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The spread of diabetes has caused consternation in many governments and health organizations. It is thought to be one of the fastest growing diseases in the world at present. But what is diabetes ? This article will answer that question and list the different types of diabetes and common ways to treat the disease. Someone with diabetes will have a high blood sugar reading after they have eaten some food. Their body is unable to process the sugar in the bloodstream. Sugar is vital for the body as it is the primary source of energy for the body's cells. Without sugar the cells will starve and die. A common belief that is largely unfounded is that consuming too much sugar will give you diabetes. This is not strictly true. Eating or drinking too much sugar will increase your calorific intake. This could lead to a gain in weight if a person did not exercise enough. If this situation was not changed then the person could become overweight and eventually classified as obese. And many people with type 2 diabetes have a weight problem suggesting that they are linked in some way. Thus an obese person is at increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes than someone of their height and sex that was a normal weight. Another commonly held belief is that many people that have the disease are not aware of it. This is true for many people because diabetes has no symptoms that are unique to it. So a person may think they are stressed out because they are tired or their vision gets blurred at times when, in fact, they have diabetes. Some of the more common symptoms are : Constantly thirsty (polydipsia). Increased urination (polyuria). Having a unusually large appetite without any weight gain (weight loss is more likely). Constantly tired. Nausea and a general feeling of being ill. Yeast infections in both sexes. Problems with vision. Male impotence. If you have any of these symptoms then you should see your doctor. It could be that your body has stopped making insulin, which is the hormone responsible for reducing blood sugar levels. This is called type 1 diabetes. Alternatively, you continue to produce insulin but the body resists the affects of the insulin. This is known as adult onset diabetes or type 2 diabetes. This can also happen when a woman is pregnant. She will have type 2 diabetes during the pregnancy and it will stop after the birth. This is called gestational diabetes. As yet there is no cure for all the types of diabetes. There is only ongoing treatment. Treatment is quite straightforward once the person has gotten used to the changes that are required in their lifestyle. Treatment revolves around getting a well balanced diet and plenty of exercise. In the case of type 1 diabetes it also involves injecting insulin. For type 2 diabetics and gestational diabetes, medication may be necessary but not always. Monitoring the condition of the disease and regular check ups with your health care provider are also necessary. By adhering to the treatment plan set out for you, you can limit the impact that diabetes has on your life on a day to day basis and in the future.
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Get more on diabetic diet plans at www.diabeticdietsplan.com. The site deals with diets and eating nutritious diabetic foods and some common symptoms of diabetes.
