Diabetes Management

Stroke is caused by the poor blood flow to the brain which causes cell death. There are three types of strokes

Diabetes is a serious lifelong health condition that occurs when the amount of Glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. 

Insulin released by the pancreas moves glucose into our cells where it is used as fuel for energy.

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a lifelong condition characterized by high blood sugar resulting
from:

• Lack or insufficient production of insulin
• Insulin resistance (inaction)
• Our body needs glucose (from food) to make energy.
• Insulin is a chemical produced by the pancreas which helps the body to utilize glucose. It acts like a key that opens the body cells for glucose to enter so that it can be used for energy production.
• When cells do not take up glucose it overflows and floods the blood system, this is then referred to as high blood sugar or hyperglycemia

.TYPES OF DIABETES
There are 2 Main types of Diabetes

Type 1

• Results from absolute lack of insulin
• It is of a sudden onset and can develop at any age but usually occurs before the age of 30, and especially in childhood. The causes of this are when the pancreas cannot produce insulin. Account for about 5 to 10% of all cases of diabetes.
• People with type 1 diabetes need insulin for survival.

Type 2

• Type 2 diabetes develops when the body cannot make enough insulin or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).
• Usually appears in people over the age of 40, but it is becoming more common in the young.
• It can be controlled by a healthy diet, increased physical activity and oral drugs and later may eventually require insulin for control. Diabetes during Pregnancy (Gestational diabetes)
• Diabetes detected for the first time during pregnancy.
• GDM occurs because the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra needs of pregnancy.
• GDM usually disappears after giving birth and may indicate an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
They include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unexplained weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Itching of the private parts in women
• Slow healing of cuts and wounds
• Impotence-failure to sustain an erection.
• Numbness, burning sensations ,pins and needles of the feet and hands NB: a person can be living with diabetes without experiencing the
  symptoms, thus regular blood sugar testing is recommended.

Diabetic complications can be:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic kidney disease
• Eye diseases
• Neuropathic pain
• High risk of getting infections and eventually leading to amputations of body part. Most commonly diabetic foot
• Cerebrovascular disease