DIABETES

HOW DOES DIABETES AFFECT THE BODY?

Knowing how diabetes affects the body can help you look after your body and prevent diabetic complications in initial stage.

Most of the effects of diabetes are namely high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and a lack of blood glucose control.

Signs of diabetes:

When uncontrolled or undiagnosed, the effects of diabetes on your body can be noticed by the simple symptoms, namely:

• Frequent need to urinate
• Increased thirst
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue and
• Pain or tingling in the feet, hands and/or legs

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES?

Having high blood sugar can cause complications related to diabetes, like chronic foot problems, kidney disease, eye disease (retinopathy), non-traumatic lower limb (leg, foot, toe, etc.) amputation that can lead to heart attack, stroke, anxiety, blindness, erectile dysfunction (men) and nerve damage.

Types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes

WHAT IS TYPE 1 DIABETES?

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the beta cells of the pancreas. No, or very little, insulin is released into the body. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used as energy. About five to 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes generally develops in childhood or adolescence, but can develop in adulthood.

Type 1 diabetes is always treated with insulin. Meal planning also helps with keeping blood sugar at the right levels.

WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can’t properly use the insulin that is released (called insulin insensitivity) or does not make enough insulin. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used as energy. About 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes more often develops in adults, but children can be affected.

Depending on the severity of type 2 diabetes, it may be managed through physical activity and meal planning, or may also require medications and/or insulin to control blood sugar more effectively.

HOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU HAVE DIABETES?

Doctors can determine whether a patient has a diabetes in one of three different ways – there are three possible tests:

• FBS
• PLBS
• HBA1c
• Diabetologist Consultation

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