Experts Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, often due to insufficient insulin production or ineffective use of insulin by the body.

Left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, kidney dysfunction, and vision problems. In severe cases, it may even result in death. In fact, it is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 37.3 million Americans— 11.3% of the U.S. population— have diabetes. Additionally, there are many people who have the disease but are unaware of it; approximately 1 in 5 individuals with diabetes remain undiagnosed.

In this article, two diabetes experts will provide you with comprehensive information about this disease. Let’s begin by examining what the disease is.

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What Is Diabetes?

“Think of diabetes as a situation where your body has a hard time handling its sugar levels,” says Ann M. Hester , MD, board-certified internist in Columbia, MD, and author of Patient Empowerment 101.

Here's a quick way to picture it: Our body needs sugar (glucose) for energy. When you eat, your food transforms into glucose, which then enters your bloodstream. In order to utilize this sugar, your body requires a helper called insulin. Imagine insulin as a key that lets the sugar into your cells. It helps convert sugars from the food you eat into energy that the body can use or store for later.

But when someone has diabetes, there's a problem with this system. Their body either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t use its insulin well. Therefore, they end up with too much sugar in their blood.

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What Causes Diabetes?

“Type 1 diabetes can be caused by genes (traits passed down from your family) and environmental factors, such as viruses. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by factors like being overweight, consuming too many sugary foods, lack of physical activity, or a combination of these elements,” says Shoshana Ungerleider , MD, board-certified internal medicine physician at Crossover in San Francisco, CA, and Host of the TED Health Podcast.

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Types Of Diabetes

There are three types of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

“Think of it as the body's defense system getting confused. Instead of protecting you, it mistakenly attacks your pancreas and destroys cells that make insulin,” explains Dr. Hester.

Why does this happen?

?????????? Genes Play a Role: Some of us inherit this risk.

?????????? Environment Strikes: Certain viruses can set it off.

?????????? Mystery Causes: Researchers are still trying to find out other reasons.

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Type 2 Diabetes

“In this form of diabetes, the body doesn't use insulin well. It's like the body resisting its own helper,” explains Dr. Hester. “Over time, the pancreas gets tired and can't make enough insulin to keep sugar levels in check.”

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Gestational Diabetes

“This one's for the moms-to-be,” says Dr. Hester. “Sometimes, during pregnancy, a woman's body can't make enough insulin, causing a rise in blood sugar. It's essential to keep an eye on this, but it's usually temporary.”

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What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetes?

According to Dr. Hester, some of the symptoms of diabetes include:

1.??????? Increased thirst: People with diabetes often feel thirsty much of the time.

2.??????? Frequent urination: Particularly noticeable at night.

3.??????? Extreme hunger: Despite eating, there's still a sensation of hunger.

4.??????? Unexplained weight loss: This is more common with Type 1 diabetes but can be seen in Type 2 diabetes as well.

5.??????? Fatigue and weakness: Elevated blood sugars make one feel tired and weak.

6.??????? Blurred vision: High blood sugar levels can lead to fluid being pulled from the lenses of the eyes, and that can affect one’s ability to focus.

7.??????? Slow-healing sores or frequent infections: Diabetes can affect the immune system and reduce the body's ability to heal and fend off infections.

8.??????? Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands or feet: This is a symptom of nerve damage (neuropathy), which can be caused by prolonged elevated blood sugar levels.

9.??????? Areas of darkened skin: This is especially common in the armpits and neck. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans and is associated with insulin resistance.

10.????? Mood changes, such as irritability.

11.????? Nausea and vomiting: When ketones accumulate in the bloodstream, they can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is more common in Type 1 diabetes.

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Gender-Specific Symptoms

While diabetes can affect anyone, it may manifest differently in men and women. Here are some gender-specific symptoms to be aware of:

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Symptoms In Women

Women may experience recurrent vaginal yeast infections.

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Symptoms In Men

Men may have challenges like erectile dysfunction.

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Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: The Basic Rundown

Type 1 Diabetes

“Imagine one day, all the keys (insulin) go missing. Without them, the glucose can't get into the cells, leaving the sugar floating in the bloodstream. That's essentially Type 1 diabetes,” explains Dr. Hester. “The body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin. So, people with Type 1 diabetes need to get their "keys" from an outside source, like insulin injections or pumps.”

Type 1 diabetes is most common in children and young adults, but it can appear at any age.

Cause: While the exact cause is not known, it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

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Type 2 Diabetes

“Now, imagine if, over time, the locks on the car doors become rusty and harder to turn. Even if you have the keys (insulin), they don't work as effectively. That's Type 2 diabetes in a nutshell,” explains Dr. Hester. “Here, the body either doesn't use insulin properly (this is called insulin resistance) or doesn't produce enough of it.”

While it primarily affects adults, it is increasingly being diagnosed in younger individuals.

Cause: Genetics play a part, but lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity are significant contributors.

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How Can One Prevent Diabetes?

“While you may not be able to prevent Type 1 diabetes, there are things you can do to lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Hester.

Here are some things you can do to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

1.?? Eat Right: Focus on a balanced diet. This means eating lots of veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. Try to cut back on sugary snacks, drinks, and processed foods.

2.?? Stay Active: Make it a goal to move more. Whether it's walking, dancing, or playing a sport, staying active can help your body use sugar better and keep your weight in check. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly.

3.?? Watch Your Weight: Keeping a healthy weight is important. Even losing a small amount of weight, if you're overweight, can make a big difference in lowering your risk.

4.?? Limit Alcohol and Smoking: Excessive drinking can lead to weight gain and increase your risk. Smoking is also a no-no because it can lead to various health problems, including diabetes.

5. Choose healthy fats: Good fats are found in foods like fatty fish (such as salmon), olive oil, flaxseed, and nuts. Choosing healthy fats over less healthy ones, such as those found in whole-fat dairy products and red meat, can help you maintain a healthier weight and provide other health benefits as well.

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Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

DKA, or diabetic ketoacidosis, is a dangerous condition that can occur in some people with diabetes.

“When there isn’t enough insulin in the body, the body can't use its usual fuel (glucose). Instead, it starts breaking down fat as a backup, which produces waste products called ketones,” explains Dr. Hester. “When too many ketones build up, the blood becomes acidic, and that can make someone very sick.”

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Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is also a condition that can occur in some people with diabetes, where the high sugar levels in their blood can damage their nerves over time.

“This nerve damage can lead to various symptoms like tingling, numbness, pain, or weakness, especially in the feet and legs,” says Dr. Hester. “It's like the body's electrical wiring gets frayed because of the high sugar, affecting the signals and causing discomfort or loss of feeling.”

Proper diabetes management can help prevent or reduce the severity of this condition.

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How Can One Come To Terms With Diabetes?

Imagine you've been driving a certain type of car all your life, and suddenly, you're given a different model. This new car requires different fuel, maintenance, and care.

“At first, it might feel frustrating, confusing, or even unfair,” says Dr. Hester. “But as you understand more about this new vehicle and how to keep it running smoothly, you'll become more confident in navigating the road ahead.”

Accepting diabetes means understanding your new "vehicle," learning how to care for it, and knowing that with the right approach, you can still reach your desired destination.??

On her part, Dr. Ungerleider recommends that learning about diabetes and finding a good doctor or support group can also contribute to a greater sense of control.

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Sources

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