All about Diabetes - Types, Symptoms, Causes & Prevention

Diabetes is a medical condition wherein the blood sugar or glucose level is higher than the permissible range. In medical science, this disease is categorised into two types, namely Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is a hormone closely related to this condition. Insulin is responsible for extracting sugar from the blood, converting it to energy, and storing them in cells.

According to an alarming report, 55.5% of men and 64.6% of women in their twenties residing in India’s metropolitan centers face a lifetime risk of diabetes (1).

A diabetic cannot produce enough insulin or use the insulin for normal bodily functions. There various types of diabetes found in the human body can affect health differently. 

However, it is a vast topic and requires extensive study to know more about this disease. Let’s start with the basics of diabetes to learn further!

Diabetes is a disease caused when your blood has an excess of sugar or glucose. Insulin is a biochemical substance found in the human body, which is generally responsible for converting this glucose into energy. However, in diabetic individuals, this hormone fails to function properly, leading to an increased glucose level.

Depending on the type of diabetes, one of the following can occur.

The pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Hence, the cells do not get sufficient energy to perform bodily functions. This is known as Type 1 diabetes. 

Alternatively, the pancreas produces insulin in sufficient quantity, but the cell cannot use this hormone. This gives rise to what is known as Type 2 diabetes. In both these cases, sugar level rises in the blood. 

Depending on the condition, diabetes is divided into different types to study and treat properly.

Generally, three types of diabetes are common in humans. They are mentioned below.

1. Type 1 diabetes

It is generally considered to be a hereditary disease. However, environmental influence is also considered a driver of type 1 diabetes. 

This particular type of diabetes is often referred to as an autoimmune condition. Here, the immune system of your body attacks the beta cells present in the pancreas that produce insulin mistakenly. Therefore, insulin production gets hampered.

2. Type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot properly use insulin. Instead, it prompts the pancreas to produce more insulin to a point when it cannot produce anymore. Resultantly, the blood sugar level increases in the absence or scarcity of insulin. 

Although the causes of type 2 diabetes are still unknown, the following are often considered responsible. 

• Genetics 
• Environment 
• Other health issues 

Besides type 1 and type 2 diabetes, another variant also afflicts human beings, known as gestational diabetes.

3. Gestational diabetes

This type of diabetes afflicts expecting mothers during pregnancy due to insulin-blocking hormones. Although it often resolves after giving birth, such a condition can impose potential risk for the baby’s health. Moreover, it increases the chance of suffering from type 2 diabetes in the future.

Mothers suffering from gestational diabetes may exhibit symptoms, such as high blood pressure, future diabetes and inability to undergo a normal delivery.

On other other hand, babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes often suffer from excess weight at birth, low blood sugar levels, respiratory conditions and more.

4. Diabetes in children

Earlier type 1 diabetes was common in teenagers, with malfunctions in the pancreas leading to insufficient insulin production.

However, with obesity and unhealthy lifestyle on the rise, children today also face immense threat of type 2 diabetes. Adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle can prevent the onset of such conditions at such a tender age.

However, in either case, the body shows some early symptoms of diabetes that help in diagnosis. Self diagnosis is also possible today thanks to specialised kits available from pharmacies.

Mostly, these instruments include a small needle to prick on the tip of your finger to draw blood. This blood is then placed on test strips and inserted in the special testing machine. Results are immediate and relatively accurate.

Irrespective of the types of diabetes, there are some common symptoms that you may notice, which can be indicative of the affliction. These are:

• Fatigue and hunger 
• Frequent urination  
• Increased thirst 
• Blurred vision 
• Dry and itchy skin 
• Wounds take time to heal 
• Sudden weight loss
• Frequent infections 

Diabetes symptoms in men and women are usually the same. However, some specific complications hit differently for both the sexes. For instance, men may face the following issues exclusively. 

• Low testosterone
• Erectile dysfunction 
• Retrograde ejaculation 

Similarly, diabetes symptoms in women can specifically include the following - 

• Irregular menstrual cycle
• UTIs and yeast infections 
• Lower fertility 

However, there can also be other symptoms, considering every human body is unique and responds differently.

The uncertainty in insulin production is one of the prime causes of diabetes. Hereditary and environmental factors, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle also worsen diabetes. 

While both types of diabetes have their root in genes, the pre-existing medical conditions can further deteriorate an afflicted individual’s health. For instance, type 1 diabetes can arise from a virus that attacks the immune system. 

On the other hand, excessive belly fat can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Can untreated Thyroid problems cause Diabetes?

Most studies show that thyroid disorders and diabetes coexist. Since both of these conditions stem from endocrine dysfunction, they affect each other.

The thyroid gland controls the glucose level in the body, and thus, untreated thyroid disorder results in type 1 diabetes in most cases. 

Hence, if you have type 1 diabetes; it is high time you should check the thyroid level from time to time and vice-versa.

Irrespective of the types of diabetes, checking the blood sugar level is the most reliable and simplest way to diagnose diabetes. Following are some of the pathological tests that show the sugar level accurately. 

• Fasting blood glucose test – A test report of 126 mg/dL and higher is considered diabetic. 
• Random blood glucose test – 11.1 mmol/L or more suggest diabetes. 
• Oral glucose tolerance test – A reading of more than 200 mg/dL indicates diabetes. 
• A1c test – A level of 6.5% and above means you have diabetes. 

The diabetes blood sugar level also determines the kind of medication and lifestyle changes you would need to adopt.

Diabetes is not a disease you can treat by yourself, although lifestyle changes can help control it. You need to consult a physician to treat all types of diabetes.

Since diabetes affects other organs and tissues, you may need to visit an eye specialist, a dietician and an endocrinologist as part of your treatment. 

With the right medication, diet and exercise, it gets easier to treat diabetes effectively by keeping the sugar level in check.

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Insulin is developed in the laboratory and it is considered one of the safest drugs for all types of diabetes. Depending on the diagnosed blood sugar level, doctors can prescribe multiple insulin shots. 

You have to inject it daily as per your physician’s advice. Once habituated, you can take the injection by yourself. Usually, insulin injection for diabetes type 1 is the best that has negligible side-effects. Fortunately, you can easily self-medicate using modern insulin delivery systems.

The prevention and control of diabetes are crucial to ensuring a healthy life. Hence, follow the below-mentioned tips to keep blood sugar level within a permissible level. 

• Limit refined carbs and sugar intake 
• Exercise regularly 
• Drink water as per body weight. Since diabetes’s effect on the kidney is common, drink adequate water and check kidney function often. 
• Lose weight if you are obese 
• Quit smoking and drinking. 
• Include high-fibre and low-carb food in the diet. 
• Avoid packaged food.
• Make sure to maintain enough Vitamin D in your diet. 

Along with that, continue having your regular drugs prescribed by your doctor. However, make sure that the blood sugar level does not fall drastically. 

Insulin-dependent diabetes patients often witness sugar drops that can lead to numbness and even diabetic coma in severe cases.

Although seeking professional medical care is recommended, diabetes treatment with home remedies can control the glucose level to a significant extent.

The best part is that these tips and tricks work for all types of diabetes.  Include the following in your regular diet for best results:

• Bitter gourd - This vegetable contains insulin-polypeptide-p that treats diabetes. You can add this to your main course or make a smoothie.  
• Fenugreek seeds - Soak it overnight and drink the infused water on an empty stomach to decrease blood glucose level. 
• Cinnamon - This Indian spice is effective in treating diabetes as it contains bioactive compounds. Take half a spoon of cinnamon powder, mix it in warm water, and have this concoction once a day. 
• Vitamin C - Diabetes’s effect on the eyes can be fatal if not addressed in time. Hence, add vitamin C-rich food to your diet like oranges, lemons, green chillies, gooseberries, etc. Try to intake at least 60 grams of Vitamin C every day. 

Along with that, drink sufficient water, get adequate sleep and exercise to make diabetes treatment at home successful.

Following are some of the so-called superfoods that can minimise the chances of all types of diabetes infliction. 

• Beans 
• Milk and yoghurt 
• Nuts 
• Tomatoes 
• Fishes rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
• Whole grains 
• Citrus fruits
• Berries 
• Green leafy vegetables 
• Fibre-rich sweet potatoes. 

Whatever your diet, keep a tab on the calories you consume every day. For better results, consult a dietician who can suggest a personalised diet as per your age, work routine, body weight, etc. 

Diabetes has become so widespread that you need to be careful with what you eat along with leading a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, do not forget to consult a doctor if any of the symptoms arise.