Simply defined, diabetes is a health condition where the blood sugar is higher than normal. The cause may be that the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells are not able to use the insulin that is produced. Warning signs and symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, thirst and increased hunger. Diabetes is manifested in three different ways, called types:
The question of what causes diabetes is not entirely understood although it's believed that Type 1 diabetes is inherited, at least in part, although there is some evidence that a virus named Coxsackie B4 may be involved. It is felt that Type 2 diabetes results from particular lifestyle factors, as well as genetics. Recent research indicates that getting too little sleep may be a factor in onset of Type 2 diabetes. There is a correlation between weight gain and sleep deprivation, the studies have revealed; but it's also implicated in the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that serves a regulating function in the flow of glucose from blood to cells. Carbohydrates go to the digestive system where they are processed. Insulin is released into the blood by the pancreas in response to the digestion of the carbohydrates and is used by the body's cells to turn the glucose from the blood into fuel or to be stored. Abnormally high insulin levels may increase cell growth and fat storage. Low insulin levels bring on ketosis, also known as the fat-burning stage. If the process doesn't work because insulin levels are low or if the cells resist the insulin, glucose won't be absorbed by body cells that need it. When that happens, blood sugar levels soar. Blood volume is reduced, and water rushes in to replace it; this is what brings on increased thirst and urination, the most noticeable first symptoms of diabetes.If you are diabetic, you are at higher risk for developing infections, including periodontal diseases. These infections can impair the ability to process and/or utilize insulin, which may cause your diabetes to be more difficult to control and your infection to be more severe than a non-diabetic.
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