Diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body processes glucose, and the sugar found in the food we eat. Glucose is the main source of energy that fuels our body’s tissues and organs.
However, if your body can’t process glucose properly, it accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to elevated glucose levels. In this blog post, we will be exploring diabetes in detail, including the different types, causes, and risk factors. We will also be discussing the treatments available, as well as tips for preventing diabetes.
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when your body can’t take up glucose from your bloodstream and use it for energy. This happens when the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, is either not produced at all or produced in insufficient amounts. Insulin acts as the “key” that unlocks the cell wall, allowing glucose to enter your body’s cells. When there is not enough insulin, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to elevated glucose levels.
Types of Diabetes
There are several different types of diabetes, each with its own causes and risk factors. The most common types of diabetes include:
- Type 1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks itself and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and people with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day.
- Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common type of diabetes, affecting up to 95% of people with diabetes. It occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t respond normally to the insulin. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in middle-aged and older people.
- Prediabetes: This is the stage before Type 2 diabetes, where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational Diabetes: This type of diabetes develops in some women during pregnancy and usually goes away after pregnancy. However, women with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Other, less common types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes syndromes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, and drug or chemical-induced diabetes.
How Common is Diabetes?
According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 34.2 million people of all ages, or about 1 in 10, have diabetes in the United States. Of these, 7.3 million adults aged 18 and older, or about 1 in 5, are unaware that they have diabetes. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes increases with age, with over 26% of adults age 65 and older having diabetes.
Risk Factors for Diabetes
The risk factors for diabetes vary depending on the type of diabetes you develop. For Type 1 diabetes, the risk factors include having a family history of Type 1 diabetes, injury to the pancreas, presence of autoantibodies, physical stress, and exposure to illnesses caused by viruses.
For prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, the risk factors include a family history of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, being Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian-American race, or Pacific Islander, having overweight/obese, high blood pressure, and low HDL cholesterol.
Preventing and Treating Diabetes
The good news is that some types of diabetes can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in regular physical activity.
For those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, the treatments include medications and/or insulins.
Understanding Blood Glucose Levels: What Should They Be?
If you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it, it’s essential to monitor your blood glucose levels regularly. Your healthcare team will give you a target range for your blood glucose levels, but in general, the target levels are:
- Before a meal: between 80 and 130 mg/dL.
- Wait for About two hours right after you start your meal: It should be lesser than 180 mg/dL.
It’s crucial to understand what happens when your blood glucose levels are too low or too high, and what you can do about it.
Low Blood Glucose Levels: Hypoglycemia
If your blood glucose level drops below the normal range (usually below 70 mg/dL), it’s referred to as hypoglycemia. This is your body’s way of signaling that you need more sugar. The symptoms of hypoglycemia can include:
- Weakness or shaking
- Moist skin and sweating
- Fast heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Sudden hunger
- Confusion
- Pale skin
- Numbness in the mouth or tongue
- Irritability and nervousness
- Unsteadiness
- Nightmares, restless sleep, or bad dreams
- Blurred vision
- Headaches or seizures
If hypoglycemia is not managed, it could lead to passing out.
High Blood Glucose Levels: Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia occurs when you have too much glucose in your blood. It is defined as:
- A blood glucose level greater than 125 mg/dL when you haven’t eaten or drunk anything for at least eight hours.
- The blood glucose per cent and level that is greater than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after eating.
Diabetes Treatment Options
The treatment for diabetes varies depending on the type of diabetes, the management of your blood glucose levels, and other health conditions you may have.
- Type 1 diabetes: If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day as your pancreas no longer produces insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes: If you have type 2 diabetes, your treatment options could include medication (both for diabetes and other risk factors), insulin, and lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, weight loss, and increased physical activity.
- Prediabetes: If you have prediabetes, the goal is to prevent progression to diabetes. Treatments focus on treatable risk factors, such as a healthy diet and exercise, which are also recommended for the prevention and management of diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes: If you have gestational diabetes and your glucose level is not too high, your treatment may begin with dietary modifications and exercise. If your glucose level is very high or if you do not meet the target goal, your healthcare team may start you on medication or insulin.
Oral medications and insulin work in different ways to treat diabetes, such as:
- Stimulating your pancreas to produce and release more insulin
- Slowing down the release of glucose from your liver
- Blocking the breakdown of carbohydrates in your stomach or intestines, making your tissues more sensitive to insulin
- Helping your body rid itself of glucose through increased urination
The Food and Drug Administration has approved over 40 medications for the treatment of diabetes, which can be grouped into the following classes:
- Sulfonylureas: This class of drugs lowers blood glucose by getting the pancreas to release more insulin. Examples include glimepiride (Amaryl®), glipizide (Glucotrol®), and glyburide (Micronase®, DiaBeta®).
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. While sugar itself is not the direct cause of diabetes, consuming large amounts of sugary foods can lead to weight gain, which is a major risk factor for the development of diabetes. In this article, we will delve into the link between sugar and diabetes, the various types of diabetes, and the role that healthcare professionals play in diabetes treatment.
The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than six teaspoons of sugar per day (25 grams) and men should limit their intake to nine teaspoons (36 grams).
Consuming more sugar than this can result in weight gain and other health problems, which increase the risk of developing diabetes. Weight gain can raise blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cause fat buildup in the liver, and lead to tooth decay. All of these factors contribute to the development of diabetes or worsen existing complications.
Diabetes is managed by a healthcare team, with the primary healthcare provider being the first point of contact. Depending on individual needs, the healthcare team may include an endocrinologist, ophthalmologist, nephrologist, cardiologist, podiatrist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, registered dietician, nurse practitioners/physician assistants, diabetes educator, pharmacist, personal trainer, social worker, mental health professional, transplant team, and others.
How frequently a person with diabetes needs to see their primary healthcare provider depends on the type of treatment they are receiving. If they are receiving insulin shots, they should see their doctor every three to four months, while those treated with pills or managing diabetes through diet should see their doctor every four to six months. More frequent visits may be required if blood sugar levels are not well-managed or if diabetes complications are worsening.
Reversing diabetes is not always possible, and the possibility of remission depends on the type of diabetes and its specific cause.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be reversed with traditional treatments, and patients require lifelong insulin. The closest thing to a cure for Type 1 is a pancreas transplant, which requires strict eligibility criteria and a lifetime of immunosuppressant medication. On the other hand, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes can be reversed with significant effort and motivation.
To reverse diabetes, individuals must lose weight, exercise regularly, and follow a healthy diet that is low in carbs, sugar, and healthy fats. They must also lower their cholesterol levels and blood pressure to within normal ranges. In some cases, bariatric surgery can help achieve remission in people with Type 2 diabetes, but it is a significant surgery with its own risks and complications.
Gestational diabetes ends with the birth of the child, but it is a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes in the future. While diabetes can be effectively managed, the extent to which it can be managed depends on individual circumstances and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Diabetes can be life-threatening if it remains undiagnosed and unmanaged. High or low glucose levels can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, and coma, which can be fatal. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults with diabetes.
Conclusion
Sugar is not a direct cause of diabetes, but consuming large amounts of sugary foods can increase the risk of developing the disease. Diabetes is managed by a healthcare team and the frequency of visits to the doctor depends on the type of treatment.
Reversing diabetes depends on the type of diabetes and its specific cause, but it can be effectively managed to minimize complications. If you have diabetes, it is important to work closely with your healthcare team to maintain optimal health and prevent complications.