What Is
UW~~ (2
Diabetes Basics What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes often occur
Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with
suddenly and can be severe. They include:
type 2 diabetes produce insulin. However, the
insulin their pancreas secretes is either not • Increased thirst
enough or the body is unable to recognize the • Increased hunger (especially after eating)
insulin and use it properly. When there isn't • Dry mouth
enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss (even though you are
should be, glucose can't get into the body's
eating and feel hungry)
cells.
Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Blurred vision
Type 2 Diabetes Labored, heavy breathing (Kussmaul respirations)
• Loss of consciousness (rare)
• Slow-healing sores or cuts
• Itching of the skin (usually in the vaginal or groin
area)
2. Glucose enters
the bloodstream. Yeast infections
Recent weight gain
• Numbness or tingling of the hands and feet
• Low blood glucose levels
• Impotence or erectile dysfunction
[Link] can't You hold the key to managing your diabetes by:
get Into ttle
cells of the • Planning what you eat and following a balanced
body. Glucose meal plan
3. The pancreas bollds up In
makes Insulin. • Exercising regularly
the blood • Taking medicine, (and closely following the guide-
4. Insulin enters vessels. lines on how and when to take it)
the bloodstream. • Monitoring your blood glucose and blood pressure
levels at home
• Keeping your appointments with your health care
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of providers (and having laboratory tests as ordered
diabetes. While over 910/0 of these cases can by your doctor)
be prevented, it remains for adults the
leading cause of diabetes-related
Remember: What you do at home every day
complications such as blindness, non-
affects your blood glucose more than what
traumatic amputations and chronic kidney your doctor can do every few months during
failure requiring dialysis. your checkups.
Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people over
age 40 who are overweight, but can occur in For more information, talk to your doctor or visit the
people who are not overweight. Type 2 Health Education Division
diabetes has started to appear in children Ministry of Health, P.O. Box N-3729
because of the rise in obesity in young Telephone: (242) 322-1187 or 322-1025
Fax: (242) 328-0079
people. healtheducationdivision@[Link]
[Link]
Adapted from, and images courtesy of, [Link]
What Is
UW[P~ 51
Diabetes Basics
To keep your blood glucose levels from getting
Diabetes is a number of diseases that involve too low (hypo-glycemia, or low blood sugar),
problems with the hormone insulin. Normally, your body signals you to eat and releases
the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach), some glucose from the stores kept in the liver.
releases insulin to help your body store and
use the sugar and fat, from the foods you eat. People with diabetes either don't make insulin,
or their body's cells are no longer able to
Diabetes occurs: recognize insulin, leading to high blood sugar
levels (hyper-glycemia). By definition, diabetes
• When the pancreas does not produce any
in having a blood glucose level of 126
insulin
milligrams per deciliter (mgjdL) or more, after
• When the pancreas produces very little
an overnight fast (not eating anything).
insulin
• When the body does not respond
Types of Diabetes:
appropriately to insulin, a condition called
"insulin resistance." Type 1 Diabetes most commonly starts in
people under the age of 20, but may occur at
Diabetes is a life-long disease. As yet, there is any age. This type of diabetes occurs because
no cure. People with diabetes need to manage the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas
their disease to stay healthy. (called beta cells) are destroyed by the
immune system. People with Type 1 Diabetes
The Role Of Insulin in Diabetes produce no insulin and must use insulin
To understand why insulin is important, it injections to control their blood glucose.
helps to know more about how the body uses
food for energy. Your body is made up of
Type 1 Diabetes
millions of cells. To make energy, these cells
• The stomach
need food in a very simple form. When you eat changes food
or drink, much of your food is broken down I 0 glucose.
into a simple sugar called "glucose". Then,
glucose is transported through the
bloodstream to the cells of your body where it
can be used to provide some of the energy
your body needs for daily activities.
The amount of glucose in your bloodstream is
tightly regulated by the hormone insulin. S. Gluoosebids
Insulin is always being released in small up n the
bloodstream.
amounts by the pancreas. When the amount of
3. The pancreas
glucose in your blood rises to a certain level, makes little or
the pancreas will release more insulin to push no nsulln.
more glucose in to the cells. This causes the
4. I Ie or no insulin
glucose levels in your blood (blood glucose en ers the bloodstream.
level) to drop.
