Learn about Diabetes: Types, Causes, Symptoms and Management

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which there are abnormally high glucose levels in the blood. This generally culminates from either the body's inability to produce enough insulin or its inability to utilize the insulin that it does produce properly. Insulin is a vital hormone to the regulatory process of blood sugar. With the malfunctions of this hormone, glucose starts accumulating in the blood due to its inability to enter the cells and consequently results in high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). It affects millions of people across the world and can be kept under control by medication combined with certain alterations in lifestyle.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the ability to regulate the conversion of glucose in blood is impaired. Glucose is the form of sugar that provides energy in our body, and we derive it mainly from the dietary intake of carbohydrates. Normally, the hormone insulin acts as a "key", facilitating glucose entry into the cells. When this hormone is either not produced in adequate amounts or its action is disrupted, the level of glucose in the blood rises, resulting in high blood sugar. High blood sugar over a long time can result in severe complications or death from strokes, heart attacks, nerve damage, and blindness.

The name "diabetes" describes two quite different diseases, both of which produce excessive thirst and urination. One is much more common than the other; hence, this more common disease is simply called diabetes mellitus to distinguish it from the rarer form, called diabetes insipidus, which has different causes and treatments.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

• Description : Autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes usually develops in childhood and the young were years, but it can develop in adults. Only about 10% of patients with Diabetes have Type 1.
• Treatments: Life –long treatment with insulin is require because the body won't make insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes

• Definition: a Condition in which the body develops resistance to insulin or when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. It generally affects adults but is now being found in children due to increasing obesity. It Accounts for 90-95% of diabetes.
• Treatment: Often controlled by changes made in lifestyle, oral medications, or in some cases with insulin.

Pre-diabetes

• Definition: A precursor of Type 2 diabetes with less severe increases in blood glucose that are insufficient to be diagnosed as diabetes. It signifies a higher than typical risk for the onset of Type 2 diabetes in the future.
• Treatment: Progression to Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented in those at high risk by changes in lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise.

Gestational Diabetes

• Definition : It developed during pregnancy. It usually goes after delivery, but the affected woman has a higher probability of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future .
• Treatment : Diet and exercise. Insulin is given if needed.

Other types

Type 3c diabetes - occurs due to damage o the pancreas from diseases such as pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.

• LADA: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults—Like type 1 diabetes, but it develops more slowly; often diagnosed in people over age 30.
• MODY: Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young—Due to genetic mutations which affect insulin production and use; up to 5 percent of people with diabetes have MODY.
• Neonatal Diabetes: Occurring exactly in babies under six months of age, it can either be permanent or transient.
• Brittle Diabetes: The most acute form of Type 1 diabetes, marked by erratic mood swings in blood sugar levels.

How Common is Diabetes?

Diabetes is an epidemic worldwide. Approximately 37.3 million in the United States have diabetes, amounting to 11% of the population—Type 2 is the most prevailing. There are an estimated 537 million adults worldwide living with diabetes, projected to be 643 million in 2030 and 783 million in 2045.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms of Diabetes

Symptoms differ with the kind of diabetes but, in general, include:

• Increased Thirst: Persistent thirst and dry mouth.
• Frequent Urination: Increased need to urinate, especially at night.
• Fatigue: Constant tiredness and lack of energy.
• Blurred Vision: Difficulty seeing clearly.
• Unexplained Weight Loss: Loss of weight despite normal or increased eating.
• Numbness or Tingling: Especially in hands or feet.
• Slow-Healing Sores: Cuts and wounds that take longer to heal.
• Recurrent Infections: Of the skin, bladder, or vagina.

Further Information if you Have the Chance

• Type 1 Diabetes: Symptoms may appear relatively abruptly and be intense, including DKA, to which belong nausea, abdominal pain, fruity smell of the breath, and Kussmaul's breathing.
• Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes: Gradual, and all but unnoticeable. It is frequently high blood sugar that is diagnosed incidentally after loss of some weight. Just as often, it first reveals itself when a routine check for glucose tolerance done.
• Gestational Diabetes: Typically asymptomatic; it is tested around 24–28 weeks of pregnancy.

Etiology of Diabetes

Etiology of diabetes varies by type:

• Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Insulin resistance from factors like obesity, inactivity, poor diet, and genetic predisposition.
• Gestational Diabetes: Hormonal changes in pregnancy cause insulin resistance.
• Type 3c Diabetes: Diseases such as pancreatitis destroy the pancreas.

The genetic defects that have been discovered in patients suffering from MODY and neonatal diabetes always don't involve Insulin and its action. Apart from this, there are other symptoms of diabetes, such as acute and long-term complications. They are;

Acute Complications:

• HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State): It is a condition involving severe glucose levels in the blood that may cause greathydration and confusion in the patient.
• DKA or Diabetic Ketoacidosis: It's a death-causing medical condition provoked by a total loss of insulin in the body. It eventually causes the blood acidity.
• Severe Hypoglycemia: This elaborates the state of having very low glucose levels in blood and is accompanied by confusion, lack of coordination, and even convulsions
• Cardiovascular Problems: Cor­onary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
• Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Numbness in lower and upper extremities, pain, and loss of sensation.
• Kidney Damage (Nephropathy): Kidney failure.
• Eye Complications (Retinopathy): Blindness.
• Foot Problems: Infections and ulcers.
• Skin Problems: Susceptible to infections.
• Sexual Problems: Impotence (erectile dysfunction).

It affects mental health as well; people with diabetes have a higher chance of falling into depression.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of diabetes depends on the measurement of glucose levels in blood by various tests.

• Fasting Blood Glucose Test: blood sugar can be checked after fasting overnight.
• Random Blood Glucose Test: This can be carried out at any time and doesn't base on eating.
• A1c Test: about average glucose for the past 2-3 months.

Diagnostic Criteria

• Fasting Blood Glucose: Less than 100 mg/dL is normal; 100-125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes; 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.
• Random Blood Glucose: 200 mg/dL or higher with symptoms indicates diabetes.
• A1c: Less than 5.7% is normal; 5.7%-6.4% indicates prediabetes; 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.

Management and Treatment

How is Diabetes Managed?

Effective diabetes management involves:

• Blood Sugar Monitoring: Regular checks using a glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to manage blood sugar levels.
• Oral Medications: The most common oral medication prescribed is usually metformin for Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
• Insulin Therapy: Types and methods vary greatly for patients with Type 1 diabetes and, occasionally, for patients with Type 2 diabetes.
• Diet: Meal planning, carbohydrate counting to control blood sugar
• Exercise: Regular physical activity to enhance insulin sensitivity and control blood sugar

Prevention

How Can I Prevent Diabetes?

Although autoimmune and genetic forms of diabetes cannot be prevented, the risk for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes can be reduced by eating a healthy diet that contains foods from all food groups in the amounts recommended by MyPlate. Be active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Maintain a healthy weight for your body type. Manage stress.

• Limiting Alcohol: As much as can be avoided to prevent complications
• Having Enough Sleep: 7-9 hours in a day
• Smoking Cessation: avoiding the use of tobacco. It increases the chances of acquiring diabetes.
• Medication: Taking one's prescribed treatments for disease associated with it to reduce severe complications

Prognosis/ Outlook

What is the Outlook for Diabetes?

• The outlook/survival rate/outlook of diabetes is dependent on very many factors other than just.
• Type of Diabetes: Its management and risk of having complications.
• Management: It can be done by making lifestyle changes or need for better treatment for diabetes.
• Complications: Relationship of presence or severity of complications and impact on overall health and QOL.

Diabetes is among the top causes of death in the US, and the disease can severely affect many years of life and the quality of life if not treated or managed as appropriate. Research suggests that untreated or inappropriately managed diabetes can cause severe complications and high rates of mortality. Still, with proper treatment and management, most patients can live healthy and active lives with diabetes successfully.

Living with Diabetes

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

If you wish for symptoms of diabetes, or if you have a family member who has diabetes and knows you are at risk because of age or any other, contact a medical provider for medical assessment. Early diagnosis and medical control are key to living a healthy life with diabetes without complications. Regular medical checkups are necessary to observe the dynamics of the disease in order to change treatment plans if need be.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a complex and long-term condition that is prevalent in the world. Awareness of the various forms of diabetes, their signs, etiology, and ways of managing diabetes, is a valuable key to treat and prevent the onset of diabetes-associated complications. Pre-emptive lifestyle modifications, preluding early therapeutic interventions, and taking responsibility for self-care may result in stages of disease control in which people with diabetes can strive to live a good-quality life. These basic principles go a long way toward living well with diabetes: regular monitoring, a balanced healthy diet, and physical activity; adherence to prescribed treatment.