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What is it?
Diabetes is a disorder that affects many people in our society. Diabetes
mellitus is a condition in which the body is unable to transport sugar from
the blood to the cells. People who suffer from this disease cannot produce
or use insulin, which is necessary to keep the sugar under control. Many
sufferers of this disease will complain of constantly being thirsty, hungry,
and frequently having to urinate. Diabetic patients often have problems with
their circulation, which can result in foot pain, and problems. If this
disease is not identified and goes untreated, it can lead to severe health
issues and occasionally death. This disease process can affect your kidneys,
eyes, sense of feeling in your feet and the circulation to the foot.
What causes it?
Diabetes mellitus can be caused
by a number of factors. If there is a family history of diabetes, one's
chances of developing this disorder significantly increases. Over weight
people are also at risk, since the body is in a constant battle with the
elevated sugar. As one gets older, a certain type of diabetes, ¬type II
(non-insulin dependent) becomes prevalent. On the other hand, type I
diabetes (insulin dependent), is more prevalent in the young. African
Americans and Hispanics are also more susceptible to this disease. If any of
the above facts apply to you, an evaluation visit to your family doctor is
suggested.
How is it treated?
The effective treatment of
diabetes mellitus begins with patient cooperation and compliance. The
patient needs to understand that this disease can be severe and that a
strict diet as well as faithful use of all medication is necessary to keep
this disease under control. Some patients may need to inject insulin while
others might need to take various oral medications. Careful monitoring of
one's blood sugar on a daily basis is essential since it will give both the
patient and doctor an idea of how well the sugar is controlled. Periodic
trips to your foot doctor are also needed. Many diabetics have problems with
their feet and if regular monitoring is not followed, subsequent
complications can readily occur. Active ongoing patient participation is an
essential aspect in the clinical management of this disease.
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