Introduction
Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 – your body does not make insulin
Type 2 – your body does not make or use insulin well
Some other types of diabetes only happen during pregnancy. Without insulin, the body burns its own fats as a substitute which releases chemical substances in the blood.
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect the way the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells that make up muscle and tissue. It is also the main source of fuel for the brain.
The main cause of diabetes varies by type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to too much sugar in your blood. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But blood sugar levels are not high enough to be called diabetes. And prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless steps are taken to prevent it. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. But it may go away after the baby is born.
Diabetes Symptoms
Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. The pancreas, which produces insulin, does not work correctly and the body does not produce enough insulin. This can lead to diabetes mellitus, which means “sugar” in Greek.
Diabetes symptoms depend on how high your blood sugar is. Some people, especially if they have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not have symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.
Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are:
- Feeling more thirsty than usual.
- Urinating often.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Presence of ketones in the urine. Ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin.
- Feeling tired and weak.
- Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
- Having blurry vision.
- Having slow-healing sores.
- Getting a lot of infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections.
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself. It’s caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise. Type 2 diabetes can be treated with diet and exercise, but it may require insulin.
Type 2 diabetes can be treated with diet and exercise, but it may require insulin people. Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body by acting on cells that store energy (glucose). When someone has too much glucose circulating in their bloodstream—known as hyperglycaemia—they’re having too much insulin circulating as well; this imbalance results in high blood glucose levels that damage cells throughout your body over time.
Type 1 diabetes can start at any age. But it often starts during childhood or teen years. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people older than 40.
Other Kinds of Diabetes
Some other types of diabetes only happen during pregnancy.
- Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that only happens during pregnancy. It’s also called “diabetes mellitus,” which means “a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels caused by the body’s inability to make insulin.”
- Diabetes in pregnancy is when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or to use it correctly because you’re pregnant. This can cause high blood glucose levels, which can damage your eyes and kidneys over time (and lead to retinopathy). It may also contribute to heart disease later on in life if left untreated.
Without insulin, the body burns its own fats as a substitute which releases chemical substances in the blood. This is called ketoacidosis and it can lead to diabetic coma.
Ketoacidosis is treatable with insulin injections or other medications if it occurs within 24 hours of starting treatment with injectable insulin. In some cases, patients may need additional medical care such as dialysis or kidney transplantation if they develop severe symptoms from untreated diabetes complications such as diabetic retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in eyes), nerve damage caused by poor circulation due to high blood sugar levels over time (neuropathy) or amputation due to loss of limbs due to ulcers on feet/feet ulcers (peri-ulcerative disease).
When to see a doctor?
- If you think you or your child may have diabetes. If you notice any possible diabetes symptoms, contact your health care provider. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.
- If you’ve already been diagnosed with diabetes. After you receive your diagnosis, you’ll need close medical follow-up until your blood sugar levels stabilize.
Conclusion
So if you think you may have diabetes, it’s important to get a medical check-up. You can get more information on how to manage your condition by visiting the American Diabetes Association website.