Diabetes Mellitus
Sheridan Blasche
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes is chronic lifelong condition that affects your body's ability to use the energy found in food. Usually your body breaks down the sugars and carbohydrates you eat into glucose. This fuels the cells in your body and the cells need insulin. In this case either your body doesn't make enough insulin, it can't use the insulin it does produce, or a combination of both.
Causes and Complications
Causes
- your age
- family history
- being overweight
- diseases of the pancreas
- genetic and environmental factors
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- eye, nerve, and foot damage
- skin problems
- dental problems
- hearing impairment
Testing and Treatments
Testing
- blood glucose test- measures the glucose in blood
- hemoglobin A1c test- shows how well diabetes is being controlled
- urine tests- detects kidney disease and high blood pressure
- insulin- injections or a pump
- monitoring your blood sugar
- pancreas transplant
Preventions and Life Outlook
Preventions
- manage your blood pressure
- keep weight within or near a healthy range
- get 30 minutes of exercise on most days
- eat a balanced diet
- lifelong condition
- have to take insulin injections
- may shorten lifespan depending on your condition
- doctor visits periodically
Works Cited
Websites
- "Diabetes Mellitus: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
"Diabetes Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 1998. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.