Blood diseases are generally concerning, as they are also signs that your health isn’t doing so well. But most of the worry that this type of disease usually causes is almost always related to the alarm people raise when they hear about diabetes, for example. However, in addition to being concerned and attentive, it’s important to know more about how this disease develops, which types exist, what symptoms to look for, and how to treat them. With that in mind, today’s article will cover everything you need to know about diabetes. Read until the end to get informed about this much-feared disease.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a disease that causes hyperglycemia, that is, an increase in blood sugar levels. This problem can occur for various reasons, such as a problem with insulin production, a hormone that acts in the pancreas and is responsible for distributing glucose through a person’s bloodstream, supplying it as a source of energy and preventing it from accumulating in inappropriate places. When our body, for some reason, cannot produce enough insulin, blood glucose levels will rise, and consequently, diabetes will develop.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes can manifest in different ways, which mainly differ based on the cause of the disease and, consequently, the way it will be treated. The existing types of diabetes are:

  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • Pre-diabetes

We will discuss each of these types more thoroughly and explain how the treatment is done for each of them.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means it is caused by the person’s own body. It occurs due to a defect whereby the body’s defense cells attack the pancreas cells, thus harming those that produce insulin and causing diabetes. It is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, as this is when the problem tends to arise.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and has very different causes. Some factors that can lead a person to develop type 2 diabetes are:

  • Excessive smoking
  • Physical inactivity
  • Genetic factors
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Obesity
  • Poor eating habits

The combination of these factors, or even just some of them, ends up leading a person to develop type 2 diabetes, which is a disease that requires very careful treatment, especially when blood sugar levels are excessively high.

Gestational Diabetes

This type of diabetes occurs only during pregnancy, usually in the third trimester. It’s worth noting that only diabetes caused by the pregnancy itself is considered gestational diabetes; if the woman already had the problem beforehand, it would be a different type of the disease. It is caused by pregnancy hormones and almost always disappears after childbirth.

Pre-diabetes

When a person has very high blood sugar levels, they are considered pre-diabetic. It’s like a warning to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, which is a much more complicated disease and harder to treat. It usually occurs for the same reasons as type 2 diabetes.

How to Prevent Diabetes?

When it comes to type 1 diabetes or gestational diabetes, it’s very hard to talk about prevention since the causes are practically uncontrollable. However, the same does not apply when we talk about type 2 diabetes, and there are several things that can be done to prevent it, such as:

  • Exercising regularly
  • Adopting a balanced diet
  • Keeping blood tests up to date
  • Monitoring your blood glucose levels, especially if you are part of a risk group

With these simple and healthy habits, it is possible to prevent diabetes or even avoid complications for those who already have the disease.

Risk Groups

Although there are some unavoidable factors for the appearance of diabetes, if you are part of a risk group, you need to be cautious by always monitoring your blood glucose levels and paying attention to possible signs of the disease. The following are considered diabetes risk groups:

  • Obese individuals
  • People with family history of diabetes
  • Physically inactive people
  • People over 45 years of age
  • Pregnant women

Diabetes Symptoms

There are some symptoms that can indicate diabetes in a person. The symptoms can vary according to the type, but there are symptoms that are common to all types and should be especially noted for diagnosis. These are:

  • Excessive thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Quick fatigue
  • Feeling of weakness
  • Slow wound healing
  • Blurred vision
  • Tingling in feet or hands

It’s important to remember that diabetes can often be asymptomatic; in other words, it may not always present symptoms, which can be very serious, since a person’s health can deteriorate significantly if they are unaware of the disease.

Diabetes Treatment

First, it’s necessary to say that diabetes has no cure, except for gestational diabetes, of course, which usually disappears after childbirth. This means the person will have to learn to live with the disease and often make drastic changes to their lifestyle. Diabetes treatment is basically done by controlling the blood sugar levels of the affected person. To achieve this, a combination of diet, oral medication, and the direct injection of insulin with a needle is often recommended. The amount and frequency of medication can vary greatly depending on the severity of the disease or the type of diabetes the person has. In addition, it is always recommended that the person exercises regularly, avoiding high-intensity workouts due to the disease. It’s also necessary to pay attention to the use of medications in combination with exercise to prevent hypoglycemia. Very few diseases are as well-known and feared as diabetes. However, as you have seen, in addition to the various forms in which the disease can manifest, there are also several ways to treat and even prevent diabetes, although not all cases are preventable. It is always necessary to gather as much information as possible about the disease, keep your medical checkups and tests up to date, and remember that the opinion of a professional is what matters most to advise you when facing illness. So never stop learning more about the diseases that may affect you, but always do so responsibly. See also: Diet for Those With Gestational Diabetes Photo: TesaPhotography