What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body can't produce enough insulin or can't use it effectively, leading to high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia).
Insulin regulates blood sugar, and without proper control, excess sugar can damage nerves, blood vessels, eyes, and the heart.
Glucose, mainly from carbohydrates, is the body's main energy source, carried by the blood to cells.
Diabetes can affect anyone and is usually lifelong, but it can be managed with medication.
Causes of Diabetes can vary by type, so timely medical consultation is essential.
What are the different types of Diabetes?
Though there are several types of Diabetes, the most common forms include:
Type 2 diabetes
When suffering from this type of Diabetes, your body is not able to make enough insulin.
Sometimes, your body's cells also do not respond to insulin normally when you have type 2 diabetes.
It is the most common type of Diabetes that affects adults and sometimes even children.
Type 1 diabetes
It is a type of autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Almost 10% of people have type 1 diabetes.
It is generally diagnosed in young adults and children.
Prediabetes
An early stage of type 2 diabetes is called prediabetes.
Your blood sugar levels rise above average.
Yet, blood glucose levels are not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes formally.
Gestational Diabetes
Some women experience this kind of Diabetes during pregnancy.
It usually goes away after pregnancy.
In case you are diagnosed with gestational Diabetes, there is a high risk of experiencing type 2 diabetes later.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
When there is an increased blood sugar, diabetes symptoms can be experienced.
Here are some general symptoms of Diabetes:
- Blurry vision
- Increased hunger
- Extreme fatigue
- Increased thirst
- Sores that don't heal quickly
- Weight loss
- Urinating too often
Symptoms in men
Along with general symptoms of Diabetes, men with Diabetes can have the following symptoms:
- Poor muscle strength
- A reduced sexual drive
- Erectile dysfunction
Symptoms in women
Women with Diabetes can have symptoms like:
- Dry and itchy skin
- Vaginal dryness
- Yeast infections
- Urinary tract infections
What are the Causes of Diabetes?
Too much glucose circulating in your bloodstream can cause Diabetes, irrespective of type.
Here are some main causes of Diabetes:
Insulin resistance
Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance that happens when cells in the liver, muscles, and fat do not respond to insulin.
Various factors and conditions are responsible for changing degrees of insulin resistance.
Some varying degrees of insulin resistance include hormonal imbalances, obesity, genetics, and the use of certain medicines.
Pancreatic damage
Some physical damage to the pancreas from surgery, injury, or condition can impact the ability to make insulin.
This pancreatic damage can further cause Type 3c diabetes.
Autoimmune disease
When your immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, type 1 diabetes and LADA happen.
Hormonal imbalances
During pregnancy, the placenta releases hormones that cause insulin resistance.
If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance, then you may face gestational Diabetes.
Some other hormone-related issues, such as Cushing syndrome and acromegaly, can make you suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Genetic mutations
Certain genetic mutations can cause MODY and neonatal Diabetes.
What are the Complications caused by Diabetes?
It is necessary to understand that long-term complications of Diabetes develop with time.
The longer you have Diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the higher the risk of complications.
Ultimately, diabetes complications can be disabling and even life-threatening for some people.
Below-stated are some possible complications of Diabetes:
Heart and blood vessel disease
Diabetes increases the risk of several heart problems, like coronary artery disease, heart attack, angina, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
If you have Diabetes, it is likely to experience heart disease or stroke.
Nerve damage from Diabetes
Too much sugar can harm the walls of tiny blood vessels that nourish your nerves, mainly in the legs.
This can cause numbness, tingling, burning, or pain that starts at the tips of fingers or toes and spreads upwards.
Kidney damage from Diabetes
Your kidneys are responsible for holding millions of tiny blood vessel clusters that filter out waste from the blood.
Thus, Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system and cause complications.
Foot damage
Poor blood flow to the feet or nerve damage in your feet can increase the risk of experiencing several foot complications.
Choosing diabetes medicines
Diabetes treatment varies by individual, so it's important to consult your doctor to choose the right medication for your needs.
Different classes of Diabetes drugs work in various ways to lower blood sugar, and knowing how they work is essential to your treatment plan.
These medicines are widely available, including from licensed online pharmacies at reasonable prices.
Metformin:
This medication is often the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. It works by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and improving the body's sensitivity to insulin. This, Metformin helps to lower blood glucose levels and prevent complications caused by Diabetes.
Sulfonylureas:
These medications stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, which helps to lower blood glucose levels. Examples of sulfonylureas include glipizide, glyburide, and gliclazide.
Meglitinides:
Like sulfonylureas, meglitinides stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. However, Meglitinides works faster and for a shorter duration. Examples of meglitinides include repaglinide and nateglinide.
DPP-4 inhibitors:
These medications help to lower blood glucose levels by preventing the breakdown of incretin hormones. This hormone stimulates insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion. Examples of DPP-4 inhibitors include sitagliptin and saxagliptin.
SGLT-2 inhibitors:
SGLT-2 inhibitors work by blocking the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys. It leads to increased excretion of glucose in the urine and lower blood glucose levels. Examples of SGLT-2 inhibitors include canagliflozin and dapagliflozin.
GLP-1 receptor agonists:
These medications mimic the action of incretin hormones, which stimulate insulin secretion and reduce glucagon secretion. GLP-1 receptor agonists also slow down the rate at which food is emptied from the stomach, which helps to reduce post-meal glucose spikes. Examples of GLP-1 receptor agonists include exenatide and liraglutide.
Diabetes medicine with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle changes for the best blood sugar control.
However, effectiveness and side effects may vary, so treatment should be tailored with doctor guidance.
What are the Precautions and Safety Advice for Diabetes Medicines?
- Take your diabetic medications exactly as directed by your doctor; do not skip or double doses.
- Regularly check your blood glucose to track how the medicine is working.
- Report symptoms like dizziness, sweating, or blurred vision, which could indicate low blood sugar.
- Avoid alcohol as it can interfere with some diabetes drugs and affect blood sugar levels.
- Add regular exercise and a balanced diet, which work best alongside medicines.
- Tell your doctor about any other drugs or supplements you take to avoid interactions.
- Keep your diabetic medications in a cool, dry place away from sunlight to keep them safe and stable.
- Never adjust dosage or switch medicines without medical advice; it's better to consult a doctor for it.
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