Diabetes is a lifelong condition that has affected 422 million people across the globe. It can strike anyone, from any walk of life. This condition is the major cause of kidney failure, stroke, heart failure, and blindness. It is a condition that has an effect on the whole family as it places a physical, emotional, and financial burden on the family.
This post covers what is diabetes, its types, and the risks associated with it. Continue reading!
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens when the blood sugar is high. When your body doesn’t produce the required level of insulin, it results in high levels of sugar in the blood. Insulin can be defined as a hormone that is useful for the proper functioning of the body. This will help the cells use the glucose as energy for bodily functions.
Furthermore, the sugar gathers in the bloodstream and is eliminated from the urine. This excessive levels of glucose in the bloodstream may lead to various complications for heart, kidney, blood vessels, and eyes. This is why you should be extremely careful if have diabetes.
Types of Diabetes
Here are the various types of diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes
- Monogenic diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
In this type, your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells and destroy them. Though it can occur at any age, it mostly occurs in children and young adults. The treatment for this form of diabetes is taking insulin daily. This is because your body doesn’t produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes
This type of diabetes can develop at any age. In this, the body doesn’t produce insulin or use it. Mostly, this develops in middle-aged people. It is the most common type of diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes can happen in women during pregnancy. This type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. If you developed gestational diabetes, there is a higher chance of developing Type 2 diabetes later in your life. In some cases, diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is Type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
There are numerous symptoms of diabetes, here are the main symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Polydipsia
- Stupor
- Blurred vision
- Glycosuria
- Polyuria
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Smell of acetone
- Kussmaul breathing
Risk Associated With Diabetes
If you don’t control diabetes, it can lead to several complications. Some of the most common risks are as follows:
- Heart problems
- Mental health is disturbed, mostly anxiety and depression
- Eye complications: cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and many others
- Foot risks: ulcers, gangrene, and neuropathy
- Hypertension
- Risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure
- Higher risk of skin diseases and infections
- More prone to hearing problems
- Gum diseases
- Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Wounds might take longer to heal
- Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
- Gastroparesis
In the end, the diabetes is not a curable disease. Fortunately, some people have eliminated their symptoms by having a healthy lifestyle, exercising, and controlling their weight. For living a better life, it is advised to the patient of diabetes to pay special attention to their diet and lifestyle.