Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that happens when your blood sugar, glucose, is too high, hyperglycemia. Glucose is your body’s primary source of energy, and the pancreas produces insulin that converts glucose from the food you consume into energy your body uses. When your body does not make enough insulin or does not produce any at all, or your body becomes insulin resistant, the glucose does not reach the cells to be used for energy. This causes diabetes.
Types of diabetes include:
* Type 1 diabetes- Formerly called juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune condition in which your body does not produce insulin.
* Type 2 diabetes- The most ordinary form of diabetes, is a condition where your body does not produce adequate insulin or does not use it efficiently.
Common Causes of Diabetes
The causes of diabetes can vary depending on the type.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body's immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. The primary cause of Type 1 diabetes is believed to be a combination of genes and environmental factors that trigger the disease.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors, including genetics and your family history, and lifestyle factors such as being overweight, obese, and physical inactivity.
Diagnosing Diabetes
Diabetes is diagnosed with the following tests:
* An A1C test.
* A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test.
* A random plasma glucose (RPG) test.
* The glucose challenge test.
* An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes can often escalate quickly, within in a matter of weeks. The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes usually develop over several years. If you have Type 2 diabetes you may have no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
The three common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes include:
* Increased thirst- High blood sugar levels cause increased thirst.
* Increased urination- Needing to urinate more often throughout the day.
* Urinating more often than usual at night- Increased hunger. Since diabetes makes it difficult for your body to convert the glucose from foods into energy, when you have high blood sugar levels you are often hungrier.
Other symptoms of diabetes include:
* Fatigue or feeling tired.
* Blurred vision or other vision concerns.
* Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
* Sores that do not heal.
* Unexplained or unplanned weight loss.
The Treatment for Diabetes
Diabetes is most often treated with lifestyle modifications and medications when needed.
Lifestyle changes to manage your diabetes may include:
* Managing your A1C, average blood glucose level over the past 3 months.
* Checking your blood glucose levels daily.
* Managing your blood pressure.
* Keeping your cholesterol levels in check.
* Do not smoke.
* Following a meal plan as recommended by your doctor.
* Exercising regularly.
* Taking prescribed medications.
Medications used to treat diabetes include:
* If you have Type 1 diabetes you need insulin.
* If you have Type 2 diabetes you may need insulin, or other diabetes medications.
Complications from Untreated Diabetes
Getting your diabetes under control may take some work, but the results are worth it. Uncontrolled diabetes means your blood sugar levels are too high. You may have symptoms such being thirsty, peeing a lot, and having other problems related to your diabetes.
If you do not treat it, you can set yourself up for a variety of complications. Diabetes can damage nearly every organ in your body, including your:
* Blood vessels and your heart.
* Eyes and vision.
* Kidney and kidney function.
* Nerves.
* The entire gastrointestinal tract.
* Soft tissue of the gums and teeth.