heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. This disease is caused by the liver cells’ inability to convert excess glucose in the blood to glucagon. It is also as a result of the failure of the pancreas to produce the hormone called insulin: a hormone that regulates blood glucose.
The most common type of diabetes is the type 2 diabetes. Until recently, this type of diabetes was seen only in adults but now it is also occurring frequently in children. This type of diabetes affects the way the body processes blood sugar. It is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.
Adults with diabetes have increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Combined with reduced blood flow, nerve damage in the feet increases the chances of foot ulcers, infection and eventual need for limb amputation. Diabetes is also among the leading causes of kidney failure. People with diabetes are more likely to have poor outcomes for several infectious diseases.
Treatment of diabetes involves dieting and physical activity along with lowering of blood glucose and the levels of other known risk factors that can damage blood vessels. Diabetic patients can be treated by blood glucose control. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin while people with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medications.