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Understanding Diabetes: A Basic Overview
- juliatanaka6
- Apr 22
- 2 min read
Whether it is from being diagnosed with it themselves or simply knowing someone who has it, the condition, “diabetes,” is likely familiar to many individuals. However, the exact mechanism or implications behind the diagnosis are less commonly known to the general public.
What is Diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of chronic disorders that affect the body’s use of blood sugar, otherwise known as glucose. Glucose is a vital source of energy for the body and comes from two major sources: food and the liver. It is used by cells that make up muscles and tissues, along with the brain. There are two types of diabetes mellitus: Type I and Type II.
Type I Diabetes mellitus
In Type I diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. It is otherwise known as insulin-dependent diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by islet cells in the pancreas and released into the bloodstream. It signals cells to allow glucose into them in order to produce energy. If there is little or no insulin produced, the glucose cannot be let into the cells and instead builds up within the bloodstream, potentially causing life-threatening complications.
Type II Diabetes mellitus
In Type II diabetes, the body is able to produce an adequate amount of insulin, however, this insulin is not used properly, leading to a build up of glucose in the bloodstream. Much like Type I diabetes, this can potentially cause life-threatening complications.
Symptoms
Symptoms for diabetes mellitus include the following: Increased thirst, increased urination, unexplainable weight loss, fatigue, blurry vision, slower healing of sores/wounds, and increased frequency of infections.
Complications
The presence of diabetes is linked with a higher risk of disorders involving the heart and blood vessels. There is also risk of nerve damage, kidney disease, eye damage, slower healing of wounds, hearing impairments, sleep apnea, dementia, and bacterial or fungal infections.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Both types of diabetes can be diagnosed during childhood or adulthood. Family history, age, lifestyle, and genetics can all play a role in increasing the risk of diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes is traditionally diagnosed through the use of a Glycated hemoglobin test (A1C test), which measures your blood sugar for the past two to three months. If an A1C test cannot be obtained, healthcare providers typically use a random blood sugar test or fasting blood sugar test to measure glucose levels.
Once diagnosed, individuals with Type I diabetes can regulate their condition by taking insulin, regulating intake of carbohydrates/fats/proteins, eating healthy, and exercising regularly. Similarly, those with Type II diabetes can maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, work on losing weight if needed, and keep track of their blood sugar. They can also take medications to regulate their blood sugar, such as metformin, sulfonylureas, glinides, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors. They may also receive insulin therapy if needed.
Prevention
While there are no known methods of prevention for Type I diabetes, there are several recommendations to avoid developing Type II diabetes. These include the following: maintaining a healthy diet, remaining physically active, losing weight, and avoiding sitting for long periods of time.
References
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
