What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where your body can't properly manage sugar (glucose) in your blood. This happens due to issues with insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.
Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. You need insulin injections to live.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Your body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough. It's usually managed with lifestyle changes and medications.
- Prediabetes: Blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be Type 2 diabetes. It can lead to Type 2 diabetes if not managed.
- Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later.
- Other Types:
- Type 3c Diabetes: Due to pancreatic damage from conditions like pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, or pancreatic surgery.
- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA): Develops slowly like Type 1 but diagnosed in adults.
- Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY): Caused by genetic mutations affecting insulin production.
- Neonatal Diabetes: Diagnosed within the first six months of life.
Symptoms of Diabetes
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
Causes of Diabetes
- Type 1: Likely involves genetic and environmental factors.
- Type 2: Linked to lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, and being overweight.
- Gestational: Hormonal changes during pregnancy.
- Other types: Caused by other health conditions or genetic mutations.
Risk Factors
- Type 1: Family history, certain infections, geography, age.
- Type 2: Being overweight, inactivity, family history, age, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels.
- Gestational: Family history of diabetes, being overweight, older age during pregnancy.
Managing Diabetes
Blood Sugar Monitoring
Regularly checking your blood sugar levels helps you manage diabetes effectively.
Medications
- Oral Medications: For Type 2 diabetes and sometimes for prediabetes and gestational diabetes.
- Insulin: Essential for Type 1 diabetes and sometimes needed for Type 2. Can be injected or inhaled.
Diet
Healthy eating is crucial. Counting carbs helps manage insulin needs. A balanced diet also helps maintain a healthy weight and reduce heart disease risk.
Exercise
Regular physical activity improves insulin sensitivity and helps manage weight.
General Health
Maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels to reduce diabetes complications.
Risks and Complications
Acute Complications
- Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS): Very high blood sugar levels leading to severe dehydration and confusion.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): Mainly affects people with Type 1 diabetes. Without enough insulin, the body breaks down fat for energy, producing ketones that make the blood acidic.
- Severe Hypoglycemia: Extremely low blood sugar, requiring immediate treatment.
Long-term Complications
- Cardiovascular issues: Heart disease, heart attack, stroke.
- Nerve damage (Neuropathy): Numbness, tingling, pain.
- Kidney damage (Nephropathy): Can lead to kidney failure.
- Eye damage (Retinopathy): Can lead to blindness.
- Foot problems: Infections and amputations.
- Skin infections: Common due to high blood sugar.
- Sexual dysfunction: Due to nerve and blood vessel damage.
- Digestive issues (Gastroparesis): Affects digestion.
- Hearing loss.
- Gum disease.
Living with diabetes can also impact mental health, increasing the risk of depression.
Diagnosing Diabetes
Healthcare providers diagnose diabetes by checking your glucose level in a blood test. Three tests can measure your blood glucose level:
- Fasting Blood Glucose Test: Measures blood sugar after fasting.
- Random Blood Glucose Test: Measures blood sugar at any time.
- A1c Test: Shows average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Used to diagnose gestational diabetes.
Typical Test Results
| Type of Test | In-range (mg/dL) | Prediabetes (mg/dL) | Diabetes (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting Blood Glucose Test | Less than 100 | 100 to 125 | 126 or higher |
| Random Blood Glucose Test | N/A | N/A | 200 or higher (with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis) |
| A1c | Less than 5.7% | 5.7% to 6.4% | 6.5% or higher |
Preventing Diabetes
You can't prevent Type 1 diabetes, but you can reduce the risk of Type 2 and gestational diabetes by:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Getting enough sleep
- Quitting smoking
- Taking prescribed medications to manage other health conditions
Outlook for Diabetes
The prognosis varies based on:
- Type of diabetes
- Management and access to care
- Age at diagnosis
- Presence of other health conditions
- Development of complications
Chronic high blood sugar can lead to severe complications and shorten lifespan, but proper management can improve quality of life and reduce risks. Regular monitoring, lifestyle changes, and medical care are essential.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See your doctor if you have symptoms of diabetes. If diagnosed, regular visits to manage diabetes are crucial.
A Note on Living with Diabetes
Diabetes is a challenging condition, but with proper management and support, you can live a healthy and fulfilling life. Regular medical care and support from friends and family are vital. Don't hesitate to reach out for help.