Diabetes

Diabetes is usually a lifelong (chronic) disease in which is characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood.

Causes

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or both.

To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food is digested:

• A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body.
• An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel.

People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their body cannot move sugar into the fat, liver, and muscle cells to be stored for energy. This is because either:

• Their pancreas does not make enough insulin
• Their cells do not respond to insulin normally
• Both of the above

There are two major types of diabetes. The causes and risk factors are different for each type:

• Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in children, teens, or young adults. In this disease, the body makes little or no insulin. Daily injections of insulin are needed. The exact cause is unknown.
• Type 2 diabetes makes up most diabetes cases. It most often occurs in adulthood. But because of high obesity rates, teens and young adults are now being diagnosed with it. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it.

MedlinePlus (2014) Diabetes. [Online]Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001214.htm [Accessed: 30 September 2014]

Obesity

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height.

Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might affect your weight include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active

MedlinePlus (2014) Obesity. [Online] Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html [Accessed 5 October 2014]

Nutrition

Nutrition is the intake of food, considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs. Good nutrition – an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity – is a cornerstone of good health.

Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity.

World Health Organization (2014) Nutrition. [Online] Available from: http://www.who.int/topics/nutrition/en/ [Accessed 9 October 2014]

Endocrine diseases

Your endocrine system includes eight major glands throughout your body. These glands make hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers. They travel through your bloodstream to tissues or organs. Hormones work slowly and affect body processes from head to toe. These include:

• Growth and development
• Metabolism – digestion, elimination, breathing, blood circulation and maintaining body temperature
• Sexual function
• Reproduction
• Mood

If your hormone levels are too high or too low, you may have a hormone disorder. Hormone diseases also occur if your body does not respond to hormones the way it is supposed to. Stress, infection and changes in your blood’s fluid and electrolyte balance can also influence hormone levels.

MedlinePlus (2014) Endocrine Diseases. [Online] Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinediseases.html [ Accessed 9October 2014]

Here is a list of diseases included within this category: