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Causes and Treatment Options for Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a cluster of metabolic diseases characterized by increased levels of glucose, or blood sugar, which results in abnormal changes in the way insulin is secreted. Elevated levels of blood sugar lead to the spillage of glucose into the urine. Normally, insulin is able to tightly control blood glucose levels. Insulin is able to balance the blood glucose levels. Insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level when the blood glucose elevates, upon food consumption.
The impact of diabetes can be devastating, both in the united states and abroad. Eventually across the number of years or lifespan diabetes can lead to nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure. Diabetes can also be a contributing factor in the development of arthrosclerosis. Arthrosclerosis is a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, a precursor to cardiac ailments like coronary heart disease, stroke, and other blood vessel diseases. Approximately fifteen million people in the united states alone are infected. As many as 12 million people in the U.S. may have the disease and aren't aware of it. In 1997 alone, and estimated 98 billion dollars were spent treating this disease in just the U.S. During 1997, approximately 13.6 million days of hospitalization were attributed to diabetes. In 1997, 30 million doctor's office visits were ascribed to diabetes.
Please note that these statistics only portray numbers in the U.S. population. Across nations the figures are staggering.
There are a number of acute complications of diabetes mellitus.
- Severely elevated blood sugar readings caused by a lack of insulin production and a deficiency of insulin.
- Very low blood sugar levels due to insulin overproduction or other glucose lowering medications.
There are also a number of chronic complications caused by the diabetes disease. One group of complications are related to the blood vessels of the body and are classified into small vessel diseases. These diseases affect the kidneys eyes and nerves. There are also large vessel diseases affect the heart and blood vessels.
Click below for some of our links about diabetes related problems and treatment options.
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