Diabetes: Know
The Facts
By: KC Loesener
Imagine living your life in constant worry regarding your diet, blood sugar levels, medication, excessive urination/thirst, and skin problems to name a few. Diabetes affects many individuals daily and some are not aware that they have the disease. Diabetes is known as the silent killer because for some, this disease does not always manifest the same symptoms in everyone.
There are three different types of diabetes, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes. Diabetes Insipidus can be characterized as a disruption in the body regarding water metabolism, in that the person will suffer from extreme thirst due to the body not being able to produce vasopressin, which is an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) released by the pituitary gland. This deficiency causes excessive urination and dehydration which can cause dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue and poor skin elasticity. This condition can be hereditary or may develop due to trauma to the
hypothalamus, pituitary gland, head trauma, swelling or lesion in the brain. Diagnosis for this illness can be done in two ways a water restriction test where the patient is deprived of fluid intake for several hours or urine gravity testing. These tests help pinpoint the concentration of vasopressin, kidney function, and urine excretion. Treatment options include vasopressin injections, oral medications, and even nasal sprays. Unfortunately, for diabetes insipidus, there are no preventative methods. Patients are urged to see a physician once symptoms present themselves.
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that is caused by the inability to properly metabolize fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. This triggers the body's pancreas to work extra hard to break down fatty, starchy and sugary foods. Since the pancreas is working overtime, it can become exhausted and compromised. This issue causes