Valuable years of life despite diabetes
You also belong to the large group of diabetics! You should read this brochure, irrespective of whether you are "a newly discovered" diabetic Oi have known of your illness for some time. You will find some things that are new to you. You were no doubt shocked when the doctor said to you, "You have diabetes!" Your normal capabilities should not be affected provided several changes are made to your present way of life.
A diabetic has "qualified good health"
Everything depends on your co-operation!
Thanks to the great advances in diabetes research, you-a diabetic-can nowadays lead almost the same life as healthy persons. But one thing is quite decisive: the success of medical treatment is substantially dependent upon your cooperation. For this reason, you should at first learn as much as possible about this metabolic disorder. This brochure will help you to gain the necessary knowledge. It will then no longer be difficult for you to build the doctor's instructions meaningfully into your every-day life.
The diabetic is accompanied by his· disease for the rest of his life. It is, however, not simply a fate to which one is cast, but a task which can be overcome. Those who follow the directions of their doctor have the chance-even as diabetics-of leading a full life.
An almost normal life will be enjoye( provided medical advice is heeded!
Thirst, tiredness and lassitude, changes in weight, increased passing of urine and itching-these were perhaps the symptoms that took you to the doctor. He found a high blood sugar level and sugar in the urine.
You no doubt know that every person has a certain quantity of sugar in his bloodabout 1 g of sugar in 1 litre of blood. Expressed in medical terms: 5.5 mmol/1. Your blood sugar, however, was substantially higher-a sure sign of diabetes mellitus.
The level of the blood sugar value is the important factor!
In many cases diabetes is a painless disease. You may have thought: "but I am not ill; I haven't any pain even if the doctor has found a high blood sugar level."
Often, but not always, the warning signal of pain is missing!
Get to know your diabetes mellitus
Here's what should ring alarm bells: . At your doctor's you probably heard for the first time the diagnosis "diabetes mellitus", without knowing precisely whal this means. Diabetes-the word comes from the Greek language-means "to pass through, to flow through", and mellitus means "sweet". Hence, this is merely a description of what is happenin( in your body: a fluid containing sugar passes through your body.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Under the influence of the hormone insulinwhich is of vital necessity and which is formed in the pancreas-sugar is converted into heat and muscle power. If too little insulin is formed in the body, ther one becomes diabetic. The sugar is no longer adequately utili sed; the sugar content of the blood rises, and the unuse( sugar is excreted in the urine. Lipid metabolism is also often deranged.
There is a malfunction of the pancreas
No doubt you first asked yourself why you of all people should become diabetic. Do you have diabetic blood relatives? Diabetes is in many cases hereditary.
The hereditary factor plays a role
However, the disposition alone is not enough: further factors must be added to this. In adult diabetics, this is primarily the factor of overweight; in diabetic children or juveniles, the initiating factor can be puberty or episodes of rapid growth.