What is Diabetes?
Before answering that, remember these three words first; insulin, glucose, and pancreas. You know for a fact that the human body is composed of millions of millions of cells, and these cells need fuel. We get this from the food that we eat. Food contains glucose, a substance needed by our body as the main source of energy to keep us up and moving, you get the point. Now here comes the pancreas, an organ responsible for releasing insulin. Insulin is a hormone that aids in controlling glucose or sugar in the bloodstream that regulates in the body.
Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), actually happens when either something goes wrong with the pancreas and it is not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body are not responding properly to the insulin produced. 1
Diabetes cannot be cured, however it can be treated. Early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to avoid further complications such as serious damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, the heart, and blood vessels.
What are the types of diabetes and how do they differ from each other?
There are said to be three main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes - the most common form of DM, which is also called “insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)”, where the body fails to produce enough insulin. This is also known as “juvenile diabetes” or “childhood onset diabetes”, as the names imply, this is usually first diagnosed in young adults, teenagers, and even children. However, about 5 to 10 percent of adults with diabetes have type 1-diabetes. 2
- Type 2 diabetes - a type wherein the cells of the body fail to properly respond to the insulin produced. This is called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and also known as the “adult-onset diabetes”. At first, the pancreas keeps up to the added demand of insulin by producing more. When this happens in a prolonged period, it lacks its ability to secrete enough insulin needed in conjunction to food intake. This is also considered as the most common type, because this is primarily due to genetics and lifestyle factors such as obesity.
- Gestational diabetes - the third form of diabetes, from the word gestational which refers to the state of being pregnant. This occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. 3
What are the signs and symptoms associated with Diabetes Mellitus?
Although not specific, several signs and symptoms can mark the onset of the disease. There are known classic symptoms of diabetes, they are often referred to as the three P’s; polyphagia (increased hunger), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyuria (frequent urination), and as well as weight loss. Symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or months) in type 1 diabetes, while they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent in type 2 diabetes. 4 The illustration below would simply show you the symptoms.
Can I prevent having diabetes?
There is no known preventive measure yet for diabetes 1, however for diabetes 2, if you have a family health history of diabetes, since it is genetic, you might consider improving your diet and lifestyle as well. Regular exercise is also a plus to your health. There is what they call “pre-diabetes”; it is a condition wherein a person’s blood glucose levels are abnormally high, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. You can prevent this as well with diet and exercise.
I know what DM is now, as well as the symptoms. What should I do? I think I’m diabetic.
People usually panic when they experience some symptoms shown under a particular disease or condition such as this, and would conclude that they have the disease. Again, these symptoms are too general. It is still advised for you to see a doctor. As for the diagnosis, please do not act as your own doctor, especially if you really are not one. There are ways to diagnose diabetes mellitus. Tests would usually show recurrent or persistent hyperglycemia. This can be diagnosed through the following: 5
- Fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl)
- Plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dL) two hours after a 75 g oral glucose load as in a glucose tolerance test
- Symptoms of hyperglycemia and casual plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl)
- Glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1C) ≥ 6.5%
Wait, what? I still don’t get it? Dye a bee tease?
Okay, there is this 3:05 minute video uploaded on Youtube. 6, which you can also watch here below. It briefly discusses about diabetes, or if you are not into animated videos, you can just enjoy reading this article again. You can also check out more articles on this blog about diabetes.
Another nice to know trivia; The 4th week of July is National Diabetes Awareness Week in the Philippines. 7
REFERENCES:
1 Shoback, edited by David G. Gardner, Dolores (2011). Greenspan's basic & clinical endocrinology (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. pp. Chapter 17.?
2 NIH Senior Health. Built with you in Mind. Diabetes. Accessed July 27, 2014. https://nihseniorhealth.gov/diabetes/faq/faq4.html?
3 "Diabetes Fact sheet N°312". WHO. October 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2014.?
4 Cooke DW, Plotnick L (November 2008). "Type 1 diabetes mellitus in pediatrics". Pediatr Rev 29 (11): 374–84; quiz 385?
5 "Definition, Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus and its Complications" World Health Organisation. 1999. Accessed July 27, 2014?
6 HealthNutsMedia. What is Diabetes animated video. Downloaded July 27, 2014 via Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EEtubB74lM?
7 DOH Annual Calendar. http://www.doh.gov.ph/annual_calendar2679.html?page=1 Accessed July 27, 2014?
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