DIABETES COMPILATION

DIABETES
COMPILATION
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders
characterized by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. If left untreated,
diabetes can cause numerous health complications. Acute complications can include diabetic
ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or even death. Serious long-term complications
may involve:
• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Chronic kidney disease
• Foot ulcers
• Nerve damage
• Eye damage
• Cognitive impairment
Diabetes occurs due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of
the body not responding properly to the insulin that is produced. There are three main types of
diabetes mellitus.
Types of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high
blood sugar levels. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored
or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't
effectively use the insulin it produces. Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage
your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs.
There are several different types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and
destroys cells in the pancreas where insulin is produced. The cause of this attack is
unclear. About 10 percent of people with diabetes have this type.
• Type 2 Diabetes: This occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, causing sugar
to build up in your blood.
• Prediabetes: This occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it's not high
enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
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• Gestational Diabetes: This is high blood sugar during pregnancy. It is caused by insulin-
blocking hormones produced by the placenta.
A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus, although
it has a similar name. It’s a different condition in which your kidneys remove too much fluid
from your body. Each type of diabetes has unique symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Understanding the differences between these types is important for proper management and
treatment.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?

The symptoms of diabetes are caused by rising blood sugar levels. The general symptoms
of diabetes include increased hunger, increased thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, blurry
vision, extreme fatigue, and sores that don’t heal.
• Symptoms in Men
In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may have a
decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and poor muscle strength.
• Symptoms in Women
Women with diabetes may also experience symptoms such as urinary tract
infections, yeast infections, and dry, itchy skin.
• Type 1 Diabetes
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include extreme hunger, increased thirst,
unintentional weight loss, frequent urination, blurry vision, tiredness, and possible mood
changes.
• Type 2 Diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include increased hunger, increased thirst,
increased urination, blurry vision, tiredness, slow-healing sores, and recurring infections.
Elevated glucose levels make it harder for the body to heal.
• Gestational Diabetes
Most women with gestational diabetes don’t have any symptoms. The condition is
often detected during a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test, usually
performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. In rare cases, a woman with
gestational diabetes may also experience increased thirst or urination.
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Diabetes Prevention
Type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable because it’s caused by an issue with the immune
system. Some causes of type 2 diabetes, such as your genes or age, are also beyond your control.
However, many other diabetes risk factors are controllable. Most diabetes prevention strategies
involve making simple adjustments to your diet and fitness routine.
If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, here are a few things you can do to delay or
prevent type 2 diabetes:
• Get at least 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling.
• Cut saturated and trans fats, along with refined carbohydrates, out of your diet.
• Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Eat smaller portions.
• Try to lose 7% of your body weight if you’re overweight or obese.
Causes of Diabetes
Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes.
• Type 1 Diabetes:
▪ Doctors don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. For some reason,
the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta
cells in the pancreas. Genetics may play a role in some people, and it’s
also possible that a virus triggers the immune system attack.
▪ Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetics and lifestyle
factors. Being overweight or obese increases your risk. Carrying extra
weight, especially in your belly, makes your cells more resistant to
insulin’s effects on blood sugar. This condition tends to run in families, as
family members share genes that make them more likely to develop type 2
diabetes and to be overweight.
• Gestational Diabetes:
▪ Gestational diabetes is caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy.
The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less
sensitive to insulin. This can lead to high blood sugar during pregnancy.
Women who are overweight before pregnancy or who gain excessive
weight during pregnancy are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
The bottom line is that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in triggering diabetes.
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Diabetes Risk Factors
Certain factors increase your risk for diabetes.
You’re more likely to develop type 1 diabetes if you are a child or teenager, have
a parent or sibling with the condition, or carry certain genes linked to the disease.
Your risk for type 2 diabetes increases if you:
▪ Are overweight
▪ Are 45 years old or older
▪ Have a parent or sibling with the condition
▪ Aren’t physically active
▪ Have had gestational diabetes
▪ Have prediabetes
▪ Have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides
▪ Have African American, Hispanic or Latino American, Alaska Native, Pacific
Islander, American Indian, or Asian American ancestry
• Gestational Diabetes:
Your risk for gestational diabetes increases if you:
▪ Are overweight
▪ Are over age 25
▪ Had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
▪ Have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
▪ Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
▪ Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
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DIABETES COMPILATION

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DIABETES

There are several different types of diabetes:

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

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