
Diabetes is a disease in which blood
glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into
glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an
organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin
to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have
diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't
use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up
in your blood.
Over time, high blood glucose levels damage nerves
and blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease and
stroke, the leading causes of death among people with diabetes.
Uncontrolled diabetes can eventually lead to other health problems as
well, such as vision loss, kidney failure, and amputations.
Types of Diabetes
Type one diabetes,
which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
or juvenile-onset diabetes.
Type two diabetes,
which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)
or adult-onset diabetes,about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of
diabetes. Gestational diabetes
is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. Gestational diabetes
develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but usually disappears when a
pregnancy is over.
Free Search Engine Submission thanks to:
Create a Website Related Sites | SpyderMap | Web Portal
|