Symptoms of Diabetes, Causes Signs, Type 1 Diabetes, Mellitus Type 2 Diabetes.

You should know the detailed information on diabetes, including diabetes symptoms, signs, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and their causes.

Today 240 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. India currently (2009) has 50.8 million people, the highest number, followed by China with 43.2 million and the US with 26.8 million. The annual report of International Diabetic Federation on 2 Nov 2009 projected 58.7 million diabetes cases in India by 2010 and 435 million people worldwide by 2030.

Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases account for 60 % of all deaths worldwide.

Diabetes is a very common disorder that affects the manner in which the body handles carbohydrates, fats and proteins. If neglected, diabetes can have serious complications. Fortunately, with a healthy lifestyle and with diet management you can lead a healthy life. The diabetic people have a high level of blood sugar. The blood sugar level is regulated by insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas). The blood sugar level is regulated by your eating habits.

There are two different types of diabetes.

Type I (Juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes): The reason for type I diabetes is due to pancreas unability to produce insulin. This type of diabetes is usually starts in childhood (childhood diabetes) or adolescence.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown. However, it is known that in majority of Type 1 diabetes cases, the body's own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Once these cells are destroyed, they cannot make insulin again. So people with Type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin.

The cause of autoimmune system not working properly in such cases is still a subject of research.

Risk Factors That May Cause Type 1 Diabetes

No one knows for certain why this happens, the following are possible risk factors for Type 1 diabetes.

1. Genetics
2. Some viruses like mumps, coxsackie virus, or cytomegalovirus.
3. It has also been observed in some babies who develop jaundice or a respiratory infection just after the birth.
4. Early feeding of cow's milk to the child has been linked to an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes Type 2 (non insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes): Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (Type II) is a result of body tissues becoming resistant to insulin. It generally happens to people above 40 years of age and is usually hereditary.

A study (January 2004 issue of the Journal Diabetes Care) suggests that people with a deficiency in magnesium have increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

A high blood sugar level is a symptom of diabetes.

• Excessive urination
• Excessive thirst and hunger
• Sudden weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Delay in healing of wounds
• Dry and itchy skin
• Repeated infections
• Fatigue
• Headache

All or any of these symptoms may be present. However, note that these diabetes symptoms may be due to some other disease so you should consult your Doctor.

Most people want to know if one can diet from diabetes. The answer is yes. The two cases are as under:

1. If you are on insulin: Your blood sugar can go too low because of the insulin. This is called hypoglycemia. If you don't eat some sugar quickly at that time, you can go into a coma, or even die in the worst case. You should eat some sugary food or juice immediately before it goes too low.
2. If your sugar level goes too high: Too high blood sugar is called hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia generally takes much longer to kill than low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). When you have high blood sugar for a long time, you can go blind, lose your limbs, develop kidney problems, become heart patient, etc. You should not eat sugar all the time, because it will spike your blood sugar.