22 May 2024

Diabetes Disease

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that occurs when there is a high level of sugar in the body, but the body cannot utilize it effectively.

Causes of Diabetes:

Blood sugar buildup. Over time, the accumulation of sugar in the blood increases the risk of developing diabetes.

Several factors can cause the body to fail in effectively utilizing sugar, including:

• Lack of physical activity.

• Excessive sugar intake.

• Impaired body response to insulin.

• Reduced insulin production by the pancreas.

• Insulin function hindered by other hormones.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the body to help maximize the absorption of glucose or sugar into cells, where it is processed into energy. Excess glucose is stored as an energy reserve.

Types of Diabetes:

Research published in Introduction to Diabetes Mellitus classifies diabetes into three types:

1. Type 1 Diabetes
   Type 1 diabetes is essentially an autoimmune disorder, a condition where antibodies that should protect the body from infection instead attack the body’s own cells.

2. Type 2 Diabetes
   Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which results from decreased insulin production, Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin production is normal, but the body’s sensitivity to blood sugar levels diminishes, making its utilization less effective.

Gestational Diabetes:
Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that typically occurs during pregnancy. It usually resolves on its own after childbirth.

Diagnosis and Symptoms of Diabetes:

Diabetes is often accompanied by symptoms. While it may sometimes be diagnosed only after a blood sugar test, if you are observant, signs of excess blood sugar can be identified through the following conditions:

• Frequently feeling tired even without physical activity.

• Persistent thirst despite adequate water intake.

• Unexplained weight loss.

• Extreme hunger.

• Slow-healing wounds.

• Blurred vision.

• Frequent urination.

• Recurrent infections, including those of the skin, gums, and reproductive organs.

Reviewed by: dr. Innosensius Ibnu Ishwara, M.K.K.

Source: Siloam Hospital Health Article

Photo: freepik.com