Hi Steemians! Do you know that diabetes is one of the most common lifelong disease affecting us these days?
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus is a medical condition where the person has high blood sugar (blood glucose) level in the body. This is either because the insulin production is inadequate, or the body’s cell do not respond appropriately to insulin, or both.
For your information, insulin is a hormone (or a chemical messenger) produced by pancreas, to use blood glucose from carbohydrates in your food for energy production or to store glucose for future use.
Without adequate insulin, your body cannot get enough energy for daily activities even though you have consumed enough carbohydrates. Without insulin, your glucose stays in your blood.
With a high blood glucose level in your body, you can have prediabetes. Prediabetes means that your blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Having prediabetes will puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
For diabetes patients, their risk of getting heart diseases are much higher than others, therefore it is crucial to have their blood pressure and cholesterol level monitored regularly.
Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition, there is no cure. However, with appropriate management and changes in lifestyle, people with diabetes are also able to stay healthy and lead normal lives.
What Are The Types of Diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
- It is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes happens because the body does not produce insulin.
- People usually develop type 1 diabetes in teenage years or early adulthood (before 40 years old).
- Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for lifetime.
With insulin injections, and healthy lifestyle (balanced diets and adequate exercise), type 1 diabetes patients can also lead a normal life.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- The more common type of diabetes. Up to 90% of diabetes patients worldwide are type 2.
- Type 2 diabetes happens when our body does not make or use insulin well enough (insulin resistance).
- Type 2 patients need to follow a healthy diet, be physically active as well as monitor their glucose level regularly. They may need to take oral medications or insulin to control their sugar levels.
Risk Factors of Getting Diabetes?
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise
- Unbalanced diet: high intake of fast foods, processed foods, poor quality fats, too much carbohydrates and lack of vegetables/fruits.
- High blood pressure
- History of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- Family history
- Old age (45 years old or older)
What Are The Symptoms of Diabetes?
The most common symptoms of diabetes are:
- Intense thirst
- Frequent urination
- Intense hungry
- Weight gain (due to increased food intake)
- Fatigue (because body cannot produce enough energy for daily activities)
- Unusual weight loss (because of constant lack of energy production over a period of time)
- Cuts and bruises that do not heal
- Male sexual dysfunction
- Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
What Will Happen if Too Much Glucose Stays in Your Blood for A Long Time?
Over the time, too much glucose levels in your blood can leads to heart disease or stroke. It can also damage your eyes, kidney, and nerves. In worst case scenario, you may have to remove your limb.
However, with proper management, all these problems can be avoided.
Prevention is Always Better Than Cure
The best way is to be physically active, have a balanced diet and manage your stress properly! :)
Stay tuned for Diabetes Part 2: Tips for Controlling Your Sugar Levels!
-JiaFui