ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIABETES?
About Diabetes
Is diabetes a disease? Yes, diabetes is considered a chronic disease. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. When there isn't enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in our blood. This can cause serious health problems, over time.
Signs and Symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes symptoms are caused by rising blood sugar.
The common signs are:
● increased hunger
● increased thirst
● weight loss
● frequent urination
● blurry vision
● extreme fatigue
● sores that don’t heal
In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may have a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and poor muscle strength & women with diabetes can have vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections, yeast infections as well as dry and itchy skin.
What causes diabetes?
Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes:
● Doctors don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. Genes may play a role in some people. It’s also possible that a virus sets off an immune system attack.
● Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Obesity increases the risk and it is hereditary also.
● Gestational diabetes occurs as the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Moreover, family history, environment, and pre-existing medical conditions can all affect your odds of developing diabetes.
Diabetes normal range
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. A blood glucose test is a blood test that screens for diabetes by measuring the level of glucose in a person's blood. Normal blood glucose levels (while fasting) range from 70 to 99 mg/dL. 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.
What are the 5 types of Diabetes?
Diabetes types can be categorized as:
1. Type 1: It is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made.
2. Type 2: It occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood. It’s the most common type.
3. Type 3: Known as brain diabetes, is the presence of the APOE4 gene that interrupts how the brain processes insulin.
4. Gestational: It is a condition of high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.
5. LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults occurs because the pancreas stops producing adequate amounts of insulin due to an autoimmune disease that slowly damages the pancreas's insulin-producing cells.
Difference between diabetes 1 and 2