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Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose is too high. When you eat carbohydrates, your body turns them into a sugar called glucose and sends them into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas, and this hormone participates in carbohydrate metabolism.

Over time, too much glucose in the blood can cause health problems. Diabetes comes in different forms, depending on the cause. Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage it and stay healthy.

TYPES OF DIABETES

There are several types of diabetes:

1. Prediabetes

Prediabetes is when your blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough to cause diabetes. However, there is a risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is very important that diabetes is diagnosed as early as possible, as it will worsen progressively if left untreated.

2. Type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still secretes insulin, but either it is not enough, or the body does not use it properly. Type 2 diabetes is more common and has milder symptoms than type 1. However, it can cause major health complications, especially in the small blood vessels in the kidneys, nerves, and eyes.

3. Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called ″juvenile-onset diabetes″, is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas, where the insulin is secreted. The pancreas is damaged and no longer secretes insulin. People with type 1 diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.

4. Gestational diabetes

During pregnancy, some women have high blood glucose levels and the body cannot produce enough insulin to absorb it all. If it becomes diabetes, it is called ″gestational diabetes″. It usually goes away after birth, but about 10% of women with gestational diabetes end up developing type 2 diabetes within a few weeks or even years. Gestational diabetes has a higher risk for the baby than for the mother. The baby may have an unusual weight gain before birth, breathing problems at birth, or a higher risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.

CAUSES OF DIABETES

Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes:

  • Prediabetes: A combination of genetic and environmental factors play an important role in triggering diabetes.
  • Type 2 diabetes: A combination of genetic and lifestyle factors (overweight or obesity, sedentary lifestyle).
  • Type 1 diabetes: A combination of genetic and environmental factors (such as a virus that affects the immune system).
  • Gestational diabetes: A combination of hormonal changes during pregnancy, genetic factors, and lifestyle (women who are overweight when they become pregnant or who gain too much weight during pregnancy).

RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES

Certain factors increase your risk of developing diabetes:

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

  • Family history of diabetes
  • Age over 45 years
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Inactivity
  • Previous diagnosis with gestational diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Low HDL cholesterol (″good cholesterol″)
  • High triglyceride levels
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Acanthosis nigricans, a condition characterized by hyperpigmentation and thickening of the skin
  • History of heart disease or stroke

Type 1 diabetes

  • Family history of diabetes
  • Children or teenagers
  • Climate: People living in the north are at higher risk
  • Viral infections such as German measles, coxsackie, and mumps
  • Other autoimmune diseases, such as Graves’ disease, multiple sclerosis, and pernicious anemia

Gestational diabetes

  • Family history of type 2 diabetes
  • Age over 35 years
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
  • Small stature
  • Excessive fetal growth
  • High blood pressure or preeclampsia in the current pregnancy
  • History of abortion
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

The symptoms of diabetes are caused by high blood glucose.

General symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Increased appetite
  • Excessive thirst
  • Weight loss
  • Frequent urination
  • Blurry vision
  • Fatigue
  • Inflammations that do not heal
  • Recurrent infections

In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may have a decrease in libido, erectile dysfunction, and weak muscle strength.

Women with diabetes may also have symptoms such as urinary tract infections, yeast infection, and dry skin with itching.

Most women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms. The condition is often detected during a routine blood glucose test or glucose tolerance test, which is usually performed in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. In rare cases, a woman with gestational diabetes will also have symptoms such as excessive thirst or frequent urination.

Prediabetes has mild symptoms and is difficult to notice at first.

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