some symptoms appear in one sex but do not appear in the other. The appearance of symptoms varies according to different types of diabetes. In the first type, the symptoms are sudden, rapid and severe. The second type is mild to moderate in severity, and may not feel any symptoms of the patient despite the high blood sugar.
In general, the symptoms of high blood sugar are as follows:
- The constant feeling of thirst, so that the water becomes the constant companion of the diabetic.
- Constant feeling of need to urinate, due to frequent drinking water. Children with type 1 sleeps during sleep.
- Feeling tired and dizziness continuously, lethargy and fatigue, due to lack of energy resulting from the burning of sugar.
- Feeling very headache.
- Sensation of dry mouth and throat.
- Diarrhea or chronic constipation.
- The patient’s vision becomes unclear and distorted, so that he feels as if fog is obstructing his vision.
- The incidence of slow healing and healing of wounds, and may even increase inflammation, especially in the second type of diabetes.
- Losing weight is great. Although the patient consumes more than usual amounts of food, it is because the sugar does not burn and reach the cells, leads to weakness in the muscles and members of the storage of fat and thus its decline, and weight loss significantly. Weight loss is often the first observed in children with type 1 diabetes.
- The appetite of the infected person is open to eating at any time, especially in children, because of the low energy in the body, the patient feels fatigue and fatigue, which generates the feeling of hunger.
- Tension, anxiety and irritability are rare, especially for children who are not yet diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
- The emergence of inflammation in the gums and teeth, and if the patient neglects attention to oral health, it will lead to deterioration.
- Inflammation of the vagina in women with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. It may occur in young girls with type 1 diabetes, and also in infants with type I skin rash in the diaper area due to fungal infections.
- Feeling of tingling and tingling in hands and feet.
- Erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual ability in men.
If hyperglycemia persists and leaves untreated, this will cause the accumulation of toxic ketonic acid in the blood and urine, causing the condition of ketoacidosis. In this case, the patient will have the following symptoms:
- The smell of the mouth is like the smell of fruit.
- Feeling nausea and vomiting.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dry mouth.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Psychological disorders.
- The coma.
- Abdominal pain.
Treatment of diabetes
The treatment of diabetes depends on several factors, including raising the patient’s awareness on how to control the level of sugar appropriate in the blood, and how to get rid of or alleviate the symptoms that he has. It also requires a change in the prevailing lifestyle to maintain the stability of the patient, and avoid serious complications of the disease. Therefore, the patient should follow a comprehensive treatment plan for the following:
- Monitor and check blood sugar regularly using home screening devices, as well as check blood pressure from time to time to check the safety of the heart and arteries.
- Modified diet so that it is rich in fiber, and low in calories, saturated fats, salts, and added sugar. So the patient should eat a balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, white meat, cereals and dried beans. All this is done under the supervision of a diabetes doctor and nutritionist.
- Exercise is important in controlling the level of sugar in the blood and increasing the body’s ability to consume insulin properly. In addition to protecting the patient from cardiovascular disease and strokes.
- Take medications that control your blood sugar level, such as insulin and other adjuvant medications at an appropriate dose, as directed by your doctor.
- Avoid smoking and all tobacco products.
- Take good care of foot health, treat any superficial wounds, and remove the skin screws. To avoid serious complications leading to the amputation of the lower limb sometimes.
- Check with your eye doctor at least once a year to check the integrity of the eye and retina parts.