Diabetes mellitus is different from diabetes insipidus. But when people mention "diabetes," they often refer to diabetes mellitus. This is not surprising considering that diabetes insipidus is a rare disorder, while diabetes mellitus affects an estimated 422 million people worldwide. To learn more about this highly prevalent medical condition, read on.
Diabetes mellitus, commonly called "diabetes", is a metabolic disease condition marked by an abnormal increase in blood sugar levels. This condition is different from diabetes insipidus, which is a disorder of salt and water metabolism that occurs when the body system cannot regulate how it balances fluid in the body, resulting in frequent urination and excessive thirst.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 422 million people in the world live with diabetes mellitus, and in fact, in the past three decades, its prevalence has risen significantly in different countries.
But despite the fact that this condition is a common household name, many people are not accurately informed about it. Many people believe that diabetes is simply caused by consuming foods that belong to the carbohydrate class.
But it's more complex than that. Scientific evidence has shown that while limiting the consumption of refined carbohydrates can help manage diabetes, the primary cause of this condition is an impairment in the secretion or action of a hormone called insulin.
With the use of medications and lifestyle and dietary adjustments, your healthcare team can help you maintain an optimal blood glucose level.
Diabetes is caused by an impairment in the production or utilization of a specific hormone that aids the body in utilizing glucose. The name of this hormone is insulin.
Keep in mind that carbohydrates undergo digestion and are broken down into simple sugar (glucose). Normally, insulin is secreted in an adequate amount by the pancreas (an organ found in the abdominal region). The insulin acts to move the glucose into your body cells, where it can be stored or used to generate energy.
In the absence of insulin, your body's cells can't utilize glucose. And since they cannot be moved into the cells where they will be used to generate energy, they accumulate in the blood, causing diabetes.
When you have diabetes, it's either your pancreas cells, which are meant to produce insulin, do not produce them as they ought to (type 1 diabetes), or the cells do actually produce insulin hormone, but somehow, your body is resistant to it (type 2 diabetes). This means that even when insulin is produced, the body still can't use it, which causes sugar to build up in the blood.
There are two most common types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Health experts are not sure what exactly causes this, but they do know that in people with this type of diabetes, their immune system attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin. This results in the pancreas producing little or no insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile-onset diabetes, as it often begins in childhood. About 5–10% of people with diabetes have this type of diabetes.
The cause of autoimmunity here is not precisely known; however, it is suggested that genes, pancreatic diseases, and viral conditions may play a role in it. People with this condition will need to get a daily dose of insulin administered into their veins in order to stay alive.
This type of diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin. Glucose can't be moved into the cells, and it builds up in the blood. It is also called adult-onset diabetes, even though in recent years, children and teens have also been diagnosed with this type of diabetes mellitus.
About 90–95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. In this case, the pancreas does secrete some insulin, but it is either insufficient or the body doesn't use it as it should.
Factors that can contribute to type 2 diabetes include genetic factors, lifestyle, and being overweight or obese. Even though it is milder than type 1, it can cause significant health complications like kidney failure and damage to nerves, particularly when it's not managed.
Other types of diabetes include:
It is important to know the type of diabetes you or your loved one has been diagnosed with, and a healthcare professional is the best person to help with that. After a proper diagnosis, your doctor can suggest the best treatment option for your condition.
Each type of diabetes has specific symptoms that are unique to it. However, there are still overlapping symptoms that typically present with any type of diabetes. Some of the symptoms are:
You may be wondering if the symptoms of diabetes are the same for both genders. Both men and women tend to exhibit similar symptoms of diabetes; however, each sex group might exhibit one or more symptoms unique to their sex group.
For instance, those assigned male at birth who develop diabetes may experience symptoms like decreased sexual desire, weak muscle strength, and erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, those assigned female at birth could show symptoms of yeast infections and urinary tract infections.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition. This means it doesn't kill immediately. It develops over time, causing damage to several organs and tissues of the body, especially when it is not managed.
The higher the blood glucose level and the longer you live with the condition, the higher your risk of developing certain complications. Health complications associated with diabetes mellitus include:
Gestational diabetes can lead to complications such as:
A diabetes mellitus diagnosis isn't a death sentence. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be managed.
However, it can be challenging considering that different things could cause your blood sugar level to fluctuate, such as dietary composition, lifestyle, menstrual cycle, stress, and medications. Treatment and management will also depend on the type of diabetes.
Here are things to do to help manage your health condition:
Eating healthy is crucial for maintaining a healthy sugar level, whether you have diabetes or not. However, if you have diabetes, you have even more reason to check what you eat, as diabetes is a metabolic disease.
Food affects your blood sugar level, and it is important to understand how to know the type of food to eat, the right combinations, and the quantity to eat. This is where you may need the help of a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). An RDN will help you understand your metabolic health and draw up a meal timetable ideal for your condition.
Here are other helpful dietary tips to help you manage your condition:
A sedentary lifestyle could predispose one to other health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases. Exercise helps keep you healthy and is an integral part of your diabetes management plan.
When you work out, your muscles utilize glucose better, which also helps the body make use of insulin more efficiently.
It would be best if you were careful when choosing your drinks. Even if you have to take alcohol, it should be done moderately. Alcohol does worsen the complications of diabetes, such as retinopathy and neuropathy. It can increase your blood sugar levels and also increase your blood pressure.
Life is full of stressful events, but you have to do your best to avoid putting your body through those stressful situations.
When you are stressed, the body releases certain hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which make it harder for insulin to work properly, ultimately leading to high sugar levels in the blood. Also, when you are always under stress, you may find it harder to follow your diabetes management routine properly.
Your doctor will definitely prescribe drugs to help manage your condition, depending on the type of diabetes. Ensure that you take the medications at the right dosage.
Also, you should check your blood glucose level regularly, just as it is with blood pressure. A sudden spike in the blood sugar level can cause severe damage to essential organs in the body.