When your blood glucose, commonly known as blood sugar, is too high, you develop diabetes. Your primary energy source is blood glucose, which is obtained from the food you eat. The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which facilitates the entry of food-derived glucose into your cells for energy production. Your body occasionally produces insufficient or no insulin, or it uses insulin poorly. After that, glucose remains in your circulation and does not enter your cells.
When the pancreas can no longer generate insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it does produce, diabetes develops. The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which functions as a key to allow glucose from food to enter the body’s cells where it may be used to make energy. All foods containing carbohydrates are converted to glucose in the blood. Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose by cells.
Over time, health issues might result from having too much glucose in the blood. Despite the fact that there is no treatment for diabetes, you can manage it and maintain your health. Diabetes is occasionally referred to as “borderline diabetes” or “a touch of sugar.” These phrases imply that a person doesn’t actually have diabetes or has a less severe condition, however diabetes always has major consequences.
There are three types of diabetes and they are explained as follows:
1. Type 1
Although type 1 diabetes can manifest at any age, children and adolescents are the most commonly affected. In order to keep blood glucose levels under control when you have type 1 diabetes, you need daily insulin injections since your body either generates very little or no insulin.
2. Type 2
Adults are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, which makes up around 90% of all instances of the disease. The insulin that your body generates is not properly utilized when you have type 2 diabetes. The cornerstone of type 2 diabetes treatment is leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes more exercise and a balanced diet. But over time, the majority of patients with type 2 diabetes will need oral medications and/or insulin to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
3. Gestational diabetes
High blood glucose levels occur during pregnancy and are a symptom of gestational diabetes (GDM), a kind of diabetes that can cause problems for both the mother and the unborn child. GDM often goes away after pregnancy, but both the affected mothers and their offspring are more likely to acquire type 2 diabetes in the future.
The severity of diabetes symptoms is influenced by blood sugar levels. Some people may not exhibit symptoms, particularly if they have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes may appear suddenly and are more severe.
Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes can both cause the following symptoms:
- Noticing a greater than normal thirst
- Frequent urination
- Weight loss without exerting effort
- Ketones are present in the urine. When there is insufficient insulin available, muscle and fat are broken down, producing ketones as a consequence
- Becoming worn out and fragile
- Irritated or experiencing other mood swings
- Having visual problems
- Having wounds that take a long time to heal
- Getting several infections, including vaginal, skin, and mouth infections
Diabetes type 1 can develop at any age. However, it frequently begins in infancy or adolescence. The more prevalent kind of diabetes, type 2, can manifest at any age. People over 40 are more likely to have type 2 diabetes.
The majority of women who acquire gestational diabetes show no symptoms. When doing a regular oral glucose tolerance test or blood sugar test, which is often done between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, medical professionals frequently find the issue. A person with gestational diabetes may, in extremely rare circumstances, also feel increased thirst or urination.
The causes of diabetes are as follows:
- The immune system wrongly targets and kills insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas for some unknown cause
- is the result of a mix of lifestyle and genetic factors. Your risk is further increased if you are overweight or obese
- The hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy are the cause of it
- Some people may be affected by their genes. Additionally, a virus may trigger an immune system assault
Because type 1 diabetes is an immune system disorder, it cannot be prevented. You also have no influence over some type 2 diabetes factors, such as your genes or age. However, many more diabetes risk factors are controllable. The majority of diabetes preventive techniques include making small changes to your diet and exercise regimen.
