According to the World Health Organization, diabetes affects approximately 422 million individuals (8.5% of the world’s population), mostly in low and middle-income countries, and is directly responsible for 1.5 million fatalities worldwide every year [1]. This number continues rising, and it is expected to reach 629 million people by 2045 (9.9% of the population) [2] – some already consider this disease the epidemic of the century [3-6]. Sugar and insulin are the first aspects that come to mind, but how are they related to diabetes?
As mentioned in the previous post, insulin is an essential hormone in the metabolism process, and a malfunction in the production or work of this hormone has many consequences. In this case, there is an abundance of glucose in the blood stream that cannot be used since it can not access the cells – a condition known as diabetes. There are many different types of diabetes [7], although the most common are type 1 and type 2.
In type 1 diabetes, the immune cells get confused and attack the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, stopping its production [8]. This chronic condition usually appears during childhood and adolescence and needs to be managed by taking insulin every day. While the exact cause remains unknown, genetic factors and certain viral infections may contribute to its development [9].
Type 2 diabetes may also have a genetic component, however it’s often more associated with lifestyle factors like poor dietary choices, sedentary habits, and obesity [10]. The body either becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or does not produce enough [8]. Managing this type often involves a change in lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and, in some cases, medication.
Some of the symptoms related to diabetes are [11]:
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Longer time for wounds to heal
To know more about why these symptoms occur, read the previous post.
Although both types of diabetes have similar symptoms, type 2 diabetes typically has them less pronounced [1]. Consequently, this condition might not be identified until several years after its onset, by which complications might have already emerged. Hence, it is vital to stay informed about risk factors associated with diabetes.
It is highly important to monitor glucose levels if taking insulin or other medications for diabetes. If high glucose levels are left untreated, it can develop into diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), making the blood more acidic [12]. This condition can lead to a coma or death if not treated.
If you have any symptoms, it is important to visit a healthcare professional to rule out diabetes and prevent any life-threatening complications. Various treatments are available [13] and doctors can choose one that best adapts to each person’s situation. Curiously, some diabetic medications have found a new purpose in weight control. While it is important to not self-treat for diabetes or use diabetes medication for weight loss without medical supervision, let’s explore why this happens in the next post. Stay tuned!
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Written by: María
Edited by: Natasha
BioDecoded is a volunteer group committed to sharing accurate scientific information. We cannot offer any specific health advice. If you have any questions about this topic or would like to learn more, please comment below, or send us your questions.
References:
Diabetes (2023). World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_1 (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
Cho, NH., et al. (2018). IDF Diabetes Atlas: Global estimates of diabetes prevalence for 2017 and projections for 2045. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 138: 271-281. Available at: https://www.diabetesresearchclinicalpractice.com/article/S0168-8227(18)30203-1/fulltext
Tabish, SA. (2007). Is Diabetes Becoming the Biggest Epidemic on the Twenty-first Century? International Journal of Health Science 1 (2): 5-8. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068646/
Kharroubi, A. T., and Darwish, H. M. (2015). Diabetes mellitus: The epidemic of the century. World Journal Diabetes;6(6):850-67. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4478580/
Schmidt, A. M. (2018). Highlighting Diabetes Mellitus the Epidemic Continues. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 38(1): 1-8. Available at: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/ATVBAHA.117.310221
Bonow, RO. and Gheorghiade M. (2004). The diabetes epidemic: a national and global crisis. The American Journal of Medicine 116; 5 (1): 2-10. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002934303006715
Diabetes (2023). Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7104-diabetes (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
What is Diabetes (2023). CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
Type 1 Diabetes (2023). Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011 (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
Type 2 Diabetes (2023). Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193 (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
Diabetes symptoms (2023). CDC.Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
Hyperglycemia (2023). Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9815-hyperglycemia-high-blood-sugar (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
Types of Insulin for Diabetes Treatment (2022). Web MD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-types-insulin (Accessed: 19 November 2023).
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