What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body cannot
produce insulin or use existing insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the
pancreas. It is necessary for the transfer of glucose (sugar) from the blood
into the cells of the body, which receive energy through it. When insulin is
not enough or it does not work properly, the level of glucose in the blood
rises.
Diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests showing high blood
glucose levels.
Over time, high blood glucose (also known as hyperglycemia)
can cause damage to the blood vessels and tissues of the body, which in turn
can lead to life-threatening complications and disability.
Diabetes 1 type2
In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks the
insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. As a result, the body loses the
ability to produce the insulin it needs. The reason for the development of this
type of diabetes is not fully known and not fully understood. This disease
occurs in people of any age, but more often in children or adolescents.
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People with this form of diabetes need insulin every day to
control their blood glucose levels. Without insulin, a person with type 1
diabetes can quickly develop a life-threatening condition known as diabetic
ketoacidosis, which can be fatal in the absence of prompt and correct
treatment. But with daily insulin therapy, regular monitoring of blood glucose
levels, healthy eating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, people with type 1
diabetes can lead a normal, healthy life.
Type 2 diabetes2
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It is
usually diagnosed in adults, but is increasingly common in children and
adolescents. With type 2 diabetes, the body can produce insulin, but it becomes
insulin resistant, so insulin stops working properly. Over time, insulin levels
may become too low and ineffective. Both insulin resistance and low insulin
levels result in high blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.
Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2
diabetes do not need to receive insulin every day. For such people, control of
the disease includes a proper balanced diet, increased physical activity,
control of body weight and, if necessary, medication. There are various types
of drugs (in pill form) as well as injectable treatment methods, including
insulin, which are designed to control blood glucose levels for people with
type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes
Sometimes the level of glucose in the blood can be higher
than normal, but not high enough to match the level of diabetes. This condition
is called prediabetes, and it can develop into type 2 diabetes and heart
disease.2
If you are told that you are at risk for developing diabetes
or you have a pre-diabetic condition, be aware that you can take measures to
prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. By making some changes to your
lifestyle now, you can avoid or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and other
complications, such as heart disease, in the future. It's never too late to
start.
If your doctor said that you have prediabetes, be sure to
undergo screening for diabetes every year.3 And also follow the recommendations
to prevent type 2 diabetes: lose weight, start exercising, go on a healthy
diet.
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Gestational diabetes2
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes or high blood
glucose level, which is first detected usually during the second or third
trimester of pregnancy and is not a pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If
you are told that you have gestational diabetes, then you are not alone.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for 2017, gestational
diabetes has occurred in every seventh woman in the world. *
Monitoring your blood glucose and carefully following the
recommendations of your doctor will help you and your child avoid the
complications associated with gestational diabetes. The good news is that
usually after childbirth, blood glucose levels return to normal. However, if
you had gestational diabetes, there is a greater likelihood that it can occur
again during the next pregnancy; also increases the risk of developing type 2
diabetes in the future.
What are the symptoms and signs of diabetes? 2
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes may develop unexpectedly and cause symptoms
such as:
Abnormal thirst and dry mouth
Frequent urination
Bed-wetting
Lack of energy and extreme fatigue
Constant feeling of hunger
Sudden weight loss
Blurry vision
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed when these symptoms are present
in combination with the result of an analysis showing a high level of glitch.
What are the symptoms and signs of diabetes? 2
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes may develop unexpectedly and cause symptoms
such as:
Abnormal thirst and dry mouth
Frequent urination
Bed-wetting
Lack of energy and extreme fatigue
Constant feeling of hunger
Sudden weight loss
Blurry vision
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed when these symptoms are present
in combination with the result of an analysis showing high blood glucose
levels.
Type 2 diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus are as follows:
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extremely strong feeling of hunger
Blurry vision
Lack of energy and extreme fatigue
Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
Slow wound healing and recurrent infections
Many people with type 2 diabetes are not aware of their
condition for a long time, because the symptoms of the disease are usually not
as obvious as the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, and it may take years for a
diagnosis to occur.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
There are several ways to diagnose diabetes. The following
blood tests are commonly used to diagnose diabetes: 3
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Analysis of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Measures the
average blood sugar level over the last 2–3 months. You do not need to go
hungry or drink anything special to do this analysis.
Fasting plasma glucose level analysis. Checks glucose levels
on an empty stomach. To do this, you should not eat or drink anything except
water for 8 hours, usually at night, before analysis. The analysis is usually
scheduled in the morning, before breakfast.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (GTCT). Checks your body's
response to sugar load. For this analysis, you need to drink a special sweet
drink. Blood sugar is measured before and after you drink a drink.
Measurement of plasma glucose at any time (GPR). Checks
blood sugar at a particular time, at any time of the day, without prior
preparation for the test. This analysis is usually done when you have obvious
symptoms of diabetes, such as sudden weight loss, extreme fatigue, and / or
other signs of diabetes.
Who is at risk for diabetes? 2
Type 1 diabetes
The number of people who develop type 1 diabetes is
constantly growing. The reasons for this growth are still unclear, but this may
be due to environmental degradation or viral infections. This disease occurs in
people of any age, but more often in children or adolescents.
Type 2 diabetes
Although the exact causes of type 2 diabetes are still not
fully understood, there are some risk factors:
Overweight
Lack of physical activity
Age changes
Prediabetes
Poor nutrition, including high intake of high sugar
beverages
Ethnicity
Heredity
History of gestational diabetes
The number of people with type 2 diabetes is growing rapidly
around the world. This is partly due to the aging population, rapid economic
development, increased urbanization, which leads to unhealthy diets and
sedentary lifestyle.
What are the complications of diabetes? 2
Diabetes can lead to complications that affect many organs
and systems of the body, including the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves.
Diabetic complications can be long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute).
Long-term complications occur when blood glucose levels are
poorly controlled and it remains high for a long period of time. Keeping your
blood glucose levels as close as possible to normal levels, and regular
checkups and blood tests can help slow down or prevent the long-term
complications of diabetes. They include the following:
Eye diseases
Many people with diabetes to some extent develop eye disease
(retinopathy), caused by damage to the blood vessels supplying the retina, as a
result of having a high level of blood glucose over a period of time. This can
lead to visual impairment or blindness. The development of a diabetic eye
disease can go far enough before it affects your eyesight, so it is important
that people with diabetes regularly check the condition of their eyes. Early
diagnosis and treatment can prevent blindness.
Healthy oral health
People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing gum
disease (periodontitis) than people who do not have diabetes. Periodontitis can
cause tooth decay and loss and can lead to other complications, such as heart
disease. Poorly controlled blood glucose levels can lead to infections and
diseases of the oral cavity. Good oral hygiene can help improve overall glucose
control, prevent tooth decay and loss, as well as other diabetic complications.
Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of disability and
death in people with diabetes. They include angina (pain or discomfort in the
chest), myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, peripheral artery disease
(decreased blood flow to the extremities), and congestive heart failure
(cardiac weakness leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs and other tissues
body). Factors that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases are
high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood glucose (typical of diabetes).
Kidney disease
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic (long-term)
kidney disease. It is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the
kidneys (a disease called nephropathy), which leads to a decrease in the
effectiveness of the work or the complete failure of the kidneys. Controlling
blood glucose and blood pressure significantly reduces the risk of diabetic
kidney disease.
Pregnancy complications
Women with any type of diabetes are at risk for several
problems during pregnancy: high glucose levels can affect fetal development and
put the mother and baby at risk for complications during childbirth. High
levels of blood glucose during pregnancy can lead to changes in the development
of the fetus - it can grow larger than normal and become overweight. This can
lead to injuries to the baby and the mother during childbirth, as well as to a
decrease in the blood glucose level (hypoglycemia) in the baby after birth.
Children who are exposed to high blood glucose in the womb also have a greater
risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Careful monitoring of blood
glucose during pregnancy is very important. For women who are diagnosed with
diabetes before pregnancy, monitoring and proper glucose control should be
started before pregnancy.
Nerve damage
Nerve damage (neuropathy) is the result of prolonged
exposure to high blood glucose levels and can cause damage to any nerve in the
body. The most common form is peripheral neuropathy, which mainly affects the
sensory nerves in the legs. This disease can lead to pain, tingling, and loss
of sensation. As a result of neuropathy, injuries can go unnoticed, leading to
the development of ulcers, serious infections and, in some cases, can lead to
amputations. Nerve damage can also lead to erectile dysfunction (sexual
problems in men), as well as problems with digestion, urination, and several
other body functions.
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Foot injury
In addition to nerve damage, people with diabetes can have
problems with poor circulation in the legs, which results from damage to the
blood vessels. These problems increase the risk of developing ulcers,
infections, and can lead to amputation. The risk of amputation in people with
diabetes can be up to 20 times higher than those who do not have this disease. However,
proper glucose control can prevent much of the amputation. Due to these risks,
it is very important that people with diabetes regularly review their health
risks.
Gestational diabetes2
What causes gestational diabetes?
Doctors do not know exactly what causes gestational
diabetes, but they have some thoughts on this.
The placenta supports and feeds the baby as it grows.
Hormones from the placenta help the baby to develop. But these same hormones
also block the action of insulin, reducing its effectiveness. Gestational
diabetes occurs when your body is no longer able to produce and use all the
insulin that it needs during pregnancy, which leads to an increase in blood
glucose without treatment.
Some women have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.
The following factors increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes
mellitus:
Overweight before pregnancy
Too much weight gain during pregnancy (more than
recommended)
Age over 25 years
History of gestational diabetes
The presence of diabetes in close relatives
African American, Asian, Hispanic or Native American
background
Most women who receive good medical care during pregnancy
are regularly screened for gestational diabetes from the 24th to the 28th week
of pregnancy. If you are at high risk for developing gestational diabetes, your
doctor may have you examined earlier and / or more than once during your
pregnancy.
During a gestational diabetes test, your doctor will ask you
to drink a sweet drink, and you will have a blood sample taken for analysis
before and after you drink this drink. If the results show that the blood
glucose level at a specified time is above the recommended limits, a diagnosis
of gestational diabetes is confirmed. Your doctor will tell you about a plan
for treating gestational diabetes.
Why is it important to treat gestational diabetes?
Mother instinctively protects her child. For maternal and
child health, it is important to begin treating gestational diabetes
immediately after diagnosis. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause
problems that include the following:
An increased likelihood of having a large child weighing
more than 4 kg is a condition called macrosomia. It increases the likelihood
complications and injuries during natural childbirth;
cesarean section. (K-section)
High risk of preterm labor and breathing problems
(respiratory distress) in your baby
High risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in your baby
soon after giving birth
You have a higher chance of pre-eclampsia (high blood
pressure and liver or kidney problems)
Following your doctor's instructions and carefully
monitoring gestational diabetes will help you significantly reduce the risk of
developing these complications.
What should be expected with a diagnosis of gestational
diabetes?
Your doctor will recommend a healthy diet with a controlled
carbohydrate intake and exercise. In many cases, these measures will be
sufficient to control blood glucose levels throughout pregnancy.
You may need a nutritionist to help you plan a healthy diet.
A nutritionist can teach you how to control the amount and type of
carbohydrates in your food in order to manage your blood glucose levels, while
meeting the needs of your growing baby. You may also be asked to keep a food
journal and monitor your weight.
You may need to check your blood glucose daily with a
glucometer. Ask your doctor or diabetes advisor to recommend a blood glucose
meter that suits you. Checking and tracking your blood glucose will help you
and your doctor manage your gestational diabetes.
As a rule, the level of glucose in the blood must be checked
at least 4 times a day, usually on an empty stomach, and then 1-2 hours after
eating. Your doctor or health care professional will tell you how often you
should perform the analysis and what your target blood glucose range is. Do not
forget to record your measurements of blood glucose levels, including the time
and results of the analysis, before or after a meal, and how long after the
meal the test was taken.
Light exercise during pregnancy will help your body use its
own insulin better and help control blood glucose levels. The types of
exercises that can be safely performed by pregnant women include brisk walking
and swimming. Talk to your doctor and get recommendations for safe exercise during
pregnancy.
At the reception, the midwife can check your blood pressure
and take a urine test. You will also discuss with your doctor the results of
blood glucose tests, how you eat, what exercise you are doing and how much
weight you have gained. Your growing child will also be closely monitored. All
of this will help determine whether the designated treatment plan for
gestational diabetes is working and whether it needs to be adjusted.
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