Diabetes Mellitus: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Diet – A Complete Overview
What is diabetes mellitus?
The body relies on glucose as an essential energy source for cells in muscles, tissues, and the brain. Insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas, regulates blood glucose levels. However, individuals with diabetes experience either insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or resistance of the body's cells to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels, commonly referred to as high blood sugar.
Types of diabetes include:
1. Type 1 diabetes: Characterized by an absolute lack of insulin production, it's a chronic condition where the pancreas generates minimal or no insulin.
2. Type 2 diabetes: Involves insufficient insulin use and insulin resistance. Initially, the pancreas produces extra insulin, but over time, it becomes inadequate to maintain normal blood glucose levels.
3. Gestational diabetes: Occurring during pregnancy, it involves elevated blood sugar levels in a woman without diabetes, usually resolving after childbirth. More common in the second half of pregnancy.
Diabetes risk factors:
Diabetes risk factors include a family history, obesity, age over 45, sedentary lifestyle, and other conditions like pancreatic diseases or polycystic ovary syndrome. Common symptoms encompass unintentional weight loss, persistent fatigue, blurred vision, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. Complications may lead to heart disease, nerve damage, kidney issues, retinal damage, infections, and hearing impairment. Uncontrolled diabetes poses risks during pregnancy, affecting newborns and pregnant women. Consult a doctor promptly for early detection, especially with increased risk or noticeable symptoms, to manage blood glucose levels and prevent complications. Regular checkups with an endocrinologist are crucial in diabetes care.
Diabetes diagnosis:
Diabetes diagnosis involves a comprehensive assessment by a diabetologist or endocrinologist, considering signs, symptoms, medical history, and physical examination. Tests include HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and random plasma glucose. Normal blood sugar levels for those without diabetes range from 70–99 mg/dL (3.9–5.5 mmol/L) fasting and less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) 2 hours after a meal. ADA recommends 80–130 mg/dL (4.4–7.2 mmol/L) for diabetics post-fasting. During pregnancy, fasting sugar should be below 95 mg/dL, and 2 hours after a meal, it should be less than 120 mg/dL. A normal HbA1c level is between 4% and 5.6%, while 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.read more click on the link below 👇