Diabetes is a prevalent disorder that can affect people of any age. Diabetes can take many forms. Type 2 is the most prevalent. A variety of therapy techniques can help you manage the illness and live a healthy life while avoiding consequences.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder that occurs when your blood sugar levels (glucose) are abnormally high. It develops when your pancreas does not produce enough or any insulin, or when your body does not adequately respond to insulin’s effects. Sugar affects individuals of all ages. Most types of diabetes are chronic (lifelong), and all of them are treatable with drugs and/or lifestyle adjustments.
Glucose (sugar) is mostly derived from carbs in food and beverages. It’s your body’s primary source of energy. Your blood transports glucose to all your cells, where it is used for energy.
When glucose enters your bloodstream, it requires assistance—a “key”—to reach its intended destination. This key is insulin, a hormone. If your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or your body does not use it correctly, glucose accumulates in your bloodstream, resulting in high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
Over time, having continuously high blood glucose levels can lead to health complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, and vision problems.
Diabetes is known technically as diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is another condition with the same name; however, it is not the same as sugar. They share the term “diabetes” because they both produce excessive thirst and frequent urination. Diabetes insipidus is significantly rarer than diabetes mellitus.
If you have not tested yourself yet, do it now.
What are the types of diabetes?
There are various forms of diabetes. The most prevalent forms are:
- Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body does not produce enough insulin and/or your cells do not respond properly to insulin (insulin resistance). This is the most prevalent kind of sugar. It primarily affects adults, although children can develop it as well.
- Prediabetes: This is the stage preceding Type 2 diabetes. Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be officially diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune illness in which your immune system targets and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unclear reasons. Up to 10% of diabetics have Type 1. It is typically diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can appear at any age.
Gestational diabetes is a kind of blood sugar levels that develops during pregnancy. Gestational blood sugar level disorder normally subsides after pregnancy. However, having gestational diabetes increases your risk of acquiring Type 2 blood sugar level later in life. - Type 3c diabetes occurs when your pancreas sustains damage (other than autoimmune disease) that impairs its ability to produce insulin. Pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and hemochromatosis can all damage the pancreas, resulting in blood sugar level disorder. Having your pancreas removed (pancreatectomy) also causes Type 3c.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) LADA, like Type 1 blood sugar level disorder, is caused by an autoimmune reaction; however, it develops much more slowly. People diagnosed with LADA are often beyond the age of 30. - Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY): MODY, also known as monogenic diabetes, is caused by an inherited genetic mutation that alters how your body produces and uses insulin. There are currently over ten different forms of MODY. It affects up to 5% of diabetics and often runs in families.
- Neonatal diabetes is an uncommon kind of blood sugar level disorder that develops within the first six months of life. It is also a type of monogenic blood sugar level disorder. Approximately half of all babies with neonatal diabetes develop the lifelong form known as persistent neonatal diabetes mellitus. For the other half, the illness resolves within a few months of beginning, but it may return later in life. This is known as transitory neonatal diabetes mellitus.
- Brittle diabetes: Brittle diabetes is a subtype of type 1 blood sugar level disorder distinguished by frequent and severe episodes of high and low blood sugar levels. This instability frequently leads to hospitalization. In rare circumstances, a pancreas transplant may be required to permanently correct brittle blood sugar level disorder.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Increased thirst (polydipsia) and dry mouth.
- Frequent urination.
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
- Slow-healing sores or cuts.
- Frequent skin and/or vaginal yeast infections.
Get your health checked for any symptoms
Additional details about symptoms per type of blood sugar level disorder include:
- Type 1 blood sugar level disorder: Symptoms of T1D can appear fast, within weeks or months. You may experience additional symptoms that indicate a severe complication known as blood sugar level disorder related ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a life-threatening condition that demands prompt medical attention. DKA symptoms include vomiting, stomach aches, fruity breath, and difficulty breathing.
- Type 2 blood sugar level disorder and prediabetes You may not experience any symptoms at all, or you may not notice them since they appear gradually. Routine blood tests may reveal a high blood sugar level before you notice symptoms. Darkened skin on specific portions of your body may also indicate prediabetes.
- Gestational diabetes does not typically create symptoms. Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor will screen you for gestational blood sugar level disorde.
What causes diabetes?
Diabetes, regardless of its kind, is caused by an excess of glucose in the bloodstream. However, the explanation for your elevated blood glucose levels varies according to the kind of blood sugar level disorder.
Causes of blood sugar level disorder include:
- Insulin resistance is a major cause of type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance occurs when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver do not respond appropriately to insulin. Obesity, lack of physical activity, food, hormonal imbalances, heredity, and certain drugs all have a role in varied degrees of insulin resistance.
Autoimmune disease: Type 1 blood sugar level disorder and LADA occur when your immune system targets the insulin-producing cells of your pancreas. - Hormonal imbalances: During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that promote insulin resistance. You may develop gestational blood sugar level disorder if your pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance. Other hormone-related diseases, such as acromegaly and Cushing syndrome, can also result in type 2 diabetes.
- Pancreatic damage: Physical damage to your pancreas, whether from an illness, surgery, or injury, can impair its ability to produce insulin, leading to Type 3c diabetes.
Certain genetic mutations can result in MODY and neonatal blood sugar level disorder.
Certain drugs, such as HIV/AIDS treatments and corticosteroids, can cause type 2 blood sugar level disorder if used for an extended period.
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