Diabetes is a chronic condition when you have an excess amount of sugar in your blood, also called blood glucose. Blood glucose comes from the food that we eat in our day to day life and is the best source of energy. Insulin which is secreted by our pancreas helps in supplying the blood glucose to cells where it can be used to supply energy to the body. Owing to several factors when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin to convert the sugar into energy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Diabetes vary depending upon the type of Diabetes. But there are some common symptoms that help to detect the disease easily.
- Increased thirst
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Blurry vision
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Frequent infections in gums, vagina, and skin
- Slow-healing sores
Symptoms also vary depending on gender. In the case of diabetic men, they might show symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, decreased sex drive, and poor muscle strength. While a diabetic woman might have dry and itchy skin, infection in the urinary tract, and yeast infection as well.
Causes
Different causes are associated with different types of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes- While the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not known but in most of the cases physicians have found that the immune system of humans which fights harmful bacterias and viruses attack and destroy the cells in the pancreas which produces insulin. So the sugar in the blood instead of getting converted into energy gets stored in the blood.
Type 2 Diabetes or pre-diabetes- Type 2 diabetes is mostly caused by a combination of lifestyle changes and genetic factors. Prediabetes leads to Type 2 diabetes where the cells become resistant to the insulin produced by the pancreas while the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Overweight is also considered an important factor leading to type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes- This is mainly caused in pregnant women due to the hormonal changes that happen to the body during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that make the cells resistant to insulin which leads to high blood sugar. Gaining extra weight during pregnancy or being overweight at the time of pregnancy also causes a high chance of gestational diabetes.
Treatment
Treatment for different types of diabetes is different.
Test- Before providing drugs to the patient doctors advise going for a blood test to know more about the disease and its type.
Intake of Drugs- Doctors around the world treat the patients by providing them drugs orally or in the form of injections. As suggested by physicians’ intake of insulin in the form of injection is considered as a way to prevent the deposition of sugar in the blood and helps them reach the cells to convert in energy.
Prevention
As per the suggestion of the physicians’ Diabetes can be prevented by following some simple steps given below:
Eating healthy- It is always advisable to eat food which is lower in calories and fat whereas higher in fiber. Adding fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet is also beneficial in preventing diabetes.
Doing More Physical activities- doing physical activities for a minimum of 30 mins is very helpful for human health. It can be taking a brisk walk, swimming, dancing, or any other physical activity of your choice.
Shedding extra kilos- Getting rid of those extra kilos in the body minimizes the risk of this chronic disease. It is always good to keep your weight in a healthy range.
Healthy lifestyle- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as getting up and sleeping on time, having enough sound sleep and eating the meals properly on time also reduces the risk of diabetes.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
