Delightful Diabetes # 2 What is Diabetes?

Delightful Diabetes # 2

When we talk about diabetes, perhaps it would be good to know what we are talking about. Diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease. That is, because something in the body isn't functioning properly, the body begins to harm itself. Autoimmune disease can be so serious as to cause even death.

In the case of diabetes, the body isn't properly utilizing insulin. Either it isn't producing insulin as it should (type 1 diabetes) or the body becomes resistant to the insulin it does produce (type 2). Why is insulin so important? Insulin is a hormone that enables the body's cells to take in glucose (sugar) for energy to work as they should. Without insulin, the body can't get energy to function normally.

What causes diabetes? As I studied this issue, I came away both fascinated and frightened. Over the years doctors have talked to me about being genetically predisposed, being overweight, about having high blood pressure, about having high cholesterol levels, and the need to exercise. At that time it was easy for me to compartmentalize each of these as a separate issue. However, now that I have diabetes and have learned more about it, I realize that all of these factors have contributed to the onset of diabetes. Not only that, but once diabetes is present, it begins another chain reaction in the body if it is not controlled. Untreated diabetes can lead to kidney, heart, eye, dental, skin, neuropathic (nerve, in this case of feet particularly) complications that tend to be very serious conditions. Yikes! Now, it's not like being shot with a marshmallow gun...it's like having a bomb dropped on me! (Perhaps members of the medical profession should try to do more to give the "big picture" that can develop from this series of "thumbnail" pictures. Or, to use another metaphor, a single pixel doesn't a TV picture make; it takes many of them together to provide a proper image and understanding.)

Here is the math: genetics + overweight + high blood pressure + high cholesterol + lack of exercise = DIABETES.
Its corollary: diabetes + kidney problems + heart issues + eye complications + dental problems + poor skin conditions + foot-nerve trouble = ...
well, they add up to serious health problems, possibly even DEATH. It is estimated that diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death, and the 5th cause of disease-related death.

Ah, if only I had known and realized all of this years ago...I might not be where I am now. I might not even be writing this blog. But I am, so I want to pass on to others what I have experienced and learned.