Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What are the Types of Diabetes?

Generally, diabetes can be categorised in the following ways.

• Type-1 Diabetes: This type of diabetes is more common among children and young adults. It occurs when the body produces very little or no insulin at all. In type-1 diabetes, the immune system turns against the body and destroys cells in the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin.
• Type-2 Diabetes: Type-2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes that occurs in middle-aged individuals. In this type of diabetes, the body becomes unable to respond to insulin produced in the body.
• Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a common type of diabetes occurring among pregnant women. This type of diabetes generally gets cured after the woman delivers the baby.
• Type-3 C Diabetes: Type-3 C diabetes occurs when the pancreas experiences damage in addition to autoimmune damage, affecting its ability to produce insulin.
• Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA): Latent autoimmune diabetes is also the result of an autoimmune reaction like type 1 diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs in people over the age of 30.
• Maturity Onset of the Young (MODY): Also known as monogenic diabetes, MODY is found in young people under 25.
• Neonatal Diabetes: Neonatal diabetes is a rare form of monogenic diabetes that occurs in newborns within the first six months of life.
• Brittle Diabetes: Another rare type of diabetes in which people have severe glucose (sugar) level fluctuations. This instability often leads to hospitalisation.
• Pre-Diabetes: Pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes is a medical condition where blood sugar levels are higher than the normal range but are not classified as diabetes.

Is Diabetes a Common Disease?

Diabetes is a common health condition across the globe. According to a Lancet report, 10.1 crore people in India are suffering from diabetes, and 13.6 crore people have pre-diabetes.

The study states that there were 7 crore diabetes patients in 2019, an increase of 44%. The research states that 15.3% of people in India have pre-diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, affecting 90% to 95% of people. About 537 million adults worldwide have diabetes.

Experts estimate that, at the rate at which diabetes is increasing, the number of people with diabetes will reach 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.

What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

It is essential to recognise the symptoms of diabetes to monitor and treat the condition timely. The symptoms of diabetes are as follows:-

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst or dehydration
• Increased hunger
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Slow wound healing
• Infection or skin problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision

Symptoms of Diabetes Based on their Type

• Type-1 diabetes: The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly, over weeks or months. Additional serious complications, such as DKA (diabetes-related ketoacidosis), may appear. This is a life-threatening condition in which there is a lack of insulin. It requires immediate treatment. Its symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and a fruity smell.
• Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: You may not have any symptoms of type-2 diabetes because they develop very slowly. In such a case, a blood sugar test can be done to detect the symptoms. Symptoms of prediabetes are darkening of the skin in some parts of the body.
• Gestational diabetes: You will not have any symptoms of gestational diabetes. In this type of diabetes, the doctor tests you for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

In the long run, high glucose levels can cause complications related to vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system.

How to Diagnose Diabetes?

To identify the blood sugar levels, your doctor may conduct one of the below-mentioned tests:

• Fasting Blood Sugar Test (FBS): A fasting blood sugar test detects blood sugar levels on an empty stomach. You need to remain hungry for at least 8 hours before the test. You may be a diabetic if the blood sugar level is 126 mg/dL or more.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): The oral glucose tolerance test measures blood sugar levels before and after a glucose drink. If the blood sugar level is 200 mg/dl or higher after eating, it may be a sign of diabetes.
• Glycadate haemoglobin test (HbA1C): The glycadate haemoglobin test checks the patient's blood sugar level for the last two to three months. If the level is 6.54% or more, diabetes may be a possibility.
• Random Blood Sugar (RBS) Test: RBS, i.e., a Random Blood Sugar Test, is a regular test at some time interval. It measures the amount of blood sugar present in a person. If the blood sugar level in your body is 200 mg/dl or more and you are feeling the symptoms of diabetes, then there may be a possibility of diabetes.

What are the Complications of Diabetes?

People suffering from diabetes may have serious long-term complications. These complications can have a serious effect on many parts of the body and can be fatal. Let's learn about the acute and long-term complications of diabetes.

Acute Diabetes Complications may include:

• Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS): This type of diabetes mainly affects people with type 2 diabetes. It occurs when blood sugar levels remain too high for a long period.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): This type of complication mainly affects people with type 1 diabetes. It occurs when your body does not have enough insulin. Diabetic ketoacidosis can cause breathing problems, confusion, vomiting, etc. DKA requires immediate medical treatment.
• Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels are lower than normal. Severe hypoglycemia means blood sugar is very low.

Long-term Complications of Diabetes:

Long-term problems can arise when blood sugar stays high for a long time. It can have serious effects on many parts of the body. Heart problems are the most common type of long-term diabetes complications. They include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Atherosclerosis

Other complications of diabetes include:

• Cardiovascular problems such as coronary artery disease, narrowing of the arteries, heart attack, and stroke.
• High sugar levels in the body can damage cell walls, causing nerve numbness, burning, or pain.
• Diabetes also affects the retina's blood vessels, leading to blurred vision or blindness.
• Bacterial and fungal infections can also occur due to high glucose levels in the blood.
• It also impairs kidney function, leading to kidney failure, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
• Diabetes increases the risk of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

What are the Causes of Diabetes?

The causes and prevention of diabetes are as follows.

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system works against the body and attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Genetic or environmental factors can cause this type of diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by insulin resistance where the body is unable to use it effectively. This condition is caused by several factors, such as:

• Increasing age
• Family medical history of diabetes
• Lack of physical activity
• Heredity
• Insulin resistance
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Hormone imbalances
• High cholesterol or triglycerides
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Autoimmune diseases
• Stress or depression
• Gestational diabetes
• Lifestyle habits such as smoking

When Should You See a Doctor?

If a person's blood sugar level is high or symptoms of high blood sugar are visible, such as frequent urination, dehydration, increased hunger, etc., you must consult a doctor. If your condition is serious, the doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist or diabetes specialist.

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What are the Treatments of Diabetes?

A blood test is first required to determine your diabetes and blood sugar levels. Treatment depends on the extent of your condition. Diabetes prevention involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

Diabetes affects not only your physical health but also your mental health. Therefore, a holistic approach to managing diabetes is important. Mentioned below are a few things that you can do to keep diabetes in check:

• Maintain a healthy body weight through exercise and a healthy, low-fat, and low-calorie diet
• Avoiding high-sugar or fried foods.
• Eat nutritious food with enough vegetables, fruits, and high fibre.
• Be physically active through regular walking, swimming, yoga, etc.
• Deal with stress and anxiety through relaxation techniques and sound sleep.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol consumption and/or caffeine consumption.
• Keep a check on your blood sugar level.

As far as medication is concerned, the first class of drugs prescribed for diabetic patients is metformin, which helps in lowering blood sugar levels.

In severe cases of diabetes, patients may require insulin injections. Inhaled insulin medications are also available and have become convenient for patients. Diabetics must keep a check on their glucose level and not let it drop too low, as it may cause a condition called hypoglycemia. The symptoms of hypoglycemia may include sweating, shaking hands, fatigue or fainting. In such a case, the patient should have some fast-acting sugar substance to control these effects.

Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Therefore, knowing about its symptoms and treatment is very important to maintaining good health. One can lead a normal life with self-care, medication, and constant monitoring even if they are diagnosed with diabetes.

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