Diabetes: All that you need to know
What is diabetes and what are its causes?
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that is characterized by high blood sugar levels. It is caused by a lack/insufficiency or insensitivity of insulin to function. Insulin helps body to properly use and store glucose. If insulin isn't functioning properly, glucose cannot enter the cells, so its level rises in the blood, creating diabetes.
High levels of blood sugar for a long time can damage nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs.
The following factors may increase the risk of diabetes:
• Family history High risk ethnicity like African-American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian-American etc. any age.
High calories diet contributes to weight gain, which increases the risk of developing T2DM.
• Gestational Diabetes: It occurs during pregnancy when hormonal changes lead to insulin resistance. These women usually need insulin and it may resolve after child birth. These patients are at risk of developing gestational diabetes during nextpregnancy and T2DM later on.
• Secondary Diabetes: it occurs due to certain drugs, syndromes, pancreatic disorders and other diseases and is less common. MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young): This type is characterized by abnormal insulin secretion due to a genetic mutation and occurs in individuals below 25 years of age.
condition of high blood sugar or Being overweight Physical stress Certain medications like steroid and blood pressure medications Pancreas injury (infection, tumour, surgery or accident) High blood pressure Abnormal blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels Age (risk increases with age) Heavy alcohol intake Smoking
Whatare the different tests used for diagnosis of diabetes?
• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post prandial plasma glucose (PPG): FPG > 126 mg/dl and PPG > 200 mg/dl indicates diabetes. Random Blood Glucose (RBS): This blood test can be taken anytime during the day. RBs > 200 mg/dl indicates diabetes. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c): This test indicates blood glucose control for last 2-3 months. HbA1c level of > 6.5% is diagnostic of diabetes. HBA1C should be done every 3-6 months in diabeles patients
• Apart from regular sel-blood glucose monitoring (SMBG), patient needs to get kidney function tests, urine examination, lipid profile and eye examination done at regular intervals.
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How will one know that she/he has developed diabetes?
People with diabetes frequently experience certain symptoms. These include:
• Increased thirst and appetite Frequent urination Weight loss Blurred vision Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet Frequent intections
• Non-healing ulcers
• Unexplained fatigue More than 60% patients are asymptomatic and do not show any symptoms. They can live for long time without knowing they have diabetes, Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar.
How true is it?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. High calories from any source contribute to weight gain, which increases the risk of developing T2DM. Research has shown that sugar may play a part, so it is better to limit its intake.
Consuming too much sugar can contribute to weight gain/increase. This may eventually overwork the pancreas and increase blood sugar, leading to T2DM.
What are the different types of diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic, often debilitating metabolic disorder. There are three main types of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: It occurs when the pancreas can- not make enough insulin. It is caused by genetics and unknown factors, and mostly affects children and younger people (before the age of 40).
These patients require insulin lifelong.
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: It occurs when pancreas do not make enough insulin and insulin does not work properly, or both. It is usually caused by lifestyle factors.
Itcan happen at Is diabetes completely curable?
There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed or prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.
If diet/exercise isn't enough to control diabetes, medications or insulin therapy is required.
If overweight patients with T2DM lose weight and begin regular exercise, blood glucose can return to normal.
This does not mean diabetes has disappeared, If they gain weight back, blood glucose will increase.
If they overeat, their blood glucose may go higher than those without diabetes.
The good news for a T1DM and T2DM patient is that if diet, exercise and medications result in normal blood glucose, their risk of diabetes complications is low. But it does not mean that their diabetes has gone away.
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