in the feet or leg cramps at night. High glucose levels make it easier for bacteria to grow and may result in various skin infections. If hyperglycemia is not treated, the result can be diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) coma. When there is a lack of insulin, the body looks for alternative fuel. That alternative fuel is fat. When fat is broken down into energy, it produces a poisonous waste called ketones. Ketones will accumulate in the blood and eventually the urine. Eventually if the condition is not treated, the person will lose consciousness and possibly die. Insulin-dependent diabetes affects males and females equally. Treatment for Type I diabetes includes daily injections of insulin to help the body use the glucose it needs. Insulin treatment is often balanced with diet and exercise. Most people with Type I diabetes must take insulin on a daily basis. The insulin is injected beneath the skin into the body’s subcutaneous tissue. If it were taken orally in pill form, the stomach’s digestive juices would destroy the hormone before it worked. The symptoms of Type I often seem to come on suddenly and in some crisis situations the person’s life may even be at risk unless immediate medical attention is sought. Unlike people with Type II diabetes, who tend to be overweight, those with Type I are frequently lean. There are key signs in Type I diabetes which are a significant weight loss in a short period of time by someone who hasn’t been dieting, excessive urination and drinking, irritability, and nausea and vomiting. Effectively controlling Type I diabetes largely depends on achieving a correct balance of food, exercise, and insulin. While hyperglycemia may result when a person with diabetes’ blood sugar level soars, another dangerous condition can occur when the opposite is true. Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar or an insulin reaction, appears when the blood sugar level drops. In a person with Type I d...
