Does Diabetes Have a Cure?

Diabetes is one of the conditions that affects the most people worldwide, and is very common here in Brazil. Research indicates that it affects around 14 million people in Brazil alone. However, the most alarming information isn’t in the numbers, but in knowing that half of these people have no idea they have the disease.

That’s why the best way to unveil and raise awareness about the disease is to talk about it, about its symptoms, main causes, and especially, about treatment and the best ways to live healthily even after receiving a diabetes diagnosis.

Many people, after receiving a diabetes diagnosis, may see it as a death sentence, as well as their family members. This happens due to lack of information, since it is possible to live a normal life with proper treatment. But among all of the doubts surrounding the condition, the main one is whether diabetes has a cure.

Diabetes is a disease that doesn’t always show alarming symptoms, which is why it is considered a silent enemy. In most cases, the patient ends up suffering much more with the treatment of the complications caused by diabetes than if they had detected diabetes early and managed to control blood sugar levels adequately.

It’s worth highlighting the serious complications that can happen if diabetes is not properly treated. Chief among these are limb amputation, loss of vision, dialysis, stroke, and heart attack. With information this serious, the search for a cure for diabetes increases relentlessly. But does diabetes have a cure?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Medicine has not yet found a cure for the disease. What can happen is that a patient may receive a warning diagnosis that the disease is about to occur, known as prediabetes, or even get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and, with proper treatment, the glucose levels normalize. This can be seen as a cure, but in reality, if the patient returns to old habits the glucose levels may change again.

It can also happen that when a patient manages to control the glycemia levels through treatment and after a while, loses control again, even for a short period, the body feels the effects of this instability, which doctors call the body’s metabolic memory. That’s why, even if tests prove blood sugar levels are normal, annual check-ups are recommended for evaluation, especially of the kidneys, retina, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

In the case of type 1 diabetes patients, some techniques have been developed to improve patients’ quality of life. One of these techniques is pancreas transplant and/or pancreatic islet transplant, where insulin is produced. Still, after the transplant, regular check-ups should always be conducted to monitor the patient.

The latest news in the search for a diabetes cure is the use of bariatric surgery. But if we look into it, it shares the same focus as treatment via weight loss, which keeps blood sugar controlled as long as the patient takes care of themselves. But as soon as they return to old habits, glucose levels rise again. This is considered by doctors as remission of the disease, since it does not bring a cure, only control—and only in the case of type 2 diabetes. Let’s talk a bit more about the disease, but first we need to understand what the disease is, so we can clarify the risks and treatments.

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is basically when there is an increase in blood sugar, caused by the malfunction of the pancreas, which is responsible for producing insulin. But within this definition there are different types of the disease, which vary according to how they happen and how the body reacts. They are: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the immune system attacking the beta cells, affecting the release of insulin by the body, which may release only some doses or simply stop altogether. As a result, glucose remains in the blood instead of being used in its natural course in the body as a source of energy.

Type 1 diabetes is most common in children and adolescents, but does not rule out the possibility of affecting adults. This type of the disease is always treated with injectable insulin, some medications, dietary changes, and physical exercise to help maintain appropriate blood glucose levels.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot use the insulin produced effectively or simply cannot produce enough insulin to control blood sugar. This is the most common type of diabetes and affects about 90% of patients.

Often linked to obesity, poor lifestyle habits, and stress, type 2 diabetes is more common in adults but can also occur during childhood, especially in overweight children. It is usually treated through dietary changes, physical exercise, and some medications. Only in more specific cases is insulin suggested.

Gestational Diabetes

During pregnancy, a woman’s body needs to adapt to new changes, including hormonal balance, so the pancreas must increase its insulin production to compensate for this transition. However, in some women this change does not happen as it should, resulting in high blood sugar and characterizing gestational diabetes.

This puts not just the mother, but also the baby in the womb at risk. Coming into contact with high glucose levels, the baby is at risk of excessive development, resulting in above-normal growth known as fetal macrosomia. There are also increased risks of premature birth, obesity in the newborn, and both mother and baby may continue to have diabetes after birth.

Gestational diabetes can occur in any woman at any stage of pregnancy. It is discovered through glucose tolerance tests during prenatal care and can be controlled through diet and exercise, provided there is no risk of premature labor. If the mother cannot control her blood sugar through lifestyle changes, medications such as insulin therapy may be recommended.

Does Diabetes Affect Fertility?

We’ve already mentioned above the dangers, risks, and complications that unmanaged diabetes can bring to patients. But many young couples, dreaming of parenthood and with a diabetes diagnosis, worry about diabetes affecting fertility, and this is indeed a cause for concern.

Diabetes and Male Fertility

When diagnosed but not properly treated, diabetes can cause serious damage to male fertility. Chief among these are the difficulty or even the impossibility of erection, interfering with sexual relations and even the production and quality of semen. This happens because of various vascular, endocrine, neurological, and psychological changes that diabetes causes.

So, don’t forget to seek help and follow the proper treatment. Once male fertility is compromised, it can be very hard to reverse. If you want to have a baby, follow the treatment recommended by your doctor and give your fertility a boost by using men’s vitamins like FamiUp. It supplements your body’s vitamin needs and improves physiological processes. You can buy it here in our online store.

Diabetes and Female Fertility

It’s no different for female fertility, as diabetes can significantly affect hormonal changes, causing irregularities in the menstrual cycle as well as increased risk of miscarriage and even early menopause, which ends a woman’s fertile life.

The best way to prevent infertility in both men and women is to take care of diabetes and follow the doctor’s recommendations closely to control blood sugar levels. It’s worth remembering that if a couple is trying to conceive, it’s normal for it to take up to one year to get pregnant naturally, so if it’s taking a while, don’t worry—it’s not always infertility caused by diabetes.

Important Tip: A small detail can make all the difference to couples trying to conceive. That’s why Famivita created a product line to help during this phase. You can check out the full line of products for those trying to conceive here.

See also: Gestational Diabetes – How to Diagnose and Treat

Photo: Erik1980