Diabetes- Ntshav Qab Zib

9/9/20243 min read

Understanding Diabetes: What Happens in the Body

Diabetes is a long-term condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal. This happens because of problems with a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your cells, where it's used for energy. When your body doesn’t use insulin properly, or doesn’t make enough of it, sugar stays in your blood, causing high blood sugar levels.

Types of Diabetes and How They Affect the Body

Type 1 Diabetes:
- In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Without insulin, sugar can’t move into the cells, so it stays in the blood. This type usually starts in children or young adults.
Type 2 Diabetes:
- Type 2 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t respond well to insulin (called insulin resistance) and eventually doesn’t make enough insulin. This type is more common in adults, but it's becoming more common in younger people too, because of lifestyle factors like diet and exercise.
Gestational Diabetes:
- Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. Hormonal changes in the body make it harder to use insulin, leading to high blood sugar. This type of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, but it can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Common Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes symptoms can be easy to miss at first because they develop slowly. Some common signs include:

Feeling very thirsty and needing to pee a lot.
Unexplained weight loss even if you’re eating the same amount.
Feeling very tired and low on energy.
Blurry vision, slow-healing sores, and frequent infections.

Noticing these symptoms early is important because it means you can start managing the condition sooner.

Complications from Diabetes

If diabetes isn’t managed well, it can lead to serious health problems:

Heart and Blood Vessel Damage: High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Nerve Damage: Known as neuropathy, this can cause pain, tingling, and loss of feeling, especially in the feet.
Kidney Damage: Diabetes can harm the kidneys, leading to kidney disease or even kidney failure.
Eye Damage: High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision problems or blindness.

People with diabetes also need to be careful with their feet because poor circulation and nerve damage can lead to infections and, in severe cases, amputation.

How Diabetes is Treated

Treating diabetes usually involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes:

Insulin Therapy: For people with Type 1 diabetes and some with Type 2 diabetes, insulin injections are necessary because their bodies can’t make enough insulin on their own.
Oral Medications: These are pills that help the body use insulin better or make more insulin.
Monitoring Blood Sugar: Regularly checking blood sugar levels helps people with diabetes keep track of how well they’re managing their condition.

Lifestyle Changes for Managing Diabetes

Making changes to your daily habits is crucial for managing diabetes:

Healthy Eating: A diet rich in fiber, whole grains, and lean proteins helps keep blood sugar levels stable. Cutting back on sugary foods and drinks is also important.
Regular Exercise: Physical activity helps your body use insulin better, making it easier to control blood sugar levels.
Weight Management: Keeping a healthy weight is key, especially for Type 2 diabetes, where excess weight can make the condition worse.
Avoiding Smoking and Limiting Alcohol: Both of these habits can increase complications from diabetes, so it’s important to quit smoking and drink alcohol only in moderation.

Managing diabetes takes effort, but with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, it’s possible to live a healthy life and reduce the risk of complication. See your doctor for medical advice!

References:

American Academy of Family Physicians. (2016, January 15). Diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. American Family Physician. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/0115/p103.html

American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Type 2 diabetes. Retrieved September 12, 2022, from https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/type-2

UpToDate. (n.d.). Type 2 diabetes: The basics. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/type-2-diabetes-the-basics?search=diabetes%20type%202&source=search_result&selectedTitle=3%7E150&usage_type=default&display_rank=3