DIABETES

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make. Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs.

There are a few different types of diabetes

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack. About 10 percent of people with diabetes have this type.
• Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood.

• Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus, although it has a similar name. It’s a different condition in which your kidneys remove too much fluid from your body. Each type of diabetes has unique symptoms, causes, and treatments. Learn more about how these types differ from one another.

Symptoms of diabetes

Diabetes symptoms are caused by rising blood sugar.

General symptoms

The general symptoms of diabetes include:

• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• weight loss
• frequent urination
• blurry vision
• extreme fatigue
• sores that don’t heal

Symptoms in men

In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may have a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and poor muscle strength.

Symptoms in women

Women with diabetes can also have symptoms such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and dry, itchy skin.

Type 1 diabetes

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:

• extreme hunger
• increased thirst
• unintentional weight loss
• frequent urination
• blurry vision
• tiredness

It may also result in mood changes.

Type 2 diabetes

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• blurry vision
• tiredness
• sores that are slow to heal

It may also cause recurring infections. This is because elevated glucose levels make it harder for the body to heal.

Gestational diabetes

Most women with gestational diabetes don’t have any symptoms. The condition is often detected during a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test that is usually performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation. In rare cases, a woman with gestational diabetes will also experience increased thirst or urination.

The bottom line

Diabetes symptoms can be so mild that they’re hard to spot at first. Learn which signs should prompt a trip to the doctor.

Causes of diabetes

Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. For some reason, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. Genes may play a role in some people. It’s also possible that a virus sets off the immune system attack.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight or obese increases your risk too. Carrying extra weight, especially in your belly, makes your cells more resistant to the effects of insulin on your blood sugar. This condition runs in families. Family members share genes that make them more likely to get type 2 diabetes and to be overweight.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This can cause high blood sugar during pregnancy. Women who are overweight when they get pregnant or who gain too much weight during their pregnancy are more likely to get gestational diabetes.

The bottom line

Both genes and environmental factors play a role in triggering diabetes. Get more information here on the causes of diabetes.

Diabetes and diet

Healthy eating is a central part of managing diabetes. In some cases, changing your diet may be enough to control the disease.

Type 1 diabetes

Your blood sugar level rises or falls based on the types of foods you eat. Starchy or sugary foods make blood sugar levels rise rapidly. Protein and fat cause more gradual increases. Your medical team may recommend that you limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat

each day. You’ll also need to balance your carbohydrate intake with your insulin doses. Work with a dietitian who can help you design a diabetes meal plan. Getting the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs can help you control your blood sugar. Check out this guide to starting a type 1 diabetes diet.

Type 2 diabetes

Eating the right types of foods can both control your blood sugar and help you lose any excess weight. Carb counting is an important part of eating for type 2 diabetes. A dietitian can help you figure out how many grams of carbohydrates to eat at each meal. In order to keep your blood sugar levels steady, try to eat small meals throughout the day. Emphasize healthy foods such as:

• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains
• lean protein such as poultry and fish
• healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts

Certain other foods can undermine efforts to keep your blood sugar in control.Discover the foods you should avoid if you have diabetes.

Gestational diabetes

Eating a well balanced diet is important for both you and your baby during these nine months. Making the right food choices can also help you avoid diabetes medications. Watch your portion sizes, and limit sugary or salty foods. Although you need some sugar to feed

your growing baby, you should avoid eating too much. Consider making an eating plan with the help of a dietitian or nutritionist. They’ll ensure that your diet has the right mix of macronutrients. Go here for other do’s and don’ts for healthy eating with gestational diabetes.

Diabetes diagnosis

Anyone who has symptoms of diabetes or is at risk for the disease should be tested. Women are routinely tested for gestational diabetes during their second or third trimesters of pregnancy. Doctors use these blood tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes:

• The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test measures your blood sugar after you’ve fasted for 8 hours.
• The A1C test provides a snapshot of your blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months.

To diagnose gestational diabetes, your doctor will test your blood sugar levels between the 24th and 28th weeks of your pregnancy.

• During the glucose challenge test, your blood sugar is checked an hour after you drink a sugary liquid.
• During the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, your blood sugar is checked after you fast overnight and then drink a sugary liquid.

The earlier you get diagnosed with diabetes, the sooner you can start treatment. Find out whether you should get tested and get more information on tests your doctor might perform.

Diabetes prevention

Type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable because it’s caused by a problem with the immune system. Some causes of type 2 diabetes, such as your genes or age, aren’t under your control either. Yet many other diabetes risk factors are controllable. Most diabetes prevention strategies involve making simple adjustments to your diet and fitness routine. If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, here are a few things you can do to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes:

• Get at least 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling.
• Cut saturated and trans fats, along with refined carbohydrates, out of your diet.
• Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Eat smaller portions.
• Try to lose 7 percent Trusted Source of your body weight if you’re overweight or obese.

These aren’t the only ways to prevent diabetes. Discover more strategies that may help you avoid this chronic disease.

Diabetes in pregnancy

Women who’ve never had diabetes can suddenly develop gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Hormones produced by the placenta can make your body more resistant to the effects of iinsulin. Some women who had diabetes before they conceived carry it with them into pregnancy. This is called pre-gestational

diabetes. Gestational diabetes should go away after you deliver, but it does significantly increase your risk for getting diabetes later. About half of women with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years of delivery, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Having diabetes during your

pregnancy can also lead to complications for your newborn, such as jaundice or breathing problems. If you’re diagnosed with pre-gestational or gestational diabetes, you’ll need special monitoring to prevent complications. Find out more about the effect of diabetes on pregnancy.

Diabetes in children

Children can get both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Controlling blood sugar is especially important in young people, because the disease can damage important organs such as the heart and kidneys.

Type 1 diabetes

The autoimmune form of diabetes often starts in childhood. One of the main symptoms is increased urination. Kids with type 1 diabetes may start wetting the bed after they’ve been toilet trained. Extreme thirst, fatigue, and hunger are also signs of the condition. It’s important that children with type 1 diabetes get treated right away. The disease can cause high blood sugar and dehydration, which can be medical emergencies.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes used to be called “juvenile diabetes” because type 2 was so rare in children. Now that more children are overweight or obese, the type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in this age group. About 40 percent of children with the type 2 diabetes don’t have symptoms and the disease is often diagnosed during a physical exam. Untreated

type 2 diabetes can cause lifelong complications, including heart disease, kidney disease and blindness. Healthy eating and exercise can help your child manage their blood sugar and prevent these problems. Type 2 diabetes is much more prevalent than ever in the young people. Learn how to spot the signs so you can report them immediately to your child’s doctor.

Takeaway

Some types of diabetes like type 1 are caused by factors that are out of your control. Others like type 2 can be prevented with better food choices, increased activity, and weight loss. Discuss potential diabetes risks with your doctor. If you’re at risk, have your blood sugar tested and follow your doctor’s advice also for managing your blood sugar.