A class of illnesses known as diabetes mellitus impact how the body uses glucose, or blood sugar. An essential source of energy for the cells that comprise muscles and tissues is glucose. It is also the primary energy source for the brain.
Diabetes has different primary causes. However, diabetes can result in an excess of sugar in the blood regardless of the type you have. A blood sugar level that is too high can cause major health issues.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are chronic diabetes diseases. Prediabetes and gestational diabetes are two diabetes disorders that may be treated. When blood sugar levels are greater than usual, prediabetes develops. However, the blood sugar isn't elevated enough to qualify as diabetes.When blood sugar levels are greater than usual, prediabetes develops. However, the blood sugar isn't elevated enough to qualify as diabetes. Furthermore, if preventative measures are not implemented, prediabetes might progress to diabetes. Gestational diabetes develops in the course of pregnancy. However, when the baby is born, it can disappear.
Signs and symptoms
Your blood sugar level will determine how severe your diabetes is. Some people may not have symptoms, particularly if they have type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or prediabetes. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes typically appear more severely and rapidly.The following are a few signs of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
- I'm feeling thirstier than normal.
- Frequent urination.
- Reducing weight naturally.
- Ketones are present in the urine. When there is insufficient insulin available, muscle and fat break down, producing ketones as a consequence.
- Feeling feeble and exhausted.
- Having mood swings or feeling agitated.
- Seeing things hazy.
- Having lesions that heal slowly.
- Acquiring numerous illnesses, including skin, vaginal, and mouth infections.
Reasons
In order to comprehend diabetes, one must grasp the typical glucose utilization patterns of the body.
How insulin functions
- The pancreas, a gland located below and behind the stomach, produces the hormone insulin.
- Insulin is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas.
- Insulin circulates, enabling the cells to absorb sugar.
- Sugar levels in the blood are decreased by insulin.
- The pancreas secretes less insulin when blood sugar levels decline.
The function of glucose
- The sugar glucose provides energy to the cells that comprise muscles and other tissues.
- There are two main sources of glucose: food and the liver.
- After being taken into the bloodstream, sugar uses insulin to enter cells.
- Both produces and stores glucose in the liver.
- The liver converts stored glycogen into glucose when blood glucose levels are low, which can happen after a long period of fasting. This maintains your blood sugar levels within normal bounds.
Risk Factors
Diabetes risk factors vary depending on the kind of diabetes. A factor in all kinds of cases may be family history. Geographical location and environmental factors can increase one's risk of type 1 diabetes.Family members of individuals with type 1 diabetes may undergo testing to detect diabetic immune system cells, often known as autoantibodies. You run a higher risk of type 1 diabetes if you have these autoantibodies. Yet not all individuals with these autoantibodies go on to acquire diabetes.
Your chance of getting type 2 diabetes may also be increased by your race or ethnicity. Some groups are more vulnerable than others; the reasons behind this are unknown, but they include Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American individuals.
Obesity increases the risk of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Complications
Diabetes-related long-term consequences appear gradually. The risk of problems increases with the length of time you have diabetes and the degree to which your blood sugar is regulated. Diabetes problems have the potential to become incapacitating or even fatal over time. In actuality, type 2 diabetes can develop from prediabetes. Among the potential issues are:- Illness of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular). The risk of numerous heart issues is significantly increased by diabetes. These include atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease accompanied by angina (chest pain). Heart disease and stroke are more common in those with diabetes.
- Diabetes-related nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy). Excessive sugar consumption can damage the walls of the capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels that supply the nerves, particularly in the legs.This may result in discomfort, tingling, numbness, or burning that typically starts at the tips of the fingers or toes and works its way up.
- Digestion-related nerve damage might result in issues with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. It could result in erectile dysfunction in men.
- Diabetes-related kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy). Millions of microscopic blood vessel clusters called glomeruli, which remove waste from the blood, are found in the kidneys. This delicate filtering system can be harmed by diabetes.
- Diabetes-related eye damage (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetes has the potential to harm the eye's blood vessels. Blindness could result from this.
- Foot harm. Numerous foot issues are more likely to occur in cases of nerve injury or impaired blood supply to the feet.
- Oral and skin ailments. Diabetes may increase your vulnerability to fungal and bacterial infections as well as other skin issues.
- Impairment of hearing. Diabetes patients are more likely to experience hearing issues.
- Alzheimer's condition. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, may become more common in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Diabetes-related depression. Individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes frequently experience symptoms of depression.
Prevention
It is impossible to avoid type 1 diabetes. However, the same healthy lifestyle decisions that are used to treat type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and prediabetes can also be used to avoid them:- Consume wholesome meals. Select foods that are higher in fiber and lower in calories and fat. Emphasize on whole grains, fruits, and veggies. Consume a range of foods to prevent boredom.
- Increase your level of physical activity. On most days of the week, aim to engage in moderate aerobic activity for around 30 minutes. Alternatively, try to get 150 minutes or more a week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise. For instance, go for a daily, vigorous walk. If a lengthy workout is out of the question, divide it up into shorter ones spaced out throughout the day.
- Reduce the extra weight.Reducing even 7% of your body weight will help lessen your chances of developing diabetes if you are overweight. For instance, reducing 14 pounds (6.4 kg) can reduce the risk of diabetes if you weigh 200 pounds (90.7 kg).
- However, avoid trying to reduce weight while expecting. Find out from your healthcare practitioner how much weight gain is normal for you during pregnancy.
- Make long-term adjustments to your food and exercise routines to maintain a healthy weight. Recall the advantages of weight loss, including improved energy, a stronger heart, and increased self-esteem.
Drugs are a possibility sometimes. Type 2 diabetes risk may be decreased by oral diabetes medications like metformin. However, adopting a healthy lifestyle is crucial. Check your blood sugar at least once a year if you have prediabetes to be sure you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.