.jpg)
Diabetes Mellitus commonly referred to as Diabetes, is a condition which develops when there is too much sugar in the blood. This happens because the body is not producing enough insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels. There are three types of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes, is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Type 1 usually affects children and young adults and is often referred to as Insulin Dependent Diabetes (IDDM). It is treated with injected insulin, accompanied with adjusted lifestyle and dietary requirements.
Type 2 Diabetes, occurs because target tissues in the body are insulin resistant. This is also referred to as Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes (NIDDM). Type 2 usually occurs later life, especially if a person is considerably overweight, or if there is a family link. It is usually managed with a combination of lifestyle changes, i.e. diet, exercise, and can be controlled with tablets, injections and, insulin supplementation.
Gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), is similar to type 2 diabetes because the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance.
All three types of diabetes are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia.
Characteristic symptoms of diabetes are:
If diabetes is not regularly monitored then it can lead to many serious complications such as, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal damage (which can lead to blindness), nerve damage (of several kinds), and micro vascular damage, which may cause impotence and poor healing.
In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly, and the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults. In the United States, the main requirement for renal dialysis is for Diabetic Nephropathy.
You Are Not Alone
Diabetes does not discriminate. Famous diabetics past or present have included Halle Berry, Earnest Hemingway, Sir Steve Redgrave, Elizabeth Taylor, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Miles Davis, Sharon Stone, George Lucas, Jonny Cash, Mae West, Jerry Garcia and Billy Jean Kingup
The Patients Voice The Patients Voice is one of the many patient-focused services from Healthcare Landscape. Healthcare Landscape is a medical and healthcare research company, which conducts interviews with all the different kinds of people involved in the healthcare process. They range from patients and their carers, to medical professionals like nurses, pharmacists, physicians and academics. Our mission is to find out what they think and what their experiences have been.
We can interview over the web, at home or at a special research facility; depending on what type of study it is, the choice is often yours. We also run patient diaries and blogs, so you can air your views as honestly and informally as you like. We want to ensure that you have access to the best research experience, and in turn, our clients will learn from your story. Our clients are quite diverse. They range from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, to charities and government bodies. The Patients Voice is open to anyone in the world who wants to give an opinion and would like to try to make a difference. This forum gives you power by allowing you to get YOUR VOICE HEARD.
You should always consult your physician regarding any medical issues. While we attempt to make sure the information on this site is as accurate as possible consulting a medical professional is always to be advised.
Membership of the Patients Voice is Free and open to anyone.
To become a member of the Patients Voice please enter your email below and click Submit.
Bookmark with: