What is diabetes, signs and symptoms of diabetes?

They are so many illnesses in the world, some terminal and some are not. Some illness is very common amongst people while some illness is hardly seen or very rare cases.

One of the common illness known to man is diabetes. Many people have been living with diabetes for a very long time now and most have died from diabetes. As we commonly know, diabetes had to do with too much of sugar in the blood. We need to get an in-depth knowledge of diabetes. 

What is diabetes?

According to medical professionals, diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar from the blood to your cells for energy or storage.

A diabetic person either doesn’t have enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin in the body. In a nutshell, diabetes is the lack of insulin in the body or the inability to use the insulin in the body effectively. When diabetes is left untreated, it can damage many organs in your body eventually leading to death. 

They are different types of diabetes and each has some specific symptoms. 

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Types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes 

This is an autoimmune disease, which attacks and kills cells in the pancreas where insulin is created, this eventually leads to a lack of insulin in the body resulting to why is known as type 1 diabetes. Statistics show that about 10% of people with diabetes have this type of diabetes. It is still unclear about what causes this diabetes. 

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes 

The symptoms include 

• Extreme hunger
• Increased thirst 
• Unintentional weight loss
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision 
• Tiredness

Type 2 diabetes

This type of diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin and blood sugar starts to build up in the body. This is when your body fights the insulin in the body and can not use the insulin to move sugar in the blood and this leads to type 2 diabetes. 

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes 

The symptoms include 

• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst 
• Increased urination 
• Blurry vision 
• Tiredness 
• Sores that are very slow to heal 

Prediabetes

This is when your blood sugar is higher than normal but not as high as to be called a type 2 diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes

This type of diabetes is caused during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones made by the placenta are the causes of these type of diabetes. 

Symptoms of Gestational diabetes

Women with this type of diabetes often do not show any symptoms, the diabetes is always discovered during routine checkups. 

In rare cases, they experience increased urination and thirst. 

General symptoms of diabetes

• Increased hunger 
• Increased thirst 
• Weight loss 
• Blurry vision 
• Tiredness 
• Frequent urination
• Sores that don’t heal 

Symptoms of diabetes in men 

In addition to the general symptoms, men always experience poor muscle strength, decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction.

Symptoms of diabetes in women 

Women also experience symptoms like urinary track infection, yeast infection and dry, itchy skin.

Causes of diabetes

They are different causes of diabetes associated with the different types of diabetes we have.  

Type 1 diabetes

Doctors have found no cause of this type of diabetes. The immune system for some reason not known attacks the insulin-producing cells in the body.

Type 2 diabetes

This type of diabetes has everything to do with genetics and lifestyle factors. Obesity increases the risk of having this type of diabetes. Extra weight in your tummy increases the risk of your body becoming resistant to insulin. 

Type 2 diabetes can be passed down in the gene to family members. 

Gestational diabetes

This is as a result of change in hormones during pregnancy. Women that are overweight before they are pregnant or gain to much weight during pregnancy run a high risk of this type of diabetes. 

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Treatment of diabetes

Each type of diabetes has its unique treatment. The various treatments are listed below. 

Type 1 diabetes 

Insulin is used to treat this type of diabetes. Apply insulin to the body helps race the hormones the body cannot produce. 

Type 2 diabetes 

Lifestyle changes like the food you eat and working out regularly help manage this type of diabetes. If you have undergone lifestyle changes, and there are no effects, then medication is needed. Visit the doctor for a prescription based on how your body reacts to drugs. 

Gestational diabetes

Pregnant women have to monitor their blood sugar regularly to make sure they do not have this type of diabetes. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, about 10 to 20 per cent of women with gestational diabetes will need insulin to lower their blood sugar. Insulin is safe for the growing baby.

In conclusion, lifestyle affects your diabetes status, it is advised to advertise more often and also watch your diet. Visit the hospital for checkup if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Keeping your body fit helps to fight diabetes.