Diabetes

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Diabetes may be defined as a condition in which the affected individual experiences Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level) over a prolonged period of time. Like several other disorders, there are symptoms which are displayed by people who are affected by Diabetes and some of this symptoms include fatigue, excessive thirst, intense hunger, frequent urination, weight gain, weight loss, sexual dysfunction among males, etc.

According to the WHO Diagnostic Criteria, an individual whose fasting blood glucose level exceeds 126 mg/dl can be said to be a diabetic.

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There are three main types of diabetes and these are Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes. These types of Diabetes are explained below.

• Gestational Diabetes: This is a type of diabetes which affects pregnant women who previously had no history of diabetes. It causes them to experience a case of high levels of sugar.

• Type 1 diabetes: This is a type of diabetes which occurs due to the inability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin to oxidise the glucose found in the blood stream into energy.

• Type 2 diabetes: This is a condition which is characterized by insulin resistance. When a person has this disorder, their cells do not efficiently respond to insulin. Eventually, a lack of insulin may take place in the latter stages of the disease.
  
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Management of Diabetes

Except in some very specific conditions, there is no known cure for diabetes. However, the patient can live a better life by engaging in regular exercises and following a prescribed dietary pattern. The patient can also take injections or oral medications such as Glibenclamide, Metformin, etc.

In cases of people with severe complications of their type 1 diabetes, transplanting of the pancreas may be considered. A few years ago, Insulin inhalers were produced but they were withdrawn as a result of some side effects experienced by their users.

As a result of the side effects associated with the current medications used in the management of diabetes, research is being done into various natural products such as parts of the plants of Bitter leaf, Garlic, Date palm, Okra, etc with the hopes that drugs fashioned after the components of this plant materials can be synthesized and used in the management and maybe even the treatment of diabetes.

With new technological advances, the future seems to be a better place for diabetes patients. One day, diabetes could become like common cold which an affected individual can just visit the pharmacy and get a drug for it.