What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a long-lasting health issue that influences how your body turns food into energy. Ordinarily, your body splits food into glucose (sugar) and it goes into your bloodstream. Insulin is the hormone that allows the glucose to enter your cells for energy.

If you have diabetes, your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or it can't use what it produces effectively. This causes a build-up of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia) that can damage organs, blood vessels, and nerves over time.

Knowing some of the basic characteristics of diabetes is the first step in prevention, early diagnosis, and improved management of the condition.]

The 3 Main Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes:

It is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the cells in the pancreas that create insulin. It often occurs in children, teenagers, and young adults, but can begin at any age. Individuals with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin every day or have insulin delivered by an insulin pump to survive; therefore, they will always be dependent on this hormone. Type 1 diabetes makes up 5-10% of all diabetes cases.

Type 2 Diabetes:

Is the most prevalent type, making up the 90-95% of all individuals with diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, the body is not able to use insulin effectively. Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in individuals over 40 years of age but is more frequently occurring now in younger patients who have poor lifestyle habits. Type 2 diabetes can frequently be treated by lifestyle habits (diet, exercise), oral medications, and sometimes insulins.

Gestational Diabetes:

Develops during pregnancy and typically goes away after pregnancy. It increases the risk of complications for the mother and the baby. Women with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Key Causes and Risk Factors:

There is not one cause of diabetes, but there are genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors involved:

1. Family history of diabetes.
2. Obesity or being overweight.
3. Physical inactivity.
4. Unhealthy eating patterns (i.e., high sugar and processed foods).
5. Older age (especially over 45).
6. Women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
7. History of gestational diabetes.
8. Understanding your risk can have you making lifestyle changes to help prevent diabetes.

Early Signs and Symptoms:

If you can recognize symptoms early, they can prevent life-threatening consequences. The symptoms include:

1. Excessive thirst and/or frequent urination.
2. Increased hunger even after eating.
3. Unexplained weight loss (more common in type 1 diabetes).
4. Fatigue or extreme tiredness.
5. Blurred vision.
6. Wounds or sores that do not heal.
7. Frequent infections (skin, gum, urinary tract).
8. Pains or tingling in the hands or feet (sign of nerve damage).

If you are experiencing symptoms, you need to have your blood sugar tested as soon as possible!

Why Does Early Diagnosis Matter?

Unregulated diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, eye damage, and amputations. However, with proper and timely diagnosis and treatment, individuals with diabetes can have a long, active, and fulfilling lives.

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