Diabetes: Everything You Need To Know About Diabetes | Symptoms, Causes, Risks, Treatment

More than 1 in 10 Americans, or approximately 40.1 million people, have diabetes. But the good news is that diabetes can be managed, and Type 2 diabetes can be delayed and even prevented.

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a chronic disease that occurs when your blood glucose levels are too high. Glucose, also known as blood sugar, is your body’s primary source of energy.

When you eat, your body breaks food down into glucose, which then enters your bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone produced by your pancreas, helps glucose move from your bloodstream into your cells so it can be used for energy. Diabetes develops when your pancreas cannot produce insulin, or at least not enough of it, or when your body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

Over time, diabetes can cause serious complications, such as:

• Diabetes-related eye disease

• Foot problems

• Hearing loss

• Neuropathy

• Diabetic ketoacidosis

• Stroke

Of all the complications, cardiovascular disease is among the most serious because it is the leading cause of death in people living with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The Three Main Types of Diabetes

While there are several forms of diabetes, the three primary types are Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational.

1. Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes makes up five to 10 percent of diabetes cases in the United States, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Diabetes Statistics Report.

People with type 1 diabetes produce little to no insulin because their immune system attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin. As a result, glucose stays in their blood, which can lead to symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, or increased appetite or thirst. To get insulin into their bodies, people with type 1 diabetes receive it through injections or pumps every day.

While this form of diabetes can start at any age, it usually begins in childhood and is also diagnosed in the teen years and early adulthood.

2. Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, affecting over 10 percent of American adults, according to the CDC’s statistics. With Type 2 diabetes, your cells stop responding properly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. Because of this resistance, your pancreas works overtime to produce more of the hormone. However, this leads to increased blood sugar levels, which raises the risk of prediabetes (the precursor to Type 2 diabetes) and Type 2 diabetes.

Health professionals say you are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you:

• Have prediabetes, which occurs when your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes.

• Are overweight or have obesity. The CDC’s statistics show that about 90 percent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese.

• Have hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Are 45 years old or older

• Have a history of family diabetes

• Smoke tobacco products and e-cigarettes, or are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Managing type 2 diabetes often involves a balanced diet, regular exercise, and medications like oral or injectable drugs (including insulin) to keep your blood sugar levels in check.

3. Gestational Diabetes

This form of diabetes develops during pregnancy because a woman’s body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the increased demand due to the pregnancy. Women at risk of gestational diabetes usually:

• Have a family history of diabetes.

• Had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.

• Have given birth to a baby weighing nine pounds or more.

Women with gestational diabetes frequently show no symptoms of the condition, which makes timely testing during pregnancy important for those at risk.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Noticing the warning signs of diabetes can be tricky because some people do not have symptoms, while other symptoms develop slowly and are also signs of other conditions.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

• Chronic fatigue

• Excessive thirst

• Frequent urination

• Frequent infections, such as urinary tract infections, skin infections or yeast infections

• Numbness, pain, tingling

• Slow-healing bruises, blisters, and cuts

• Unexplained weight loss

Knowing the early warning signs and getting treatment can keep the risk of developing diabetes-related complications at bay.

Managing Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented. However, Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented by making certain lifestyle changes.

To manage diabetes, the Diabetes Prevention Program, a research program funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), recommends:

• Become more physically active. According to the American Diabetes Association, your cells become more sensitive to insulin when you’re active, which helps to reduce your blood glucose levels. Regular physical activity could involve going to a gym, running, walking around the block, or signing up for a marathon. No matter what type of exercise you choose, the association recommends getting started now and starting safely.

• Eat healthy foods most of the time. Eating smaller portions and opting for low-fat foods will help you cut down on calories and reach your weight-loss goals. Also, drink water instead of sweetened beverages.

Also, if you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, your health care professional will provide guidance on how to manage the condition. For example, your doctor may tell you to monitor your blood sugar level. There are several devices that help you do that, such as a glucose meter with test strips or a Continuous Glucose Monitor, which uses a small sensor to measure your blood sugar levels throughout the day and night.

It’s essential for blood glucose levels to remain within a healthy range because your thinking and ability to function normally can be affected if they drop too low. If your glucose levels become elevated and stay that way, they can cause serious damage to your kidneys, nerves, heart, and vision.

Your health care professional may also prescribe non-insulin medications to treat your diabetes, such as metformin, Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Since there are different forms of diabetes, your doctor can talk with you about the best treatment options and other helpful resources you might need to manage your diabetes effectively.

Source Links:

https://www.innerbody.com/diabetes-statistics-in-the-united-states
https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html
https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes