Diabetes is a long-lasting or chronic lifestyle condition that alters how the body transforms food into energy. It is one of the most common diseases, with over 37 million United States adults diagnosed.
The body breaks the majority of the food you eat into glucose (sugar), then releases the sugar into your bloodstream. Higher levels of blood sugar signal the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows sugar into the body cells to be used as energy.
Diabetes happens when the body does not make enough insulin or use it effectively. This can result in too much glucose in the bloodstream, which could eventually cause issues like vision loss, heart disease, and kidney disease.
There are different diabetes types, each with different causes.
Type 1 diabetes
This is an autoimmune disease where the immune systems unknowingly attack cells in the pancreas that make insulin. The destruction results in low production of insulin, meaning accumulated blood sugar.
This is a less common type of diabetes affecting around 5-10% of diabetes patients. It is also mainly diagnosed in children or young adults, and patients must take insulin daily to manage it.
Type 2 diabetes
Also known as adult-onset or non-insulin dependent, this is the most common type of diabetes, with 90-95% of diabetes patients suffering from it. It happens when the body does not use insulin as well as it should. It develops over time and is primarily diagnosed in adults.
Gestational diabetes
This type of diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have not had diabetes before. It is usually caused by insulin-blocking hormones from the placenta but goes away after the pregnancy.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes happens when blood sugar levels are above normal but not high enough to cause type 2 diabetes.
While diabetes can happen to many people, some factors increase your chances of getting it, depending on the type of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes
Most of the diabetes types have the same symptoms, but they develop differently. In type 1 diabetes, the symptoms develop quickly and are easier to diagnose. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes symptoms develop slowly over time. That makes it easier to ignore the signs until complications start happening.
Here are the symptoms to look out for.
High blood glucose levels for a long time could damage your organs and cause some of the following complications.
Gestational diabetes might cause premature birth, having a child with higher-than-typical birth weight, jaundice, low blood sugar, stillbirth, and higher chances of type 2 diabetes later.
Doctors diagnose diabetes by checking your blood sugar levels. Below are the most common tests they use.
There is no known cure for diabetes, but the following practices will ensure you manage its symptoms.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.