Finding A Cure For Diabetes, A Disease Effecting Two-Hundred Million People

Scientists
have discovered a way to transform pancreatic cells into
insulin-producing beta cells. While there is still work to be done,
this accomplishment comes at a very necessary time and gives hope to
many for better treatments and possibly a cure for Diabetes.
This discovery will help sufferers of both type 1 and type 2
diabetes.

People
with diabetes have damage done to their pancreas, specifically the
cells that produce insulin. Insulin
is important because it helps the body capture and store glucose, a
necessary source of energy in the body. When the body cannot produce
enough insulin, your body is unable to properly regulate it’s blood
sugar and the results can be deadly.

Diabetes
threatens the lives of one in three Americans. According the
American
Diabetes Association,
“[d]iabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or
properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert
sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.”
The Center
for Disease Control
promotes awareness and prevention of this disease. The exact cause
for Diabetes remains unknown, but certain factors such as lack of
exercise, obesity, unhealthy cholesterol, smoking, high blood
glucose, high blood pressure and physical inactivity tend to relate
to the disease.

Diabetes
threatens heart attacks, strokes, limb amputation, blindness and
kidney failure. Because many Americans remain undiagnosed for 10 to
12 years, medical professionals are reaching out to share critical
information. One professional, Stephen Freed, seeks to combat the problem by informing
pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, doctors, PA’s and any
other medical professionals, about the symptoms and treatment of
Diabetes.

The
Center for Disease Control recommends that the best way to combat
Diabetes is to remain active and eat right. One can also test his or
her predisposition to Diabetes by taking a risk
test.
There are three types of Diabetes: Type
1,
Type
2,
and Gestational.

Type
1 Diabetes, previously known as insulin dependent diabetes, is an
“auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system destroys the
insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas.” Type 2 Diabetes,
previously known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is the most
common form of diabetes and is characterized as insulin resistant or
insulin deficient.

Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus is first diagnosed during pregnancy and it can be
characterized as carbohydrate intolerance. While the carbohydrate
intolerance usually returns to normal, women who suffer from
Gestational Diabetes are at a higher risk of developing permanent
Diabetes.

Some
symptoms
to look out for include a greater need to urinate, frequent hunger or
thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, tingling/numbness in hands or
feet, feeling tired, very dry skin, slow-healing sores and
infections. If you are feeling any combination of these symptoms see
your health care provider for testing.