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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Diabetic condition

Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot control sugar levels in the blood. This can create all kinds of symptoms, from excessive thirst to loss of consciousness. There are over 120 million people with diabetes worldwide. However, most of them are able to live normal lives because their diabetes is carefully controlled with insulin, drugs, and in some cases with diet alone. Since a dlabetic crisis can be life-threatering it is important to recognize the signs of an impending episode and to take appropriate first-aid action.

Causes of diabetes

Both types of diabetes can sometimes run in families. Condifions that may lead to diabetes include obesity and disorders of glands such as the pancreas (pancreatitis, for example), the adrenals and the thyroid. However, very little is really known about the causes.

How is diabetes treated?

In both types of diabetes diet is crucial, with plenty of complex carbohydrates (e.g. brown rice, wholemeal bread) and low in sugar and fat. It may help to lose weight, exercise regularly and stop smoking, but always consult your doctor about diet and exercise first. Type 1 requires daily injections of insulin; Type 2 can often be controlled by diet alone, but sometimes tablets and occasionally insulin are needed.

What can go wrong?

There are some long-term health risks associated with diabetes, but the only likely emergencies are hypoglycaemia or, less commonly, hyperglycaemia.

Hypoglycaemia

This crisis, often called a "hypo" or "low", results fiom too little blood sugar. It can be caused by lack of food, too much exercise, shock or stress, and can be so sudden that the person is unable to take the necessary action, (Generally, eating some form of sugar).

Hyperglycaemia

This results from too high a level of blood sugar, sometimes caused by too much food, forgetting to take tablets, or by a virus. It develops more slowly than hypoglycaemia, except in children or with viruses, but is more difficult to treat and likely to need medical attention. A viral illness unsettles the blood sugar balance, making a person with diabetes dehydrated, with abnormal levels of sodium and potassium and acid in the blood. This makes them very ill and may even lead to a coma.