Diabetes is one of the common chronic diseases, and it has many types that differ from each other in the causes of the disease, the speed with which symptoms develop, and the possibility of preventing the disease. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by changing the lifestyle through following a low-carbohydrate diet. Getting rid of excess weight and exercising. In this article, we will show definition of diabetes, its symptoms, and risk factors for developing it.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a group of conditions in which the body does not produce enough or no insulin , or cannot properly use the insulin that is produced. The body becomes unable to transfer sugar from the blood into the cells. Which leads to high blood sugar levels.
Insulin transports glucose from the blood into the cells, and insulin deficiency or insulin resistance leads to the accumulation of glucose in the blood, as glucose is one of the main sources of energy in the body and is the form of sugar present in the blood, and a high percentage in the blood leads to health problems.
Types of diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes :
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Pregnancy diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes often results from an autoimmune reaction, which makes the body unable to make insulin completely. This type of diabetes is characterized by the complete absence of insulin from the body, which makes the person with it need to take insulin on a daily basis, and often develops Symptoms quickly, and until now scientists have not found an effective way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas secretes insulin, but in an amount that may not be sufficient, or it is secreted in sufficient quantity, but the body cannot use it properly due to cell resistance to insulin . In both cases, the body becomes unable to maintain blood sugar at normal levels.
Type 2 diabetes develops over many years and may not be accompanied by any symptoms, so it is important to test blood sugar levels periodically, especially in people who are at high risk of developing it, such as people who have a family history of diabetes or who suffer from obesity.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented through lifestyle changes through:
- Getting rid of excess weight.
- Follow a low-carb diet.
- Do moderate exercise.
Pregnancy diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. It increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after birth. However, having gestational diabetes makes the newborn more vulnerable to some health problems, such as obesity, in childhood or adolescence, and he also has an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in his life.
Prediabetes
In prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Having prediabetes increases the risk of many diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. But the good news is that it is possible to reverse prediabetes and prevent the development of type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes.
Symptoms of diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Increased thirst.
- Dry mouth.
- Blurred vision.
- frequent urination.
- Tired.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Feeling of tingling and numbness in the hands and feet.
- Delayed and slow healing of wounds or ulcers.
- Vaginal yeast infections.
Additional details about symptoms for each type of diabetes include:
- Type 1 diabetes
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop over several weeks or months, and may be accompanied by additional symptoms indicating a serious complication called diabetes-related ketoacidosis that is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include:
- Vomiting
- stomach pain.
- The mouth smells like fruit.
- difficulty breathing.
- Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes
Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes may not be accompanied by any symptoms or the patient may not be able to notice them, as a routine blood test may show high blood sugar levels before symptoms are recognized. Another possible sign of diabetes is dark skin in certain parts of the body ( Acanthosis nigricans).
- Pregnancy diabetes
Pregnant women usually do not notice any symptoms of gestational diabetes, and the doctor supervising the pregnancy often performs a routine gestational diabetes test between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.
Risk factors for diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
The risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not completely clear, and scientists believe that it is caused by an autoimmune reaction. Possible risk factors include:
- Age : Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually appears in children, teenagers, or young adults.
- Family history: Having a parent, brother or sister with type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include:
- overweight.
- People over 45 years of age.
- One of the parents, brother or sister has type 2 diabetes.
- Inactivity or lack of physical activity.
- Gestational diabetes.
People with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are also at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Recovery advice from Team 5.6
Changing lifestyle and following a low-carbohydrate diet helps prevent type 2 diabetes. It also helps control the blood sugar level in type 2 diabetes patients. This is beneficial in recovering from diabetes and achieving the possibility of dispensing with medication, and this in itself is a guarantee. By radically and effectively changing the lives of diabetics.
the reviewer
https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/types-of-diabetes
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7104-diabetes
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