what is diabetes and how dangerous is it.?

Answer 1

it is a disease in which your body does not have enough insulin.
there are 2 kinds - juvenile which starts young and
type II which is usually a lifestyle disease found in older people.
it is pretty dangerous because untreated high blood sugar levels (which is what happens when there is not enough insulin to process the sugar one eats) end up causing things like
heart disease, neuropathy, infections, etc.

Answer 2

Diabetes is when your body cannot break down the sugars and covert them into energy which the body needs to do. There are 2 types: Type 1 diabetes - is when you are insulin dependent (you must inject yourself with insulin in order to break down the suagr this type is very serious and you MUST monitor your sugar levels closely.) Type 2 diabetes - is when you can either control your sugar levels with pill form medication and diet control and or pills with injections depending on how well you control your sugar. Only your Dr. can confirm the type of medication you need, but you are responsible for monitoring your sugars.
Diabetes can be a very dangerous disease if not controlled. Hypoglycemia - is when your sugar is too low. This can occur when you have taken too much insulin and or not eaten enough throughout the day. This can case you to pass out you can Die.
Hyperglymia - is when your sugar is too high - (more common form of diabetes) - Although some people have a higher end of sugar levels when diabetic usually the "safe range" is about 70 to 110. Anything over that would be considered high. If your sugar is too high you also have a higher risk of diabetic related complications and if you sugar is at an extreme 200 & above there are risks of diabetic Coma and Death. For more information please visit the American Diabetes Association.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

2

Answer 5

diabetes is where the blood cells can't absorb sugar to use it as it should be used. some people can control diabetes w/ diet. others need insulin. (type 1 & type 2)
it can be very dangerous if not controlled.I know someone that ended up in a coma for over a YEAR because of diabetes.and now is mentally retarded...his parents didn't know he had diabetes.
my dad found out he had diabetes after having a heart attack
there are a lot of health problems associated w/ diabetes, I'll give you a short list;
erectile disfunction
poor circulation
skin break down
foot problems,sores, loss of toes
blood pressure
hyper, &hypo glycemia
diabetics have to constantly check their BG(blood glucose)level through out the day through finger pricks & maintain levels through insulin shots
once people get this under control and learn how to take care of them selves it makes life better but it seems to be a constant cycle.
if you or someone you knoe has diabetes, get all the information you can to take care of it. good luck

Answer 6

Diabetes is a disease in which the blood glucose level becomes high. It is caused due to abnormal hormonal functioning. There are basically two types of diabetes- one where the ADH level becomes abnormal and one where the insulin level is not normal. It can be pretty dangerous if not controlled, but a diabetic can lead a normal life if talking proper medication.

Answer 7

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles Based on death certificate data, diabetes contributed to 224,092 deaths in 2002. Studies indicate that diabetes in generally under-reported on death certificates, particularly in the cases of older persons with multiples chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. Because of this, the toll of diabetes is believed to be much higher than officially reported

Answer 8

Diabetes is a disease where the pancreas does not produce the correct amounts of insulin to process sugars in one's diet. It can result in various tissue damage such as deadening of the blood vessels in feet and brain, blindness, coma and death. There are many variations and levels of severity as with most diseases. Some can control their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise alone - some must take medications - others must take insulin injections; usually a combination of these is required.

Although it is a serious disease - careful management can ensure that a person avoids serious complications and damage. There is currently no cure.

Answer 9

Diabetes is really complicated. It can be really dangerous but it can be controlled pretty well. You really need to chat to a doctor.

Answer 10

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that affects your body’s ability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone. When your body turns the food you eat into energy (also called sugar or glucose), insulin is released to help transport this energy to the cells. Insulin acts as a “key.” Its chemical message tells the cell to open and receive glucose. If you produce little or no insulin, or are insulin resistant, too much sugar remains in your blood. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal for individuals with diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

What is Type 1 diabetes?
When you are affected with Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes, since it is often diagnosed in children or teens. This type accounts for 5-10% of people with diabetes.

What is Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the cells are unable to use insulin properly, which is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is commonly called “adult-onset diabetes” since it is diagnosed later in life, generally after the age of 45. 90-95% of people with diabetes have this type. In recent years Type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed in younger people, including children, more frequently than in the past.

Are there other forms of diabetes?
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and affects about 4% of all pregnant women, approximately 135,000 cases in the U.S. per year.

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy, but once you've had gestational diabetes, your chances are higher that it will happen in future pregnancies. In some women pregnancy uncovers Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and these women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy.

There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, and many women who had gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later on. Gestational diabetes and Type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar levels to be higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates that there are 41 millions Americans that have pre-diabetes in addition to the 18.2 million with diabetes.

Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes." Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may start during pre-diabetes.

What causes diabetes?
The cause of diabetes is unknown. Genetics, diet, obesity and lack of exercise may play a role in developing diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes.

How does diabetes affect my body?
Over time, high blood sugar levels (also called hyperglycemia) can lead to kidney disease, heart disease and blindness. The excess sugar in the bloodstream can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and kidneys, and can harden or narrow your arteries.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Extreme thirst
Frequent urination
Blurry vision
Extreme hunger
Increased tiredness
Unusual weight loss
How can I find out if I have diabetes?
Sometimes a routine exam by an eye doctor or foot doctor will reveal diabetes. Diabetes affects the circulation to your feet and the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. If your eye doctor or your foot doctor suspects you have diabetes, he will recommend you see your regular physician for a blood sugar level test.

The most common test is a fasting blood glucose test. After not eating for at least eight hours, usually overnight, your doctor will take a blood sample. The normal, non-diabetic range for blood glucose is 70 to 110 mg/dl. If your level is over 140 mg/dl, you may have diabetes.

If I have signs of diabetes, what should I do?
See your doctor. Your doctor will perform tests to determine whether or not you have diabetes. If your blood sugar level is high, but not high enough to be considered diabetic, this is a condition called pre-diabetes. Your doctor will make recommendations to bring down your blood sugar level so that you can delay the development of Type 2 diabetes.