Diabetes: Understanding the Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Introduction | Understanding Diabetes | Types of Diabetes | Symptoms of Diabetes | Causes of Diabetes | Complications | Diagnosis of Diabetes | Treatment of Diabetes | Prevention of Diabetes | Living with Diabetes | Conclusion | FAQs

Diabetes mellitus 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 the muscles and tissues. It's also the brain's main source of fuel.

The main cause of diabetes varies by type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in the 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 happens when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But the blood sugar levels aren't high enough to be called diabetes. And prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless steps are taken to prevent it. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy. But it may go away after the baby is born. So in this article, we will explore the types, symptoms, causes and management strategies for diabetes.

1. Introduction

• Definition of Diabetes
• Statistics of Diabetes
• Importance of Diabetes Awareness

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your body either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use it effectively. Insulin is a hormone that controls your blood sugar level. Without insulin, your blood sugar levels can become dangerously high or low, which can lead to various health complications. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with diabetes has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.

2. Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of the risk factors for diabetes include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history, and age. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to properly use the insulin it produces.

3. Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is a condition where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but it can occur at any age. Type 1 diabetes requires daily insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use insulin effectively. This type of diabetes is often associated with poor lifestyle choices such as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults but can also occur in children.

Gestational diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the increased demands of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after delivery, but women who have this type of diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

4. Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes symptoms depend on how high your blood sugar is. Some people, especially if they have prediabetes, gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not have symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.

• 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.

Note: Type 1 diabetes can start at any age. But it often begins during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people over the age of 40. But type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise.

5. Causes of Diabetes

• Genetics
• Lifestyle Factors
• Environmental Factors

The exact causes of diabetes are still unknown, but research suggests that genetics, lifestyle factors, and environmental factors may play a role. If you have a family history of diabetes or lead a sedentary lifestyle, you may be at a higher risk of developing diabetes. Additionally, exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants may increase the risk of developing diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by genetic and environmental factors that trigger the body's immune system to attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors such as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. Gestational diabetes is caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy that affect insulin production.

6. Complications

Long-term complications of diabetes develop slowly. The longer you have diabetes – and the less well controlled your blood sugar is – the higher your risk of complications. Eventually, complications of diabetes can be disabling or even life-threatening. In fact, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes. Possible complications include:

Heart and blood vessel (cardiac) disease. Diabetes majorly increases the risk of many heart problems. These can include chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and coronary artery disease with narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). If you have diabetes, you are more likely to have heart disease or stroke.

Nerve damage from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Too much sugar can damage the walls of the small blood vessels (capillaries) that feed the nerves, especially in the legs. It can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually starts at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.

Damage to the nerves involved in digestion can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it can cause erectile dysfunction.

Kidney damage from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from the blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system.

Eye damage from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the eye. This can lead to blindness.

Foot damage Nerve damage to the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increase the risk of many foot complications.

Skin and mouth conditions. Diabetes can make you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.

Hearing impairment. Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.

Alzheimer's disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Depression related to diabetes. Depression symptoms are common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Complications of gestational diabetes

Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. However, untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause problems for you and your baby.

Complications in your baby can be caused by gestational diabetes, including:

Excess growth: Extra glucose can cross the placenta. Extra glucose triggers the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin. This can cause your baby to grow too large. It can lead to a difficult birth and sometimes the need for a C-section.

Low blood sugar: Sometimes babies of mothers with gestational diabetes develop low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) shortly after birth. This is because their own insulin production is high.

Type 2 diabetes later in life: Babies of mothers who have gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.

Death: Untreated gestational diabetes can lead to a baby's death either before or shortly after birth.

Complications in the mother also can be caused by gestational diabetes, including: 

Preeclampsia: Symptoms of this condition include high blood pressure, too much protein in the urine, and swelling in the legs and feet.

Gestational diabetes: If you had gestational diabetes in one pregnancy, you're more likely to have it again with the next pregnancy.

7. Diagnosis of Diabetes

Diabetes is diagnosed by measuring blood sugar levels. The most common tests for diabetes are the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test.

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test: The FPG test measures blood sugar levels after an overnight fast of at least 8 hours. A blood glucose level of 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): The OGTT measures blood glucose levels after fasting and again after drinking a sugary solution. Blood sugar levels are measured at intervals of several hours. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher after 2 hours indicates diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test: The HbA1c test measures average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. A result of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes.

8. Treatment of Diabetes

The goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible to prevent complications. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medications, and insulin therapy.

Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for diabetes. These changes include maintaining a healthy weight, following a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and quitting smoking.

Medications: Several classes of medications are available to treat diabetes. These include metformin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors. These medications work by lowering blood sugar levels in different ways.

Insulin Therapy: Insulin therapy is required for people with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes. Insulin is injected into the body to lower blood sugar levels. Different types of insulin are available, and the dosage and timing of insulin injections vary depending on the individual's needs.

9. Prevention of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. But the healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:Eat healthy foods. Choose foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eat a variety to keep from feeling bored.

Get more physical activity. Try to get about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days of the week. Or aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. For example, take a brisk daily walk. If you can't fit in a long workout, break it up into smaller sessions throughout the day.

Lose excess pounds. If you're overweight, losing even 7% of your body weight can lower the risk of diabetes. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms), losing 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms) can lower the risk of diabetes.

But don't try to lose weight during pregnancy. Talk to your provider about how much weight is healthy for you to gain during pregnancy.

To keep your weight in a healthy range, work on long-term changes to your eating and exercise habits. Remember the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and higher self-esteem.

Sometimes drugs are an option. Oral diabetes drugs such as metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet, others) may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. But healthy lifestyle choices are important. If you have prediabetes, have your blood sugar checked at least once a year to make sure you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.

10. Living with Diabetes

Living with diabetes can be a challenging experience, but it's important to remember that with proper management and care, you can live a healthy and fulfilling life. In this article, we'll cover some of the key tips and strategies for living with diabetes, including managing your blood sugar levels, adopting a healthy diet and exercise routine, and staying on top of your medication and treatment plan.

Managing Blood Sugar Levels: One of the most important aspects of managing diabetes is keeping your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. This can be achieved through a combination of monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly, adjusting your medication as needed, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

Some key strategies for managing blood sugar levels include:

• Testing your blood sugar regularly, as directed by your healthcare provider
• Adjusting your medication dosage as needed to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range
• Eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates
• Exercising regularly to help regulate blood sugar levels
• Getting enough sleep and managing stress levels, which can also affect blood sugar levels

Adopting a Healthy Diet: Another important aspect of managing diabetes is adopting a healthy diet that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates. This can help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes.

Some key tips for adopting a healthy diet include:

• Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats
• Limiting your intake of sugary and refined carbohydrate-rich foods, such as candy, soda, and white bread
• Monitoring your portion sizes and following a consistent eating schedule
• Consulting with a registered dietitian to develop a personalized meal plan that meets your specific needs.

Staying Active: Exercise is another important component of managing diabetes, as it can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve overall health and well-being. Some key tips for incorporating exercise into your daily routine include:

• Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week
• Choose activities that you enjoy and that fit your lifestyle, such as walking, swimming, or cycling
• Consider joining a diabetes support group or working with a personal trainer who specializes in diabetes management

Staying on Top of Medication and Treatment: Finally, it's important to stay on top of your medication and treatment plan to ensure that your diabetes is properly managed. Some key strategies for staying on track with your medication and treatment plan include:

• Keeping track of your medication schedule and setting reminders to take your medication as directed
• Communicating regularly with your healthcare provider and reporting any changes in your symptoms or blood sugar levels
• Educating yourself about the potential side effects of your medication and taking steps to manage them if they occur

11. Conclusion

Diabetes is a complex and chronic disease that requires careful management and monitoring. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and management strategies for diabetes, individuals can take proactive steps to manage their condition and live a healthy, fulfilling life. If you suspect you may have diabetes, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

12. FAQs

Q: Can diabetes be cured?
Ans: There is no known cure for diabetes, but it can be managed effectively with the right treatment and lifestyle changes.

Q: How can I reduce my risk of developing diabetes?
Ans: You can lower your risk of developing diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.

Q: Can Kids Get Diabetes?
Ans: Yes, children can develop diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes which is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.

Q: What are the long term complications of diabetes?
Ans: Long-term complications of diabetes can include heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, eye damage and foot damage.

Q: Can I still eat sugar if I have diabetes?
Ans: Yes, you can still consume sugar if you have diabetes, but it's important to do so in moderation and as part of a healthy, balanced diet. It is recommended to limit added sugars and choose foods with low sugar content.