Diabetes: Understand It, Prevent It, Manage It

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is a condition in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high due to the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or to use insulin effectively. Insulin is a vital hormone that helps transport glucose from the bloodstream into the cells to be used for energy.

📌 Types of Diabetes

1. Type 1 Diabetes
   The body is unable to produce insulin, requiring lifelong insulin injections.

2. Type 2 Diabetes
   The body still produces insulin but cannot use it efficiently. This type is more common in adults, especially those who are overweight or have a family history of diabetes.

3. Gestational Diabetes
   This occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth. However, it increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

⚠️ Early Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

• Frequent thirst and urination
• Constant hunger with unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue and blurred vision
• Slow-healing wounds, itching skin or genital areas
• In some cases, no symptoms appear until complications arise

🧬 Risk Factors to Watch Out For

• Family history of diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Lack of physical activity
• Age 40 and above
• Previous history of gestational diabetes

🛡️ Prevention and Self-Care

✅ Maintain a healthy weight
✅ Choose high-fiber, low-sugar, low-fat, and low-sodium foods
✅ Exercise regularly – at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week
✅ Get annual health check-ups, especially for those over 35
✅ Manage stress and ensure adequate sleep

💉 Treatment Options

1. Lifestyle and dietary changes

2. Oral medications to lower blood sugar – e.g., Metformin

3. Insulin therapy – for those who cannot manage with pills alone

4. Regular monitoring – including HbA1c, cholesterol, blood pressure, eye, kidney, and foot exams

🦶 Serious Complications of Uncontrolled Diabetes

Without proper management, diabetes can lead to long-term complications such as:
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetic retinopathy – which may lead to blindness
• Chronic kidney disease or kidney failure
• Nerve damage and foot ulcers – possibly requiring amputation