Diabetes is a chronic disease which arises either because of the inability of the pancreas to generate sufficient insulin or the failure of the body to efficiently utilize the insulin produced. Insulin is the blood sugar regulating hormone. Blood sugar is crucial to the humans’ health since it is a critical energy source for the cells which comprise the body tissues and muscles (Mayo Clinic, 2018). It is also the primary energy source for the human brain. The primary cause of diabetes differs with the type. However, irrespective of the type of diabetes one has, it could result in excess sugar in their blood. Excess sugar in the blood could trigger severe health issues. Chronic diabetes diseases consist of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes diseases which can be potentially reversed are pre-diabetes – when the levels of blood sugar are above the average although not too high to be categorized as diabetes – as well as gestational diabetes, a condition that emerges in pregnancy although it might end after delivery.
There are an estimated 30.2 million people aged over 18 years in the US with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. This figure symbolizes 27.9% - 32.7% of the population (Nall, 2018). Without continuous, careful management, diabetes could result in an accumulation of sugars in the blood that could increase the risk of harmful complications like heart disease and stroke. Various types of diabetes may arise, and managing the disease depends on the type. All types of diabetes originate from an individual being overweight or living an inactive lifestyle.
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Types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
It is described as an insulin-dependent diabetes. I was formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes since it frequently arises in infancy. It is an autoimmune disorder, and it emerges if the body uses antibodies to attack the pancreas (Mayo Clinic, 2018). The damaged pancreas of persons with type 1 diabetes cannot secrete insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes
It is the form of diabetes with the highest prevalence. It makes up 95% of cases of diabetes in grown-ups. Approximately 26 million adults in America have been identified with the condition (Nall, 2018). Initially, Type 2 diabetes was called adult-onset diabetes, although due to the prevalence of overweight and obese children, more teens are now getting type 2. Often, type 2 diabetes is milder than type 1. Typically, with type 2, the pancreas generates some insulin. However, either the produced amount is insufficient for the needs of the body, or the cells of body resist the insulin. Insulin resistance takes place largely in the liver, muscle cells, and fat. Overweight persons are at a greater risk of suffering from type 2 and its associated health conditions because overweight persons have resistance to insulin. Due to the resistance insulin, the pancreas works overly hard to make more insulin, but it is unable to produce adequate insulin to maintain normal sugar levels.
Gestational Diabetes
It is diabetes caused by pregnancy. Often, it is identified in the mid or late gestation. Since high levels of blood sugar in mothers are distributed via the placenta to the body, it is essential to control gestational diabetes to safeguard the baby’s development and growth. The National Institutes of Health report that the gestational diabetes rate accounts for 2%-10% of all pregnancies. Usually, gestational diabetes dissapears once the mother gives birth (The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2016).
Nevertheless, mothers suffering from gestational diabetes have a higher likelihood of contracting type 2 in later life. About 10 percent of mothers with gestational diabetes contract type 2. Gestational diabetes presents higher threats to the unborn child than the mother. Threats to the unborn child comprise breathing difficulties at birth, unusual weight gain before delivery, and a higher possibility of diabetes and obesity later in adulthood. Mothers are exposed to risks such as a need for a cesarean section because of overly big body, along with damage to the eye, nerves, kidney, and heart.
Symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes differ subject to the amount of increased blood sugar. Some individuals, particularly the ones who have type 2 or pre-diabetes, might not witness symptoms at first. Symptoms in type 1 are likely to be more rapidly and more serious. Some signs of type 1 and 2 diabetes include:
Fatigue
Augmented thirst
Increased urination
Unexpected weight loss
Extreme hunger
Irritability
Slow-healing sores
Blurred vision
Numbness
Recurrent infections like vaginal infections and skin infections.
Causes of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
What exactly causes type 1 is unidentified. However, it is known that one's immune system – which usually fights dangerous viruses and bacteria – attacks and damages the pancreatic insulin-producing cells. Consequently, the body is left with little or not any insulin. Rather than being circulated into the body cells, sugar accumulates in the blood (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Type 1 is believed to be triggered by a set of environmental and genetic vulnerability factors, although precisely what such features are is yet not clear.
Pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes
In type 2 and pre-diabetes, the cells have resistance to insulin activity, and the pancreas is cannot generate sufficient insulin for overcoming the resistance. The sugar, rather than circulating to the cells where it is needed for energy, it accumulates in the blood. It is uncertain what exactly causes this, even though it is thought that environmental and genetic factors trigger the onset of type 2 diabetes (Nall, 2018). Obesity is intensely connected type 2 diabetes development, although not every person with form of diabetes is obese.
Gestational Diabetes
In gestation, hormones are produced by placenta for sustaining the pregnancy. The hormones make the cells have more insulin resistance. Generally, the pancreas responds through the production of adequate additional insulin for overcoming the resistance. However, at times the pancreas is unable to keep up (Watson, 2018). If this occurs, only a small amount of glucose absorbed by the cells, while excessive glucose remains in the blood, causing gestational diabetes.
Risk Factors
Each type of diabetes has its specific risk features.
Type 1 Diabetes
While the precise cause of this form of diabetes is not known, factors which might signal a higher risk are:
Family history: when one of the family members has type 1 diabetes, one's risk increases.
Environmental factors: Situations like being exposed to a viral infection tend to play some part in this type of diabetes.
Autoantibodies: People with autoantibodies (cells which damage the immune system) have higher risk of getting type 1, although not every person with autoantibodies can develop diabetes (Nall, 2018).
Location: Some regions or countries like Sweden and Finland have higher rates for type 1.
Type 2 Diabetes and Pre-diabetes
Weight: the higher the weight, the higher the risk for getting type 2 and pre-diabetes.
Inactivity: the less active one is, the higher the risk.
Family history: if any family member has type 2, the risk is higher.
Race: Some races like blacks, Asian-Americans, American-Indians, and Hispanics are at greater risk.
Age: The older one gets, the higher the risk.
Gestational diabetes: women with this form of diabetes are at greater risk.
High blood pressure
High levels of cholesterol and triglyceride (Nall, 2018).
Gestational Diabetes
Race: Some races like black, American Indian, Hispanic, or Asian women are at a greater risk of getting this gestational diabetes.
Weight: Overweight women before pregnancy are at higher risk.
Family or personal history – having a history of pre-diabetes or a family member having type 2 diabetes increases the risk.
Age: Women aged above 25 are at greater risk.
Diabetes Consequences/Complications
Cardiovascular Disease: Diabetes gradually raises the risk of different cardiovascular conditions like heart attack, angina, coronary artery disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis (Nall, 2018).
Neuropathy (nerve damage): Excessive sugar could damage blood capillaries that nourish the nerves, especially in legs. Such could trigger numbness, tingling, or pain, which normally starts at the toe tips or fingertips and slowly spreads upwards (Watson, 2018).
Nephropathy: Diabetes could destroy glomeruli in the kidneys, leading to kidney failure or conditions.
Retinopathy: Diabetes could destroy the retina blood vessels and upturn risk of other severe vision disorders like glaucoma (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
Foot damage: Diabetes could damage foot nerves, leading to reduced blood floor to the foot, which raises different foot complications.
Skin conditions: diabetes could expose one to skin diseases like fungal and bacterial infections.
Hearing deficiency: Hearing conditions are more prevalent in individuals who have diabetes.
Depression: People who have type 1 and 2 diabetes show symptoms of depression.
Gestational Diabetes Complications
Complications to the Baby
Low blood sugar
Excessive growth
Type 2 diabetes later in life
Stillbirth
Premature birth
Jaundice
Death
Complications to Mother
High blood pressure (preeclampsia)
Type 2 diabetes at later life
Diabetes Management
Eating Healthy Foods – Choosing foods with lower calories and fat and higher fiber-content could help in managing diabetes (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
Getting more physical activity: exercising for thirty minutes each day or walking, swimming, riding a bike could help manage diabetes.
Losing excess weight: overweight people could manage diabetes by losing excess weight.
Abstaining from taking excess amounts of alcohol or drinking less than one drink a day for females or two for males could help in managing the disease (Nall, 2018).
Medication: taking insulin and other medicines of diabetes could lower the blood sugar levels and help in managing diabetes (Watson, 2018).
Reducing stress: avoiding stressful events, as hormones in the body could increase the blood sugar level in response to prolonged stress.
References
Mayo Clinic. (2018, August 8). Diabetes - Symptoms, and causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc- 20371444
Nall, R. (2018). Diabetes: Symptoms, treatment, and early diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323627.php
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (2016, November 30). Symptoms & Causes of Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes
Watson, S. (2018). Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, and More. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes#diet
