Diabetes refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and tissues. It is also the primary source of energy for the brain.
The main cause of diabetes varies depending on its type. However, regardless of the type of diabetes you have, it can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. Excessively high blood sugar levels can result in serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Treatable diabetes conditions include prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless preventive measures are taken. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy but usually disappears after childbirth.
Symptoms
The symptoms of diabetes depend on how high blood sugar levels are. Some people may not show any symptoms, especially if they have prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes. In cases of type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually appear quickly and are more severe.
Symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:
- Increased thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Presence of ketones in the urine. Ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of fat and muscle that occurs when there is not enough insulin in the body.
- Feeling tired and weak.
- Blurry vision.
- Slow healing of wounds.
- Frequent infections, such as gum, skin, and vaginal infections.
Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but it often appears in childhood or adolescence. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type, can start at any age. However, type 2 diabetes is more prevalent among individuals over 40 years old. Nevertheless, cases of type 2 diabetes in children are on the rise.
The exact cause of most types of diabetes is not yet known. In all cases, sugar accumulates in the bloodstream due to the pancreas not producing enough insulin. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes may result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, although these factors are not yet fully understood.
Complications
The long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes and the higher your blood sugar levels, the greater the risk of complications. Ultimately, diabetes complications can lead to disability or even be life-threatening. In fact, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes. Potential complications include:
• Cardiovascular diseaseDiabetes significantly increases the risk of many heart-related issues. These can include coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attacks, strokes, and narrowing (hardening) of the arteries. If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of heart disease or stroke.
• Diabetic neuropathy. Excessive blood sugar damages the walls of small blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the nerves, particularly in the legs. This can lead to sensations of tingling, numbness, burning, or pain that typically starts in the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.
Nerve damage related to digestion can cause issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. For men, this can lead to erectile dysfunction.
- Diabetic kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny clusters of blood vessels (glomeruli) that filter waste from the blood. Diabetes can damage the kidneys' delicate filtering system.
- Diabetic eye damage (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the eye, which may lead to blindness.
- Foot damage. Nerve damage in the foot or reduced blood flow to the foot increases the risk of many complications in the feet.
- Skin and mouth diseases. Diabetes may make you more susceptible to skin issues, including bacterial and fungal infections.
- Hearing impairment. Hearing problems are more common among individuals with diabetes.
- Alzheimer’s disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of dementia-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Diabetes-related depression. Symptoms of depression are common among individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Prevention
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. However, healthy lifestyle choices that help manage prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes may also aid in preventing these conditions. These choices include:
- Eating healthy foods. Choose low-fat, low-calorie foods that are high in fiber. Focus on consuming fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat a variety of foods to avoid getting bored.
- Engaging in more physical activity. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days of the week. Alternatively, set a goal of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week.
- Losing excess weight. If you are overweight, you can reduce your risk of diabetes by losing 7% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds (90.7 kg), losing 14 pounds (6.4 kg) can decrease your risk of diabetes.
