This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

HealthLine: When Sugar Is Not So Sweet

One blood test can save your life.

Diabetes Mellitus, known to laypersons as diabetes, is a medical condition whereby the individual has high blood sugar from either the body not producing insulin, or the cells of the body not responding to the insulin which is being produced.

As of 2000, the World Health Organization estimates that 2.8 percent of the worldwide population or 171 million people suffer from diabetes.  It is predicted that by 2030, more than twice that many people will have developed diabetes.  Currently, diabetes is most common in developed countries with a diet consisting of more fats and food additives and a more sedentary lifestyle.  The biggest increase in newly diagnosed diabetic patients is expected to be in Asia and Africa.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type I, Type II and Gestational.  Type I diabetes occurs in approximately 5 to 10 percent of the population and is manifested as the body’s failure to produce insulin requiring the person to obtain insulin injections.  Onset is usually sudden, more commonly in younger patients who are thin and will more frequently result in what is known as “ketoacidosis” which is a serious and potentially life threatening condition caused by the build-up of lactic acid in the patient’s blood stream.

Find out what's happening in Enumclawwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Type II diabetes is more prevalent and accounts for 90 to 95 percent of case of diabetes in the U.S.  The body develops an insulin resistance and will not respond to the insulin which is being produced by the body.  The syndrome will build up gradually over time, and the patient oftentimes is diagnosed with hyperglycemia or pre-diabetic before meeting the criteria for true diabetes.  Age of onset is generally in adulthood, associated with obesity and can commonly be managed with diet or oral medications.  The incidence of ketoacidosis is rare.

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed in pregnant women who never previously had diabetes. Their blood glucose is high during pregnancy and may indicate a forerunner of Type II diabetes later in life.  It occurs in approximately 2 to 5 percent of pregnancies, and 20 to 50 percent of these women will develop diabetes thereafter.

Find out what's happening in Enumclawwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Classic symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst and increased hunger.  Enhanced glucose absorption can result in abnormalities of the lens of the eye resulting in the patient complaining of blurred vision.  Patients may note numbness or tingling of the extremities, weakness, fatigue, sores which do not heal and unexplained rashes.  In cases of ketoacidosis, the patient will have an acetone smell, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and decreased level of consciousness.  More commonly noted in Type II diabetics is dehydration, which can progress to a state of coma.  If a patient has been ingesting sugar-laden drinks to combat the thirst, it will result in a vicious circle of water loss.

The entire spectrum of the patient’s presenting complaints needs to be assessed before assigning the diagnoses of diabetes, as it will have longterm effects on the patient if the patient is not properly diagnosed.  The cornerstone to the World Health Organization diagnosis of diabetes is a persistently elevated fasting blood sugar level of 126.  This is why annual doctor’s visits with lab testing are so crucial to recognizing this illness in its early stages.

Treatment modalities include lifestyle changes, oral medications or insulin injections if the patient’s glucose cannot be controlled with conservative measures.  The value of daily exercise and a diabetic diet consisting of low fats, low sugars and restricted carbohydrates is the mainstay of treatment.  The presence of diabetes doubles a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

Take sugar and carbohydrates in moderation.  The kid in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" drowned in the vat of chocolate for a reason!

Dr. Ballard is a Board Certified Internist and Geriatrician with a special interest in Women’s Health.  She practices in Enumclaw, 360-825-1389.  Dr. Ballard’s comments are informational only and not to be construed as medical advice.  Consult your personal physician for any medical issues.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Enumclaw