Let’s Talk Diabetes

by Kekeli Fortune

In this week’s article, my objectives are to educate you about the 2 main types of diabetes mellitus (commonly known as diabetes) and the threats posed by this disease to the human body. I will also cover briefly the laboratory investigations carried out in order to diagnose this disease, and lastly, certain healthy life-style habits that you can incorporate in your day-to-day activities to prevent the incidence of diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Well, diabetes is a medical condition that results in very high levels of blood glucose (sugar) in a person. Unfortunately, diabetes is a disease that can’t be cured, but persists for an entire life-time. This increase in blood glucose can occur due to two distinct routes (pathways):

1. A person’s body does not produce any insulin—a substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. This pathway results in what is known as type 1 diabetes. People with this from are usually born with it; hence, symptoms of this form of diabetes are usually experienced very early in life, before a person reaches his/her teenage years.

2. A person’s body does not produce enough insulin, or the various cells in the person’s body do not efficiently utilize the available insulin— known as type 2 diabetes.

During pregnancy, women are at risk of diabetes due to increased weight or adopted, poor eating habits. This is known as gestational diabetes.

Let’s understand what this means

Glucose is a substance used by the cells in your body to produce energy (this energy is used by your body to function); it is obtained from the food we eat. Insulin is a hormone that ensures that you do not have too much glucose in your blood by making sure that every cell has enough glucose to work, and excess glucose is stored in your liver.

Diabetes deprives cells of the fuel needed to produce energy, so, your body tries to use alternative means such as breaking down fat and muscles; thus, causing severe weight loss.

A bit more on type 2 diabetes

This form of diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes. It is particularly related to obesity, and is frequently diagnosed in older people; however, as a result of poor lifestyle choices, it is now being observed in young people as well.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include

· Being obese or over-weight.

· Aged 45 or older.

· Your family has a history of diabetes.

· You have high blood pressure.

· You have a history of stroke or heart disease.

· You have a history of gestational diabetes.

What’s the big deal about having diabetes?

Very high levels of glucose in the blood leads to the damage of blood vessels in your nerves. This causes frequent burning or tingling sensations in the limbs. Your feet may also lose all forms of feeling due to the damaged nerves, and this prevents a person from noticing small cuts and ulcers that normally develop in diabetic patients. The ulcers also heal very slowly and if poorly nursed, the foot or lower limb dies off (becomes a gangrene); hence, has to be cut off (amputated).

Another common complication of diabetes is early on-set blindness (caused by diabetic retinopathy)

Apart from the above-mentioned complications, diabetes may also increase a person’s risk of developing heart disease or stroke by 5 times; this is because a person with poorly controlled blood glucose levels is prone to developing atherosclerosis— a condition that occurs when the blood vessels are narrowed due to the build-up of fat, cells and other substances. Due to the narrowing of the vessels, blood flow to your heart, brain, and lower limbs is significantly reduced further leading to stroke or heart disease.

These are some other complications:

· Miscarriage and stillbirth

· Sexual dysfunction: due to damage of nerves

· Kidney damage: due to narrowing or blockage in veins in the kidney

Laboratory investigation of diabetes:

Diabetes can be diagnosed with a blood tests known as Fasting Plasma Glucose. Glycated hemoglobin test can also be used. In pregnant women however, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test is used to diagnose gestational diabetes. Based on the results of your blood test, your doctor will affirm the absence or presence of diabetes.

How to prevent and minimize the effects diabetes.

1. If you are over-weight, losing some weight and keeping a healthy weight is a good start.

2. Always eat a healthy, balanced diet.

3. Exercise regularly.

4. Stop smoking.

5. Stop excessive drinking.

Finally...

From this article, you can understand that the complications of diabetes are very severe and life-threatening. You can also tell that having diabetes makes it easier to get other diseases, or to be severely affected by other diseases. For example, we all hear in the news about how COVID-19 is mostly a life-threatening disease to people of old age and people with a pre-existing disease such as diabetes.

So, notwithstanding your age, maintain a healthy blood sugar level by ensuring that your diet is healthy and balanced, your weight is in check, and you are putting in regular exercise. Put in the conscious effort to keep this terrible disease far away from you, or prevent if from threatening your quality of life, that is if you've already been diagnosed with it.

If you have any concerns about diabetes, visit your doctor for check-up or screening.

As always, thank you for reading!