What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a
category of metabolic disorders characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar
(glucose) arising from insulin secretion deficiencies, or their intervention,
or both. Diabetes mellitus, generally known as diabetes, was first known as a
"sweet urine"-related disorder, and severe loss of muscle in the
ancient past. Elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) contribute to
glucose spillage into the urine, therefore the name sweet urine.
Blood glucose levels are
normally closely regulated by insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas.
Insulin reduces blood glucose. When blood glucose raises (e.g. after consuming
food), insulin is released by the pancreas to normalize the level of glucose by
facilitating glucose uptake into body cells.
For patients with diabetes,
hyperglycemia is caused by a lack of production or a lack of response to
insulin. Diabetes is a chronic health condition, meaning it lasts a lifetime,
but it can be managed.
Diabetes symptoms and early
signs
- Extreme fatigue
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
due to fluctuation of blood glucose levels
- Increased
thirst
- Frequent
urination
How do you know if you have
Diabetes?
Most people are not aware
of having diabetes, particularly in its early stages when symptoms may not
occur.
There's no definitive way
to know whether you have diabetes without having to perform blood tests to
assess your blood glucose levels.
What causes diabetes mellitus?
Insufficient insulin
production (whether absolute or proportional to the requirements of the body),
the development of faulty insulin (which is rare), or the cells' failure to use
insulin correctly and efficiently contributes to hyperglycemia and diabetes.
Absolute insulin
deficiency, typically secondary to a damaging mechanism that affects the
insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, is the primary type 1 diabetes
condition.
There is also a steady
decline in beta cells in type 2 diabetes which adds to the progression of
increased blood sugars. Fundamentally, if one is insulin resistant, the body
will increase insulin production to a level, and conquer the resistance level.
Hyperglycemia occurs over time as production declines and insulin cannot be
released actively.
Understanding Insulin
Insulin is a hormone
released by the pancreatic specialized cells (beta-cells). Besides helping
glucose reach the cells, insulin is also essential for tight regulation of
blood glucose levels. The blood glucose concentration goes up after a meal. The
pancreas discharges more insulin into the bloodstream in response to the
increased levels of glucose to help glucose enter the cells and lower blood
glucose levels after a meal. Once the glucose levels are reduced, it shuts down
the insulin release from the pancreas.
It is important to remember
that there is a low steady release of insulin even in the fasting state which
fluctuates a little and helps keep a stable level of blood sugar during
fasting. This regulatory system helps maintain blood glucose levels within a
strictly controlled range in normal individuals.
Risk factors for diabetes
Risk factors are not as
well known for type 1 diabetes as those for type 2 diabetes. A family history
of diabetes is one known risk factor for type 1 diabetes as it is a result
of the body failing to produce insulin. Certain risk factors may include other
pancreatic diseases or illnesses.
There are many risk factors
relating to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The following could increase the
likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes:
- Increasing age
- Obesity
- Family history
of diabetes
- Insulin
resistance
- High blood
pressure
- Gestational
diabetes
What are the different
types of diabetes?
There are two main diabetes
types, called type 1 and type 2. Previously, type 1 diabetes was also known as
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), or juvenile-onset diabetes
mellitus. The pancreas undergoes an autoimmune attack by the body itself in
type 1 diabetes and is made incapable of producing insulin.
Type 1 diabetes patients
have abnormal antibodies. These antibodies are blood-proteins that are
components of the body's immune system. For survival, patients with type 1
diabetes have to depend on insulin medication.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a
disease in which the immune system kills cells in your pancreas (beta cells)
that makeup insulin. The immune system mistakenly produces inflammatory cells
and antibodies which are directed towards patients' body tissues and cause
damage. The propensity to produce irregular antibodies in type 1 diabetes is
known to be genetically inherited in part although the specifics are not
completely understood.
Environmental toxins or
exposure to certain viral infections that trigger abnormal antibody responses
which cause significant damage to the pancreatic cells where insulin is
generated. Type 1 diabetes tends to develop in young, overweight individuals,
usually below the age of 30, although older patients also have this form of
diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
What is type 2 diabetes?
Historically type 2
diabetes was referred to as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), or
adult-onset diabetes mellitus (AODM). Patients can still produce insulin in
type 2 diabetes but do so fairly inadequately for the needs of their bodies. A
critical component of type 2 diabetes is a lack of tolerance of the body's
cells (especially muscle and fat cells) towards insulin.
Besides the issues of an
increase in insulin resistance, insulin release by the pancreas can also be
deficient and suboptimal. Besides, in type 2 diabetes there is a documented
steady decline in insulin production of beta cells, which leads to
deteriorating glucose control.
Gestational Diabetes
Diabetes may occur briefly
during pregnancy, and studies indicate that all pregnancies, gestational
diabetes occurs in 2 percent to 10 percent. In genetically predisposed
individuals, significant hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to an
elevation in blood sugar. An increase in blood glucose level during pregnancy
is known as gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes typically resolves as
soon as the child is born.
Risk factors for gestational diabetes
Ø
Obesity
Ø
High level of abdominal fat
Ø
Family history of diabetes
What are the symptoms for gestational diabetes
Some of the signs include
Ø
Fatigue
Ø
Having dry mouth
Ø
Feeling unusual thirst
Secondary diabetes
Secondary diabetes refers
to elevated levels of blood sugar from another medical condition. Secondary
diabetes may develop when the pancreatic tissue responsible for insulin
production is damaged by a disease such as chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic
surgery, or trauma.
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