What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the way your body regulates blood sugar levels. When you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is then absorbed into your bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps to regulate blood sugar levels by facilitating the entry of glucose into your cells.
Types of Diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
2. Type 2 Diabetes: A metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion.
3. Gestational Diabetes: A type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
4. LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults): A form of type 1 diabetes that develops in adults.
5. MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young): A rare form of diabetes caused by genetic mutations.
Causes of Diabetes
1. Genetics: Family history and genetic predisposition can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
2. Obesity: Excess body fat can lead to insulin resistance and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
3. Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
4. Age: The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with age.
5. Other Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Cushing's syndrome, can increase the risk of developing diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
1. Increased Thirst and Hunger: High blood sugar levels can cause increased thirst and hunger.
2. Fatigue: High blood sugar levels can cause fatigue and weakness.
3. Blurred Vision: High blood sugar levels can cause blurred vision.
4. Slow Healing of Cuts and Wounds: High blood sugar levels can impair the body's ability to heal cuts and wounds.
5. Tingling or Numbness in the Hands and Feet: High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, leading to tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
Complications of Diabetes
1. Heart Disease and Stroke: High blood sugar levels can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Kidney Damage and Failure: High blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys and increase the risk of kidney failure.
3. Nerve Damage and Neuropathy: High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet.
4. Blindness and Vision Loss: High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to blindness and vision loss.
5. Foot Damage and Amputation: High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage and poor circulation, leading to foot damage and amputation.