World Diabetes Day
The hormone insulin helps a cell absorb glucose from the blood. For a long time, insulin was extracted from the pancreas of cattle or pigs, purified and administered to humans. Today, genetically modified bacteria or yeast is used to produce a perfect copy of human insulin. Insulin cannot be taken as a pill as it will then be broken down during digestion. It must be injected into the fat under the skin.
There are many types of insulin available. These differ in how they are made, how they work in the body, and price. However, each person responds to insulin in his or her own way. That is why the type or dose of insulin prescribed to each individual may vary. Reluctance to use insulin is a well-established problem among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Here are some common myths about insulin and the actual facts.
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes mellitus world and is held on November 14 each year. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world. WDD is a campaign that features a new theme chosen by the International Diabetes Federation each year to address issues facing the global diabetes community. While the campaigns last the whole year, the day itself marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
What is diabetes
Diabetes affects blood glucose levels. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose or sugar for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. In diabetic condition, the body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugars to build up increasing the blood glucose level and disturb the metabolic functions of vital organs in the body. If left untreated, diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputations.
Major types of diabetes & symptoms
# Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent): Requires insulin to treat, is typically developed as a child or young adult and is a disease that destroys pancreatic cells meaning no insulin production is possible. The symptoms include high levels of sugar in the blood and urine, frequent urination, hunger, thirst, weight loss, weakness, tiredness, mood swings, nausea and vomiting
# Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes): Is considerably more common and typically affects people over the age of 45, who are also overweight. Those suffering from type 2 are unable to produce enough insulin and sugar builds up in the bloodstream. The symptoms include thirst and regular need to urinate, tiredness, irritability and nausea. Skin infections, blurry vision, tingling or dry skin are also common symptoms.
Diabetes Education and Prevention is the WDD theme for the period 2009-2013. The campaign slogan for 2010 is 'Let's take control of diabetes. Now.'Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/2010/11/world-diabetes-day.html
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