Understanding Diabetes
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious, long-term (or chronic) condition that occurs when glucose levels in a person’s blood rise because the body cannot produce any or enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
What causes diabetes?
and who is at risk?
Here are the key causes that can lead to the development of diabetes:
- Family History
- Autoimmune Attack (Type 1 Diabetes)
- Insulin Resistance due to obesity (Type 2 Diabetes)
- Hormonal Changes during pregnancy (Gestational Diabetes)
The following factors can increase your risk to get Diabetes:
- Family history of diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Age (risk increases after 45 years old)
- Low HDL Cholesterol or higher triglycerides
- Ethnic Background (higher risk in South Asians, Africans & Hispanics)
- Being over weight or obese
- Unhealthy diet (high in sugars, fats and processed foods)
- High Blood Pressure
- History of Gestational Diabetes
What causes diabetes?
How is diabetes diagnosed?
There are various methods for diagnosing diabetes, and sometimes testing may need to be repeated to confirm the diagnosis. All tests should be conducted in a healthcare setting, such as your healthcare provider’s office or a certified lab, to ensure accurate results. If your blood glucose level is very high or you have typical symptoms of diabetes, your doctor might make a diagnosis after just one test.
Common Tests to Diagnose Diabetes:
1. A1C Test
- Measures your average blood glucose over the past 2–3 months.
- No special preparation (no fasting) is needed.
- A1C is 6.5% or higher
2. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test
- Done first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything (except water) for at least 8 hours.
- Measures your fasting blood glucose level.
- Fasting blood glucose is 126 mg/dL or higher
3. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
- Measures how your body processes sugar.
- After fasting, you will drink a sweet liquid, and your blood sugar will be checked 2 hours later.
- 2-hour blood glucose is 200 mg/dL or higher
4. Random Plasma Glucose Test
- Can be done at any time, especially if you have severe diabetes symptoms (such as extreme thirst, frequent urination, or unexplained weight loss).
- Blood glucose is 200 mg/dL or higher
What are long-term complications?
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
- Atherosclerosis
- Nerve damage (neuropathy), which can cause numbness, tingling or pain
- Nephropathy, which can lead to kidney failure or the need for dialysis or transplant
- Retinopathy, which can lead to blindness
- Foot Complications: Including ulcers and potential amputations.
- Sexual dysfunction due to nerve and blood vessel damage.
- Skin infections
- Hearing loss
- Oral health issues, such as gum (periodontal) disease
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
This type is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons. Up to 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1. It’s usually diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can develop at any age.
Type 2 Diabetes
In this form of diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin – a condition known as insulin resistance. It is the most common type of diabetes, primarily affecting adults, although it can also occur in children.
Lada
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) is a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes that starts in adulthood-typically after age 30. It begins like Type 2 diabetes [still producing insulin) but is caused by an autoimmune attack on B-cells. Over time, insulin production declines and insulin treatment becomes necessary.
Mody
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a hereditary diabetes caused by a mutation in a single gene, often appearing in youth and strongly running in families. MODY is not autoimmune-and many forms respond well to specific oral medications rather than insulin.
Gestational Diabetes
This type of diabetes develops in some females during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. However, if you have gestational diabetes, you’re at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.