Diabetes

Understanding Diabetes: Causes, Types, Symptoms and Management

What is diabetes? Why is it a growing global health concern?

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that occurs when the body abnormally processes glucose. As glucose is the main source of energy of all cells, we can say that cells function on glucose right? That is why the proper entry and processing of glucose is very significant. 

Insulin, a peptide (protein based) hormone, secreted by the pancreas, is required for the proper entry of glucose inside the cells. In diabetic individuals, the pancreas falls short of producing enough insulin, or the body ineffectively uses it, which causes  elevated blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia may lead to complications such as renal failure, blindness, heart attacks, stroke etc.

According to the World Health Organisation, in 2019, Diabetes was the direct cause of death of 1.5 million people.

How does Diabetes present? Are there different types of Diabetes?

Diabetes has three main types:

• Type 1 Diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes is an auto-immune disorder where the body’s immune system starts making antibodies against the  pancreatic cells that are responsible for producing insulin. It is an idiopathic condition as no causes are known. Type 1 Diabetes usually develops in childhood or adolescence. There are no treatment options for this disorder and since the body cannot produce any insulin, type 1 diabetics require lifelong insulin therapy.

• Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes which usually presents with milder symptoms that mostly go unnoticed until the condition worsens. This condition is usually associated with obesity, sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits. Type 2 diabetes is a preventable condition,  which alters the production and management of insulin. Type 2 Diabetics either experience insulin resistance, or an inadequate production of insulin. Usually, people with type 2 diabetes experience hyperglycaemia. Type 2 diabetes can be managed by lifestyle modification however, in most cases medicine is also required. 

Up until recent times, this condition was only seen in adults; however, nowadays, there has been an increase in children type 2 diabetes cases. It is very important to get regular checkups and blood tests with your healthcare provider in order to detect the condition early.

• Gestational Diabetes, as the name suggests, is a form of diabetes that presents during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth. However, females with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life.

There are some other forms of diabetes such as:

• Diabetes Type 3c, which occurs due to damaged or removed pancreas.
• Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA), which like Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition that develops in people usually over 30.
• Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), which is a genetic condition that occurs due to inherited genetic mutation. It commonly runs in families, affecting almost 5% of Diabetics.
• Neonatal Diabetes, which occurs in newborns during the first few months. After about six months, in half the cases, this condition persists, developing into lifelong Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus. In the other half, it  disappears but may reappear later in life. In case of reappearance, we call it Transient Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus.
• Brittle Diabetes, a form of Type 1 Diabetes where the blood sugar level frequently fluctuates.

What are the causes and risk factors of Diabetes?

Various genetic and environmental factors play a role in determining the risk of  Diabetes in individuals. Some of them are:

• Family history, especially for Diabetes type 1.
• Poor diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Age 
• Ethnicity

What are the symptoms one experiences in Diabetes? 

Some common symptoms experienced by Diabetics include:

• An increase in thirst and frequency of urination.
• Weight loss, particularly an unexplained one.
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Improper, slow healing of wounds.

It is important to recognize that in case of Type 1 Diabetes, people might experience these symptoms suddenly, whereas, in case of type 2 Diabetes, these symptoms develop gradually and often are ignored.

How is Diabetes diagnosed?

Diabetes is diagnosed through a series of blood tests which include:

• Fasting Blood Sugar Test, blood sugar levels are measured after fasting of approximately eight hours.
• HbA1C, which gives a measure of average blood glucose levels over the period of the last two or three months.
• Random Blood Glucose Test, blood glucose levels measured at random, levels below 130 mg/dl are considered normal.
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, which basically tests the body’s response to oral sugar intake.

How do you manage Diabetes?

It is very important to consult with a medical professional as soon as you start experiencing symptoms of Diabetes. Usually, managing Diabetes requires a mix of lifestyle changes and medical treatment.

• A balanced diet with a focus on limiting sugar intake in order to keep your blood sugar levels in check.
• Regular exercise to improve insulin sensitivity.
• Medications depending on your need (as prescribed by a medical professional) 
• Regular monitoring of your blood glucose levels.

Does Diabetes have any complications?

High blood glucose levels over a longer period of time often leads to damaged organs and other complications. This damage to tissues or organs is mainly due to injured blood vessels and/or nerves which supply the organs.

The most common complications that long term Diabetics face are cardiovascular issues like atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart attacks and stroke.

Other complications of Diabetes include:

• Kidney issues
• Vision problems 
• Nerve damage
• Skin infections
• Sexual dysfunction

Conclusion

Diabetes is a serious condition but is completely manageable. Regular exercise, balanced diet, taking your medication on time and regular monitoring of your blood glucose levels is pivotal in living a healthy and fulfilling life.