What is diabetes?
In simple terms, diabetes means abnormally high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. When a person suffers from diabetes the pancreas secretes little or no insulin into the blood stream. Insulin is needed to maintain normal sugar levels in the blood and to unlock cells and help sugar move into cells where it’s used for energy. Without enough insulin, the glucose cannot enter the cells causing a number of serious health problems over time.
There are different kinds of diabetes, all requiring daily blood sugar checks and some managed through insulin-linked medication or insulin injections. The most common types are Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, affecting about 200 million people worldwide.
Type 1 Diabetes
Primarily linked to genetics, Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition where the body destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes have to take insulin to survive. It usually has an onset in childhood.
Type 2 Diabetes
Diet and lifestyle play a significant role in triggering the onset of Type 2 diabetes. In this case, insulin is produced, but the insulin doesn’t work as it should to shuttle glucose from the blood into the body’s cells. For a host of possible reasons, a resistance to insulin can build up in the body. The Beta cells (the very cells in the pancreas that produce insulin) can also fail to function properly for various reasons. When a very limited amount of glucose is entering the cells - assisted by insulin from the pancreas - dangerously high sugar levels build up in the blood and this must be addressed. Many people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes can benefit a great deal from making changes in lifestyle including healthier eating that addresses their biological needs, stress management and frequent exercise. There are studies that show that in some cases Type 2 diabetes can be reversed simply by making lifestyle changes.
Gestational Diabetes
This affects pregnant women, usually during the second or third trimester. Though they may not have had diabetes before pregnancy, they develop the illness during pregnancy most likely due to changing hormone levels, making it more difficult for the body to properly use insulin. The condition usually stabilises once a woman has given birth.
MODY
Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) is a rare form of diabetes and runs in families. It’s caused by a genetic mutation and passed on from a parent to their child. Symptoms usually start surfacing before the age of 25.
Neonatal Diabetes
This is a type of diabetes that’s diagnosed in children under the age of six months.
The 4 Ts
If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s important to contact your doctor. While these don’t necessarily mean you have diabetes, it’s always better to have the tests done to be sure:
- Thirsty. Despite drinking adequate amounts of water or other fluids, you are still extremely thirsty.
- Toilet. Since your body is trying to rid itself of excess glucose, you have a need to urinate more often, especially at night.
- Tired. With your body not producing enough energy to keep itself going, you’re constantly tired despite getting enough rest.
- Thinner. Even when you’re not trying to lose weight, your weight keeps dropping dramatically.
Other symptoms include genital itching or thrush, simple cuts and scratches take longer to heal and blurred vision.
Getting Treatment
It’s vitally important to start treatment and bring about necessary lifestyle changes the moment you’ve been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. If you ignore it or fail to maintain your glucose levels, several health issues could result, including:
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Constant headaches
- Foot ulcers and in severe cases amputation
- Heart problems
- Blindness
- Nerve damage
- Kidney failure
- Coma
Overall, diabetes can be managed if you closely monitor your blood glucose levels and stick to a healthy routine.
Source: The South African Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease