Show MEDICALLY SPEAKING By ny Dr David Evans Vernal Family Health Center Diabetes What is diabetes and what are the the symptoms by II U. T T. T Vernal Diabetes i betes is a disease in which the body docs does not make proper use of ot certain foods specifically carbohydrates in the form of ot sugars and starches Diabetes Is elther caused by too little insulin or by a defect in the action of insulin Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas gland In the human body sugar sugar or gluc glucose se cannot enter the cells to be utilized as asen en energy gy unless a key is present insulin which allows the movement of ot the glucose from the bloodstream to the cells Heredity plays an important part It is true that a child may have diabetes when neither of the parents has it but if you examine the family tree you will more th than n likely find a a relative who has diabetes How many people have diabetes The exact number is not known because many people have the disorder and are not aware of it Among adults age 60 40 years old old it is estimated ted that orie one in every every 50 has diabetes But in children under 10 it is is only about J 1 in every 1200 who has diabetes I Can anything be done to prevent the onset of diabetes No Nol Certain things may precipitate te diabetes at an an early age but usually ally only in hi families where there is the inherited tendency There is rio no evidence that eating a lot of sweets causes diabetes The symptoms of diabetes are not always obvious and are often nonexistent The onset of severe diabetes is characterized characterized characterized charac charac- by frequent urination extreme thirst and constant hunger The kidneys excrete increased amounts of water Inan Inan in inan an effort to remove excess sugar from the blood and this leads to frequent urination and nd extreme thirst Other symptoms symptoms symptoms toms include tiring easily losing weight Itching and slow healing of oC infections What are the complications ns of diabetes Diabetes is the fifth firth leading cause of death by disease in the U. U S S. S It Is the second leading cause of blindness After the disease has been present for a a number of C years ears the diabetic is likely to develop the chronic c complications of ot kidney damage heart disease changes in small blood vessels causing decreased circulation to legs and feet Careful attention attention attention at at- to diet medication and hy hygiene lene in the early stages of diabetes may postpone or reduce the risk of com com- If H a person suspects that he himself or one of his family members is an an undiscovered diabetic he should cont contact ct his physician Dr Evans will answer questions of general interest through ugh this column If you have questions or any or com corn comments ments meniS please send them to the Vernal Express 1 |