Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic illness brought on by elevated blood glucose levels. What is that? Your body converts the food you ingest into glucose. One kind of simple sugar that the body produces during digestion is glucose. Insulin aids in the appropriate use of glucose. Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose by your cells, where it is used as fuel.

Diabetes Types

Diabetes Type 1

An autoimmune condition known as type 1 diabetes is brought on by a compromised immune system that targets the pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for secreting insulin. As a result, the pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, which results in an insulin shortage, which raises blood sugar levels.Although type 1 diabetes symptoms typically go away quickly, the beta cell breakdown process begins long before symptoms do. Dry mouth, increased thirst and frequent urination, increased hunger, weight loss, dark skin patches, and exhaustion or excessive tiredness are all prominent signs of type 1 diabetes. A diabetic coma can be fatal if a person with type 1 diabetes is not diagnosed or treated promptly. It is called diabetic ketoacidosis, and it is characterized by dehydration, ketone molecules in the blood and urine, and extremely high blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Type 2

The most prevalent kind of diabetes is this one. The majority of persons with type 2 diabetes are elderly. Obesity, a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and race are some risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. However, children and adolescents are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in recent years.

Diabetes during pregnancy

The kind of diabetes that appears during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes; during pregnancy, elevated blood glucose levels are initially identified. About 4% of pregnancies have it, and it usually goes away after the baby is born. High blood glucose levels are a result of the body’s cells not using glucose appropriately in gestational diabetes, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes can be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy and the rising need for insulin as the pregnancy progresses.

The form of diabetes that develops in pregnant women is known as gestational diabetes. Women who have a history of gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes in the future.Diabetes should be identified as soon as possible because it can be fatal if left untreated and produces a number of problems. Since most people with diabetes do not exhibit any symptoms, it is crucial to recognize the early warning indications of the disease.

Early Diabetes Warning Signs

Enhanced thirst and increased frequency of urination

Do you think that using the restroom takes up the majority of your day? Diabetes may be the cause of these symptoms. Fluids escape from your cells when your blood sugar level rises. You consume more water as a result of feeling thirsty, which causes you to urinate more frequently. High blood sugar levels lead to glucose loss in the urine, which draws water from your blood, fills your bladder, and ultimately results in frequent urination.

Enhanced Appetite

Due to improper insulin hormone action, people with diabetes experience hunger because their bodies are unable to utilize the glucose in their blood. As a result, you experience hunger more frequently and your body’s cells lose energy.

Gaining weight

Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes. Additionally, one of the consequences of diabetes is weight gain. Insulin resistance and pre-diabetes are directly linked to weight gain in the middle.

Unusual Loss of Weight

This is more prevalent in individuals with type 1 diabetes because tissue breakdown (fat and muscle breakdown) results from the body’s inability to use glucose. Weight loss results from this.

Enhanced Fatigue

despite the blood’s high level of glucose. Because there is insufficient insulin, your body is unable to use the blood glucose, causing the cells to starve and lose their vital energy. You are therefore worn out and exhausted.

Vision Blurring

Fluid loss from the lenses of your eyes is caused by elevated blood glucose levels. Your ability to concentrate and see clearly may be impacted. Diabetes can lead to blindness or long-term vision issues if it is not treated or managed.

Sores that take a long time to heal or frequent infections

Get your blood sugar checked if it takes a lot longer than usual for your injuries and bruises to heal. Diabetes may be the cause. High blood sugar (glucose) hinders your body’s healing process and might result in recurrent infections. Infections of the bladder and vagina become far more common in women.

Additional Symptoms

Men over 50 who suffer from erectile dysfunction may experience it frequently or continuously.This resulted from excessive blood sugar damaging the nerves.Other symptoms may be present in a diabetic who has had acute hyperglycemia, or increased blood sugar levels, for a number of hours or days. Dehydration Having trouble breathing Being giddy while standing Loss of weight bewilderment, drowsiness, and stuporComa or loss of awareness Get your blood sugar checked if you exhibit symptoms that point to elevated glucose levels.An early identification of diabetes improves the overall prognosis and lowers the risk of significant consequences from the disease, even though its signs and symptoms may appear innocuous at first.It is possible to change some of the factors that raise the risk of diabetes, but not all of them. Among the variables that raise the risk of diabetes are:

Obesity

Type 2 diabetes is more common in obese adults. Because fat impairs the body’s ability to use insulin, obesity promotes insulin resistance. Children who are obese are also more likely to get diabetes.

Living a Sedentary Lifestyle

Type 2 diabetes is a condition brought on by a sedentary lifestyle. Any physical activity, including regular exercise, is regarded as sufficient for a healthy lifestyle. Because physical activity reduces insulin resistance, blood sugar levels drop and a healthy body weight is maintained.

Bad Eating Practices

Obesity results from eating bad meals. Diabetes can be avoided or blood sugar levels in diabetics can be controlled by eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet that includes a range of foods from each major food category.

Genetics and Family History

It is unclear how exactly genetics or inheritance contribute to diabetes. However, it is generally recognized that an elevated risk of diabetes is caused by specific genetic abnormalities. Individuals who have a family history of diabetes are more likely to have the disease themselves. But adjustments in lifestyle can lessen your risk of developing diabetes even if you have a chronic family history of diabetes.

Increased Age

It is true that the risk of diabetes increases with age. However, by adopting a healthy lifestyle you can minimize your risk of having diabetes with an increase in age.

High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol

Both these illnesses increase the risk of numerous ailments such as heart attack, stroke and diabetes. By adopting a healthy lifestyle and appropriate eating habits, you can minimize high blood pressure and high cholesterol and so prevent the risk of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Glycated haemoglobin (A1C) test

This is the test which indicates the average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. The test is conducted by detecting the amount of blood sugar bound to haemoglobin, which is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels go, the more haemoglobin will be connected to your sugar. When there is an A1C score of 6.5 percent or greater on two independent tests, then that would indicate that you have diabetes.

Random blood sugar test

For this test, your blood sample will be obtained at a random time. Regardless of when you last ate, a random blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or above will suggest that you have diabetes. The suspicion will heighten if the result is accompanied with any of the signs and symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination and severe thirst.

Fasting blood sugar test

There is another form of blood sugar test that is taken by collecting the sample of your blood after an overnight fast. If your fasting blood sugar level is less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) then it is normal. If your fasting blood sugar level is somewhere from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is termed prediabetes, and if it’s 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two different tests, you have diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

If you encounter symptoms similar to those of type 2 diabetes, make sure that you consult your general physician. After asking certain questions relevant to your family history and symptoms experienced, he/she will propose further tests to arrive at a definite diagnosis.

Blood and Urine Tests

When it comes to testing for diabetes, the doctor checks for the presence of glucose in the blood or urine. In diabetics, the glucose might overflow from the kidneys into the urine. If your doctor observes that your urine sample has glucose in it, he/she will further ask you to perform a specific blood test, referred to as the glucose tolerance test. This test can finally confirm if you have diabetes or not.

Gestational Diabetes

Fasting Blood Glucose or Random Blood Glucose Test

For the fasting blood glucose test, your doctor will urge you to fast for at least 8 hours (which implies that you have nothing to eat or drink except water for at least 8 hours). In random blood glucose test your blood glucose is measured at any moment during the day. Both these tests can detect gestational diabetes in some women, but your doctor may request extra testing to be sure that diabetes is not missed.

Glucose Tolerance Test for One Hour

To check for gestational diabetes, pregnant women undergo a one-hour glucose tolerance test. It is not recommended that you fast before this test, in contrast to the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. You will be given 50 grams of glucose solution to drink during this test. Within five minutes, the solution must be ingested. Because the solution is so sweet, some women could experience nausea after consuming it. After an hour, a blood sample is obtained for the glucose test. The following diagnosis could be made in light of the 1-hour glucose tolerance test results:

If the blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L), the screen is considered normal.

If the blood sugar level is more than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L), this is considered an abnormal result (OGTT is suggested).

3-hour glucose tolerance test: Although it is currently most frequently used to identify gestational diabetes, the 3-hour glucose tolerance test is regarded as the gold standard for diagnosing type 2 diabetes. The 3-hour glucose tolerance test is advised to confirm the diagnosis of gestational diabetes if the results of the 1-hour test are abnormal.

Prior to the 3-hour glucose tolerance test, you will be instructed to fast for at least 8 but no more than 16 hours. A sample for the fasting plasma glucose level is collected the next morning. You will next be given a 75-gram solution of glucose to drink (100-gram for pregnant women). The blood glucose is then measured by drawing blood samples. Over the course of three hours, the blood glucose level is measured five times in the traditional test.

Diabetes Treatment

You need a doctor’s help because this is a dangerous illness that cannot be managed on your own. In addition to taking your medications, exercising, and maintaining a healthy diet, you also need to monitor your blood sugar levels.

A nutritious diet

Patients with type 1 diabetes should follow a low-glycemic index diet, according to numerous research, in order to better control their skyrocketing blood glucose levels. A diabetic’s diet should mostly consist of low-glycemic index foods such oats, whole wheat, fruits (apple, grape, grapefruit, pears, and coconut), and vegetables (carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, and peas).

Exercise

Diabetes can be slowed down by regular exercise. Even mild forms of physical activity, including dancing, swimming, running, or brisk walking, can help you manage the illness.Blood sugar levels should normally be maintained between 80 and 120 mg/dL (4.4 and 6.7 mmol/L) during the day and between 100 and 140 mg/dL (5.6 and 7.8 mmol/L) at night. You must therefore realize that managing diabetes essentially requires a lifetime of dedication to insulin administration, consistent exercise, eating a balanced diet, keeping an eye on blood sugar levels, and maintaining a healthy weight.