Diabetes is a disease that affects the blood sugar or glucose usage of the body. Glucose is very important for the cells to get energy, which contributes to the development of tissues and muscles. It is also the major fuel source of the brain.
Different causes of diabetes depend on the type. Whatever the diabetes type is, it will increase the sugar level in the blood. When the sugar level increases, it will lead to critical health issues. Type 1 and type 2 are serious diabetic conditions. Common reversible diabetes issues include gestational and prediabetes conditions.
Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels rise above the normal level. However, the sugar levels are not that high to be considered as diabetes. If necessary preventive steps are not taken for prediabetes, it will lead to diabetes. Gestational diabetes is caused during pregnancy and can go after the baby’s birth.
Symptoms Of Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes depend on the level of your blood sugar. Some patients with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, as well as prediabetes may not show any symptoms. However, in type 1 diabetes, patients may show symptoms instantly and may become severe quickly. The most common symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are
- Increased thirst
- Urge to urinate frequently
- Loss of weight
- Ketone presence in the urine.
- Feeling weak and tired.
- Mood swings
- Blurred vision
- Sores take time to heal
- Frequent infections
Type 1 diabetes may happen at any age. It mostly starts in childhood or during the teenage years. Type 2 diabetes is the most common diabetes type and can occur at any age. But it is mostly seen in people above 40 years. However, according to some reports Type 2 diabetes is increasing in children at a rapid rate.
Causes Of Diabetes
The exact cause that leads to diabetes is still unknown. In every case of diabetes, sugar level increases in the bloodstream. It happens mainly because the pancreas cannot produce adequate insulin. Environmental and genetic factors can combine to cause both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The exact details of these factors are not clear.
Risk Factors
The type of diabetes decides the risk factors of the disease. In all types, your family history has a big role to play. Geography and environmental factors can increase the risks involved in type 1 diabetes. If you test the family members of type 1 diabetes patients, you can find the presence of autoantibodies, which are diabetes immune system cells. People with such autoantibodies in their bodies are more prone to type 1 diabetes. However, not everybody with autoantibodies may develop diabetes.
Ethnicity or race may also develop type 2 diabetes. Asian American people, American Indians, Hispanics, and Black people have an increased risk of diabetes even though the reason is not clear. People with obesity or overweight also have the risk of gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and prediabetes.
Long-term issues associated with diabetes happen gradually. For people who have had diabetes for a long time and uncontrolled levels of blood sugar, complications can be risky.