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Blood disorders are often worrisome, as well as being signs that health is not doing very well. But all the concern that this type of illness usually causes almost always has to do with the fanfare people make when they hear about diabetes , for example.
But it is necessary, in addition to being concerned and attentive, to know more about how this disease arises, what are its types, what are the symptoms and how to treat them. It was with this in mind that we put in today’s text everything you need to know about diabetes. Read through and find out about this dreaded disease.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a disease that causes hyperglycemia, that is, the elevation of glucose in the blood. This problem can occur for several reasons, such as a problem in the production of insulin , a hormone that acts in the pancreas and is responsible for the distribution of glucose in a person’s blood, distributing it as an energy source and preventing it from accumulating in places inadequate.
When our body, for some reason, is unable to produce enough insulin, blood glucose will rise and, as a result, diabetes will appear.
Types of diabetes
Diabetes can manifest itself in several ways, which are basically differentiated by the cause of the disease and, consequently, by the way it will be treated. The existing types of diabetes are:
- Diabetes type 1
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Pre-Diabetes
Let’s talk more deeply about each of these types and explain how treatment is done for each of them.
Diabetes type 1
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, that is, caused by the body itself. It happens because of a defect, a person’s defense cells attack the cells of the pancreas , thus damaging those that produce insulin and causing diabetes.
It is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, since that is when this problem usually happens.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and has quite different causes. Some factors that can lead a person to develop type 2 diabetes are:
- Excessive smoke
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Genetic factors
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Bad eating habits
The combination of these factors, or some of them, ends up leading the person to develop type 2 diabetes, which is a disease that requires a very cautious treatment, especially when blood sugar levels are exaggeratedly high.
Gestational diabetes
This type of diabetes occurs only during pregnancy, usually in the third trimester of pregnancy. It is worth remembering that gestational diabetes is considered only the disease caused by pregnancy, that is, if the woman already has this problem previously, it will be another type of disease. It is caused by the hormones of pregnancy and almost always disappears after delivery.
Pre-Diabetes
When a person has very high blood glucose levels, they are considered pre-diabetic. It is like a warning to the person not to develop type 2 diabetes, which is a much more complicated disease and more difficult 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 , prevention is very difficult to talk about, as the causes of the disease are virtually 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 from appearing, such as:
- Exercise regularly
- Adopt a balanced diet
- Have blood tests up to date
- Analyze your blood glucose levels, especially if you are part of risk groups
With these simple and healthy attitudes it is possible to prevent diabetes or even avoid complications for those who already have the disease.
Groups of risk
Although there are some unavoidable factors for diabetes to appear, if you are part of a risk group, it is necessary to be cautious, always controlling blood glucose levels and paying attention to possible signs of the disease. Diabetes risk groups are:
- Obese
- People with diabetes in the family
- Sedentary
- People over 45
- Pregnant
Symptoms of Diabetes
There are some symptoms that can indicate diabetes in a person. Symptoms may vary according to the type of diabetes, but there are those that are common to all, which are precisely those that should be taken into account when diagnosing. They are:
- Very thirst
- Excessive urine
- Fast tiredness
- Feeling weak
- It takes time to heal wounds
- Blurred vision
- Tingling in the feet or hands
It is worth remembering that diabetes can be asymptomatic many times, that is, it does not always appear with symptoms, which can be very serious, since a person’s clinical condition can become quite aggravated if they do not know about the disease.
Diabetes Treatment
Firstly, it is necessary to say that diabetes has no cure, with the exception of gestational diabetes, obviously, since it disappears after delivery. This means that the person will have to learn to live with the disease and have an often drastic change in their lifestyle.
The treatment of diabetes is basically done by controlling the blood sugar levels of the sick person. For this to be accomplished, a mix of diet, use of oral medications and insulin application with a direct needle into the veins is indicated.
The number of medications used, as well as the frequency at which these medications should be taken, can vary greatly according to the severity of the disease or the type of diabetes that the person has.
In addition, it is always recommended that the person does physical exercises regularly, avoiding high intensity exercises due to the disease. It is also necessary to pay attention to the use of drugs combined with exercise so that hypoglycemia does not occur.
Few diseases are as famous and feared as diabetes. However, as you can see, in addition to the fact that there are different ways for the disease to manifest itself, there are also several ways to treat and even prevent diabetes, although this does not apply in all cases.
It is always necessary to collect as much information as possible about the disease, in addition to being up to date with exams and medical appointments, as the opinion of a professional is the most valuable to advise you in times of illness. So be sure to never delve into the diseases that can affect you, but always responsibly.
See also: Examination of the Glycemic Curve – What is the Importance?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
