Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic
disease, with inappropriately elevated blood glucose levels. About 537 million
adults across the world have diabetes. Too much glucose circulating in your
bloodstream causes diabetes, regardless of the type.
TYPES
- Type 2 diabetes: With this type, your body doesn’t make enough
insulin, and your body’s cells don’t respond normally to the insulin.
- Prediabetes: This type is the stage before Type 2 diabetes.
Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be
officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes: This type is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing
cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons.
- Gestational diabetes: This type develops in some people
during pregnancy.
SYMPTOMS
- Increased thirst and dry mouth.
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or
feet.
- Slow-healing sores or cuts.
- Frequent skin infections.
CAUSES
Insulin resistance Several factors and cause
insulin resistance, including obesity, lack of physical activity, diet,
hormonal imbalances, genetics, and certain medications.
- Autoimmune disease
- Hormonal imbalances
- Pancreatic damage
- Genetic mutations
COMPLICATIONS
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Atherosclerosis
- Nerve damage, which can cause numbness,
tingling, and/or pain.
- Nephropathy
- Retinopathy, which can lead to blindness.
- Skin infections.
- Sexual dysfunction
- Hearing loss
- Oral health issues
DIAGNOSIS
- Fasting blood glucose test For this test, you
don’t eat or drink anything except water for at least eight hours before the
test.
- Random blood glucose test
- HbA1C provides your average blood glucose level
over the past two to three months.
- Oral glucose tolerance test- for gestational
diabetes
MANAGEMENT
- Blood sugar monitoring
- Diet: Meal planning and choosing a healthy
diet
- Exercise
- maintain a healthy Weight
- Stress management
- Limit alcohol intake.
- Get adequate sleep
- Quit smoking
