Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus as it is called in the medical world refers to a health situation where a person has a blood sugar or glucose level above the normal range. It is a consequence of the body being unable to produce enough insulin to remove glucose in the blood stream, or due to body cells not responding properly to the insulin produced. Insulin is a hormone that serves as a catalyst to make the body cells absorb the glucose from the blood.

If you have a vague idea about this dreadful disease, learn more about it with these 7 basic facts on diabetes:

1. The World Health Organization says diabetes is widespread with at least 2.8 percent of the world population experiencing one form or another, and they believe the figures will only rise in the foreseeable future unless experts raise awareness about diabetes.

2. An important detail about diabetes is that there are two main kinds of the condition referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetes Type 1 is easier to treat as it only results from the person’s body being unable to produce enough insulin to answer the body’s needs. People suffering from this condition have to inject insulin from the outside to meet the body’s requirements. This will have to be done during the entire life of the patient unless some form of transplantation of the pancreas is done. It is a result of autoimmunity as the body destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas.

On the other hand, when we talk about diabetes Type 2, it results when the body cells become resistant to insulin and not responding to it accordingly. This can be treated with the use of certain drugs; however it is not curable at present.

3. Research about diabetes has discovered other forms, some of which are harder to treat, as they root from genetic abnormalities. For instance, pregnant women experiencing high glucose levels during the duration of their pregnancy are said to suffer from gestational diabetes.

4. The main thing people need to know about diabetes is that all forms of the illness can be controlled through medicine though they do not promise a cure for it.

5. The danger about Diabetes is that without sufficient treatment all the forms can easily lead to complications and life threatening levels. These include hypoglycemia, eye damage, kidney problems, heart problems and coma.

6. You can watch out for early signs of diabetes. Frequent thirst and need to pass urine and increase in hunger are common reasons to have yourself tested about diabetes. Depending on type, the symptoms you may experience can vary from a few weeks to some years. The diagnosis about diabetes is accomplished through blood tests.

7. Some of the early steps in dealing with diabetes include making the necessary changes in one’s lifestyle. People at risk about diabetes need to reduce sugar intake, quit smoking and watch one’s weight. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol is vital for people who are experiencing this condition.