Diabetes
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body fails to generate or utilise insulin, a hormone necessary for blood sugar regulation and daily functioning.
Glucose, a simple form of sugar, enters the bloodstream through the intestines, where it is absorbed as a natural component of digestion from meals and sugary drinks. It’s also made by the liver, which serves as a powerhouse.
The transport of glucose around the body is one of the numerous activities of blood. It is transformed into energy as it reaches various body tissues, such as muscle cells. Automatically, the precise concentration of glucose in the blood is maintained. The hormone insulin, which is produced into the blood by the pancreas, a gland located below and below the stomach, is critical in this.
Insulin is essential for glucose to be converted into energy. When the digestive system and liver are functioning correctly, a lack of insulin causes glucose to build up in the blood, resulting in diabetic symptoms. Poor blood sugar control can also pose a serious health danger, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, and blindness.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
- Also known as insulin dependent diabetes.
- Occurs in people under 40.
- The individual who is affected does not produce any insulin and must receive it by injection every day. It is a life-long disease once it has been developed.
Type 2 diabetes
- It is the most common type of diabetes.
- Develops in adults over age 40.
- People with Type 2 Diabetes normally make some insulin, but their cells are resistant to it, so they can’t utilise it effectively.
Diabetes in Pregnancy
Women who have never had the disorder before can develop it during pregnancy.
Causes of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
The destruction of insulin-producing cells called islets of Langerhans within the pancreas – a gland located behind and just below the stomach – causes type 1 diabetes.
The body’s immune system is thought to be responsible for the elimination of these cells. As a result, diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease.
Type 2 diabetes
- When the body’s tissues do not respond properly to insulin, they are unable to utilise the glucose in the blood for energy. The pancreas produces more insulin, and the liver, which stores glucose, releases more glucose.
- The pancreas eventually loses its ability to produce adequate insulin, and the tissues become more insulin resistant. As a result, blood glucose levels begin to rise gradually.
- Blood glucose levels that trigger type 2 diabetes symptoms can take several years to reach.
Diabetes in Pregnancy
- Multiple hormones interfere with insulin’s normal function during pregnancy. This ensures that your baby gets adequate sugar as he or she grows. To deal with these changes, your body has to generate more insulin.
- When your body can’t satisfy the increased insulin demands of pregnancy, gestational diabetes develops.
Symptoms of Diabetes
| Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes | Diabetes in Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|
| – Increased production of urine to get rid of the excess glucose – Unusual thirst – Fatigue (as the glucose is not being converted into energy) – Loss of weight – Increased appetite – Feel sick – Blurred vision – Infections such as thrush or irritation of the genitals If Type 1 diabetes is not treated early enough, the body produces chemicals called ketones, which accumulate in the bloodstream. Diabetic ketoacidosis generates the following extra symptoms: – Vomiting – Stomach pain – Rapid breathing – Increased pulse rate – Sleepiness Without treatment, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to coma or death. | Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms, and it’s commonly discovered by chance during normal medical examinations or screening testing for other diseases. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may have the following symptoms: – Excessive urination – Constant thirst – Exhaustion – Blurred vision – Itchy skin around the genitals or recurring infections like thrush You could have also noticed a change in your weight in recent months. As a result of excessive blood glucose levels, you may have gained (causing diabetes) or lost some weight. It’s also possible that your weight hasn’t altered at all as a result of a high-calorie diet and high blood glucose. | Gestational diabetes usually doesn’t produce any symptoms. You may have signs of elevated blood sugar, such as: – Increased thirst – Frequent urination – Fatigue |
Diagnosis of Diabetes
| Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes | Diabetes in Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|
| A blood test is used to detect type 1 diabetes by measuring the quantity of glucose in the blood. Before taking a blood sample, you may need to fast for eight hours. | – A blood test to determine the level of glucose in your blood may be required. This could be a fasting glucose test or a Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test, which can be done at any time after you haven’t eaten for at least eight hours. – A glucose tolerance test may be ordered if your doctor is unable to make a definitive diagnosis after these tests. This test determines how your blood glucose levels fluctuate over time after consuming a sugary beverage. Before taking this test, you must fast for at least 24 hours. | – A glucose tolerance test, which is done in the morning after you haven’t eaten anything the night before, is used to identify gestational diabetes. Your doctor will give you a glucose solution to consume and take blood samples at various intervals to determine how your body responds to the glucose over time. – Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will offer you a glucose tolerance test if you’re at risk of developing diabetes. If you’ve previously had gestational diabetes, you’ll be offered a test at 18 weeks, followed by another between 24 and 28 weeks if the first is normal. |
Treatment of Diabetes
| Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes | Diabetes in Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|
| – Diabetes type 1 cannot be cured, however, it can be managed with insulin injections. – Insulin cannot be administered in tablet form because it can be destroyed in the stomach by acids. Insulin injections are commonly given two or four times a day to the skin of the abdomen, using either a classic hypodermic needle or a pen-type syringe with refillable cartridges. – Insulin comes in a variety of forms that work at different rates and for different lengths of time. | – Some patients can control their illness simply by changing their lifestyles. – If lifestyle modifications alone aren’t enough to lower your blood sugar, you may be offered medications to boost insulin production and enhance its effect. – If lifestyle adjustments, such as those stated above, aren’t adequate to regulate your blood pressure, you may be prescribed medications. Depending on which is best for you, your doctor will prescribe an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker. | – It’s critical that you keep your blood sugar under control. Most women can keep it under control with a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. – Your daily meal plan will most likely include these slow-digesting carbohydrates, a range of lean proteins such as oily salmon, and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables. – Regular moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking or cycling, can help lower blood sugar levels and improve mood. – If you can’t control your gestational diabetes with food and exercise, you’ll require insulin injections or tablets. |
