Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body is unable to use the produced insulin efficiently.
High blood sugar levels due to diabetes can damage the nervous system, eyes, kidneys, and other organs.
Types of diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes: an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas where insulin is produced. About 10% of diabetics have this type of disease.
- Type 2 diabetes: When the body becomes insulin resistant and sugar builds up in the blood.
- Prediabetes: It occurs when blood sugar levels are above normal but not high enough for type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes: This is the high blood sugar level during pregnancy. It is caused by insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta.
Each type of diabetes has unique symptoms caused by high blood sugar levels, causes, and treatments.
Types 1 and 2 diabetes symptoms:
- increased hunger;
- increased thirst;
- increased urination;
- blurry vision;
- sores that slowly heal.
Diabetes mellitus during pregnancy
Many women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms. This condition is often diagnosed during a general blood sugar test or an oral glucose tolerance test.
In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may experience decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and weak muscle strength.
Women with diabetes may also have symptoms such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and dry, itchy skin.
Certain factors increase the risk of developing diabetes.
For example, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases if you:
- age – 45 years and older;
- have parents or other relatives with this condition;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglyceride levels.
Why is diabetes dangerous?
Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
In adults with diabetes, the risk of heart attack and stroke is 2-3 times higher.
Combined with reduced blood flow, nerve damage in the lower extremities increases the likelihood of leg ulcers, infection, and ultimately the need for amputation.
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness.
This disease is among the leading causes of kidney failure.
Diabetes mellitus treatment
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Insulin is the main treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces a hormone that your body cannot produce.
There are four types of insulin most commonly used. They differ in how quickly they start to work and how long their effect lasts:
- fast-acting insulin takes effect within 15 minutes and lasts 3 to 4 hours.
- short-acting insulin takes effect within 30 minutes and lasts 6 to 8 hours.
- medium-acting insulin takes 1 to 2 hours to work and lasts 12 to 18 hours.
- long-acting insulin works a few hours after injection and works for 24 hours or longer.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Diet and exercise can help some people cope with type 2 diabetes. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood sugar, you need to take medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Oral hypoglycemic drugs
Oral hypoglycemic drugs help control glucose levels in people whose pancreas continues to produce insulin (most people with type II diabetes).
Oral antihyperglycemic drugs may:
- increase insulin secretion by the pancreas (insulin secretion stimulants);
- increase the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin (sensitizers);
- interfere with the absorption of glucose in the gastrointestinal tract;
- enhance glucosuria.
Oral hypoglycemic drugs differ in their mechanism of action:
- sulfonylurea derivatives stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas.
- biguanides enhance the action of insulin on cells and reduce the formation of glucose in the liver.
- thiazolidinediones reduce insulin resistance in muscle and adipose tissue.
- alpha-glycosidase inhibitors inhibit complex carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and reduce intestinal glucose absorption.
- short-acting insulin secretion stimulants stimulate the production of insulin in the pancreas at high blood glucose concentrations.
- dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors reduce blood glucose levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus by increasing insulin secretion from the pancreas and decreasing glucose production.
You may need more than one drug. Some people with type 2 diabetes also take insulin.