Overview
Diabetes is a condition that happens when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It arises when your body isn’t reacting to the effects of insulin appropriately or when your pancreas produces too little or no insulin at all. People of all ages are affected by diabetes. All types of diabetes are treatable with medicine and/or lifestyle modifications, and the majority are chronic (lifelong).
The primary source of glucose, or sugar, is found in the carbs in food and beverages. It serves as your body’s primary energy source. All of the cells in your body receive glucose from your blood to utilize as fuel.
Once in your bloodstream, glucose need assistance—a “key”—to go where it needs to go. Insulin is the hormone that is crucial. Hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, is brought on by an accumulation of glucose in the bloodstream due to insufficient insulin production or improper insulin utilization by the body.
Consistently maintaining high blood sugar levels over time can lead to health complications like heart disease, nerve damage, and vision problems.
Which kinds of diabetes exist?
Diabetes comes in several varieties. The most prevalent types consist of:
Type 2 diabetes: This condition is characterized by insufficient insulin production and/or abnormal insulin cellular response (insulin resistance). The most prevalent kind of diabetes is this one. Although it primarily affects adults, children can also be affected.
Prediabetes: This type is the stage before Type 2 diabetes. Though they are higher than usual, your blood glucose levels are not high enough to receive a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Type 1 diabetes: This type is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons. Approximately 10% of individuals with diabetes have Type 1. Though it can manifest at any age, children and young people are typically the ones diagnosed with it.
Gestational diabetes: This type develops in some people during pregnancy. After pregnancy, gestational diabetes typically disappears. On the other hand, if you have gestational diabetes, your chances of later getting Type 2 diabetes are increased.
Other diabetes subtypes consist of:
Type 3c diabetes: This form of diabetes happens when your pancreas experiences damage (other than autoimmune damage), which affects its ability to produce insulin. Diabetes is caused by pancreatic damage, which can be brought on by hemochromatosis, pancreatic malignancy, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis. Type 3c is also brought on by pancreatectomy, or the removal of the pancreas.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA): Like Type 1 diabetes, LADA also results from an autoimmune reaction, but it develops much more slowly than Type 1. Typically, those with a LADA diagnosis are older than thirty.
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY): Also known as monogenic diabetes, MODY is caused by a genetic mutation that is inherited and alters the way the body produces and uses insulin. At the moment, MODY comes in more than ten different varieties. It typically runs in families and affects up to 5% of diabetics.
Neonatal diabetes: This is a rare form of diabetes that occurs within the first six months of life. It is a type of monogenic diabetes as well. Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus, a lifelong form of the disease, affects about 50% of newborns with diabetes. For the other half, the illness goes away after a few months after beginning, however it may recur at a later age. This is called transient neonatal diabetes mellitus.
Symptoms and Causes
Diabetes is characterized by excessive thirst, frequent urination, and sluggish wound and sore healing.
Depending on the type of diabetes you have, the intensity of your symptoms may change. In Type 1 diabetes compared to Type 2 diabetes, these symptoms are typically more severe.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Diabetes symptoms include:
- Increased thirst (polydipsia) and dry mouth.
- a lot of urine production.
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
- unaccounted-for weight loss.
- tingling or numbness in your feet or hands.
- slow-to-heal wounds or sores.
- recurring yeast infections on the skin or in the vagina.
It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you or your child has these symptoms.
Additional details about symptoms per type of diabetes include:
Type 1 diabetes: Symptoms of T1D can develop quickly — over a few weeks or months. You may develop additional symptoms that are signs of a severe complication called diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. DKA symptoms include vomiting, stomach pains, fruity-smelling breath and labored breathing.
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: You may not have any symptoms at all, or you may not notice them since they develop slowly. Routine bloodwork may show a high blood sugar level before you recognize symptoms. Another possible sign of prediabetes is darkened skin on certain parts of your body (acanthosis nigricans).
Gestational diabetes: You typically won’t notice symptoms of gestational diabetes. Your healthcare provider will test you for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
What causes diabetes?
Too much glucose circulating in your bloodstream causes diabetes, regardless of the type. However, the reason why your blood glucose levels are high differs depending on the type of diabetes.
Causes of diabetes include:
Insulin resistance: Type 2 diabetes mainly results from insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin. Several factors and conditions contribute to varying degrees of insulin resistance, including obesity, lack of physical activity, diet, hormonal imbalances, genetics and certain medications.
Autoimmune disease: Type 1 diabetes and LADA happen when your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
Hormonal imbalances: During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormones that cause insulin resistance. You may develop gestational diabetes if your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. Other hormone-related conditions like acromegaly and Cushing syndrome can also cause Type 2 diabetes.
Pancreatic damage: Physical damage to your pancreas — from a condition, surgery or injury — can impact its ability to make insulin, resulting in Type 3c diabetes.
Genetic mutations: MODY and neonatal diabetes can be brought on by specific genetic mutations.
Type 2 diabetes can also result from long-term use of certain drugs, such as corticosteroids and HIV/AIDS treatments.
What are the complications of diabetes?
Diabetes can cause both short-term (transient and severe) and long-term problems, primarily as a result of extremely high or persistently elevated blood sugar levels.
complications of acute diabetes
Among the potentially fatal consequences of acute diabetes are:
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS): Individuals with Type 2 diabetes are primarily susceptible to this consequence. It occurs when blood sugar levels are abnormally high (over 600 mg/dL) for an extended length of time, which causes extreme dehydration and disorientation. It needs medical attention right away.
Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA): Individuals with Type 1 diabetes or undiagnosed T1D are primarily affected by this condition. It occurs when the body isn’t producing enough insulin. Your body burns down fat for energy if it lacks insulin, which prevents it from using glucose. Eventually, this process releases chemicals known as ketones, which cause your blood to become acidic. This causes labored breathing, vomiting and loss of consciousness. DKA needs to be treated medically right away.
Severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): Hypoglycemia happens when your blood sugar level drops below the range that’s healthy for you. Extremely low blood sugar is known as severe hypoglycemia. It primarily affects insulin-using diabetics. Seizures, clumsiness, confusion, and double or blurred vision are among the symptoms. Emergency glucagon therapy is necessary, as well as other medical interventions.
Long-term diabetes complications
Excessive blood glucose levels over time might harm the tissues and organs in your body. Your body’s tissues are supported by your blood vessels and nerves, which are mostly to blame for this.
Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) issues are the most common type of long-term diabetes complication. Among them are:
- Coronary artery disease.
- heart attack.
- a stroke.
- Atherosclerosis.
Other complications associated with diabetes comprise:
- injury to the nerves (neuropathy), which may result in pain, tingling, or numbness.
- Nephropathy, which may result in the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant as well as kidney failure.
- Retinopathy has the potential to cause blindness.
- foot issues associated with diabetes.
- skin diseases.
- amputations.
- Erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness are examples of sexual dysfunction brought on by injury to nerves and blood vessels.
- gastroparesis.
- loss of hearing.
- oral health problems, like periodontal disease (gum disease).
Having diabetes can have an impact on your mental well-being. Compared to those without diabetes, those with diabetes have a two to three times higher risk of depression.
