Don’t Let it Happen to You
Metabolic Disorders
Metabolism is the process your body uses to collect energy from the food you eat. Your body can use this fuel right away, or it can store the energy in your body tissues, such as your liver, muscles and body fat. A metabolic disorder occurs when abnormal chemical reactions in your body disrupt this process.
When this disruption happens, you might have too much of some substances or too little of other ones that you need to stay healthy. You can develop a metabolic disorder when some organs, such as your liver or pancreas, become diseased or do not function correctly. Diabetes is an example of a metabolic disorder.
What is Diabetes?
We like the definition given by DoctorSecrets.com. It’s a condition that keeps the body from using carbohydrates as it should. All carbohydrates contain a sugar called glucose. All cells burn glucose as a fuel they need (metabolism) in order to function.
Your blood stream carries glucose to the cells, where it is used for energy. Insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, acts as a key to allow glucose to get inside the cells.
In diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood stream because your pancreas stops producing insulin. The result is a buildup of blood glucose (liquid sugar) in your blood.
Liquid sugar (such as honey and syrup) feels sticky on your skin. Inside the body it’s sticky as well, hooking on to proteins and making them sticky. These proteins tend to bind to each other, eventually gluing up blood vessels that go to the kidneys, limbs, eyes, heart and brain effectively strangling these parts. This is why diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, limb amputations and new blindness in adults, and why it’s a major contributor to heart disease and stroke.
With Type 1 diabetes the organ called your pancreas does not make insulin. This used to be called “child onset” because it can happen from birth. Type 1 diabetics typically take insulin for the rest of their lives
Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult onset” but with so many young people developing the problem, it’s now called Type 2. With type 2, your body does not make or use insulin well. When the cells don’t accept the insulin offered for nutrition, the glucose stays in your blood. Quite often Type 2 is accompanied by increased weight.
Symptoms
A high glucose reading when a blood test is taken. All Medicare beneficiaries are now covered for blood meters, testing strips and diabetes-education programs. Whatever your age, it pays to know your fasting blood glucose level.
Frequent urination and waking several times at night to go; Thirst out of the ordinary; Rapid weight loss; Frequent or severe skin and vaginal infections with non-virulent bugs – candidiasis, thrush, boils, ring worm; Blurred vision
Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth.
Hypoglycemia
Your body needs glucose, a form of sugar, to have enough energy. After you eat, your blood absorbs glucose. If you eat more sugar than your body needs, your muscles and liver store the extra. When your blood sugar begins to fall, a hormone tells your liver to release glucose. In most people, this raises blood sugar. If it doesn’t, you have hypoglycemia, and your blood sugar can be dangerously low. Signs include:
- Hunger.
- Shakiness.
- Dizziness.
- Confusion.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Feeling anxious or weak
Diabetic Diet
Healthy eating helps to reduce your blood sugar. It is a critical part of managing your diabetes, because controlling your blood sugar can prevent the complications of diabetes. Wise food choices are a foundation of diabetes treatment. According to the American Diabetes Association a healthy diabetic eating includes:
- Limiting sweets.
- Eating often in small amounts.
- Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat.
- Eating lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables.
- Eating less fat.
- Limiting your use of alcohol.
When to see a doctor
As soon as any symptoms appear. Since there may not be any obvious symptoms, a blood test must be taken in order to measure your glucose. If your glucose is high, see your doctor.
Diabetes Resource Center
For more information on both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, contact the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-533-2873 or at www.diabetes.org on the Web.
Another site devoted to diabetics is www.diabetes.com. From the basics for the newly diagnosed to the latest information on diet and treatments, visitors can learn much about diabetes.
For a copy of What You Should Know About Diabetes, contact the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation at 1-800-533-2873 or at www.jdfcure.org on the Web.
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