What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is the name given to a group of different conditions in which there is too much glucose in the blood. Here’s what happens:
· The body needs a special sugar called glucose as its main source of fuel or energy. The body makes glucose from foods containing carbohydrate such as vegetables containing carbohydrate (like potatoes or corn) and cereal foods (like bread, pasta and rice) as well as fruit and milk.
· The glucose is carried around the body in the blood and the glucose level is called glycaemia (glyc = glucose; aemia = in the blood). The glucose level must be neither too high nor too low, but just right.
· The glucose running around in the blood stream now has to get out of the blood and into the body tissues. It’s the cells in the body tissues that actually do the work – brain cells so you can think, heart cells so you can pump blood and muscle cells so you can walk. Glucose is also stored in the liver, like you would store food items in the kitchen pantry.
· This is where insulin enters the story. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, a gland sitting just below the stomach. Insulin opens the doors (the glucose channels) that let glucose go from the blood to the body cells where energy is made.
· This process is called glucose metabolism.
· In diabetes, the pancreas either cannot make insulin or the insulin it does make is not enough and cannot work properly.
· Without insulin doing its job, the glucose channels are shut. Glucose builds up in the blood leading to high blood glucose levels which causes the health problems linked to diabetes.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 (previously known as insulin dependent), and
Type 2 (previously known as non-insulin dependent). For Type 2 diabetes there are also three known pre-diabetic conditions:
Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG),
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), and
diabetes during pregnancy, called Gestational Diabetes.
What are the main symptoms of diabetes?
In Type 1 diabetes, symptoms are usually sudden and can be life-threatening, therefore it is mostly diagnosed quite quickly. In Type 2 diabetes, many people have no symptoms at all, while other signs can go unnoticed, being seen as part of ‘getting older’. Therefore, by the time symptoms are noticed, the blood glucose level for many people can be very high.
Common symptoms include:
- Being more thirsty than usual
- Passing more urine
- Feeling tired and lethargic
- Always feeling hungry
- Having cuts that heal slowly
- Itching, skin infections
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss (Type 1)
- Gradually putting on weight (Type 2)
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Feeling dizzy
- Leg cramps
How is diabetes managed?
Whether it’s Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the aim of any diabetes treatment is to get your blood glucose levels as close to the non-diabetic range as often as possible. For people with Type 1 diabetes, this will mean insulin injections every day plus leading a healthy lifestyle. For people with Type 2 diabetes, healthy eating and regular physical activity may be all that is required at first, sometimes tablets and/or insulin later on.
What do I aim for and why?
Ideally blood glucose levels are kept as close to the non-diabetic range as possible (between 3.5 and 8 mmol/L). This will help prevent the short-term effects of very low or very high blood glucose levels as well as the possible long-term problems which can affect the eyes, kidneys and nerves. For more information refer to the Blood Glucose Monitoring fact sheet.
Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol within recommended ranges also helps to prevent problems like heart attack and stroke.
Who will help me?
A lifelong condition like diabetes is best managed with the support of a diabetes team. You are the most important member of your diabetes team. Others are your doctor, diabetes educator, dietitian and podiatrist. Depending on your needs, the team may also include medical specialists, exercise physiologists and counsellors.
Your team will help you to learn all you need to know about your diabetes. They will be there to support you and with their guidance you will soon become confident about making day to day decisions for a fit and healthy life.
What are the basics of looking after my own diabetes?
There are many steps you can take:
Link up with the diabetes team in your area. Your doctor may need to
refer you, but this is not always necessary.
Test your blood glucose levels regularly.
Always take your insulin (for those who require it).
If your doctor gives you tablets to help manage your Type 2 diabetes,
blood pressure and/or cholesterol, be sure to take them.
Be as active as you can as often as you can.
Have a healthy eating plan.
Keep a positive mental attitude.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help as soon as you feel you need it.
Printed May 2003 – Copyright Diabetes Australia
2003
Photocopying this publication in its original form is permitted for educational
purposes only. Reproduction in any other form without the written permission
of Diabetes Australia (National Publications Division) is prohibited.
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For more information phone 1300 136 588
Website: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
Multilingual information: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
download the Diabetes Facts Sheet (.pdf 78kb)
