DIABETES

• Diabetes is a disease that occurs

when the level of glucose in the
blood, also known as blood
sugar, is too high. Blood glucose
is the main source of energy and
comes from food. Insulin, a
hormone produced by the
pancreas, helps the glucose in
food enter the cells to be used
as energy.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
• Increased thirst and the urge to urinate
• Appetite increase
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Ulcers that do not heal
• Weight loss for no apparent reason
 Types of diabetes

Diabetes type 1

Definition
Type 1 diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic childhood diseases. It happens because
the pancreas does not make enough insulin.

Causes
Until today, the exact causes that give rise to a type 1 diabetes are unknown. It is known that
there are a number of factors combined with each other:
Genetic factor
Autoimmunity
Environmental damage
Type 2 diabetes
Definition
Type 2 diabetes is the most frequent form of diabetes in people over 40
years of age. It is also known as adult-onset diabetes, although its
incidence is increasing greatly in adolescents and even pre-adolescents
with obesity. In this type of diabetes the ability to produce insulin does
not disappear but the body has a resistance to this hormone.
Causes
Genetic or hereditary factor. Type 2 diabetes has a greater hereditary
risk than type 1 diabetes. In almost all cases, a father or grandfather
has the disease. In the case of identical twins, if one has the disease,
the other has an 80% chance of developing it.
Lifestyle. 80% of people who develop type 2 diabetes have obesity and
do not have a very active life. The remaining 20% ​often have a
hereditary defect that causes insulin resistance.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES
It is considered an occasional diabetes that can be controlled just like
the other types of diabetes. During pregnancy, insulin increases to
increase energy reserves. Sometimes, this increase does not occur and
can cause diabetes during pregnancy.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of diabetes occurs when the patient has abnormally high
blood glucose levels. This analysis is usually monitored and measured
during a routine annual examination or a clinical examination that is
done before joining a new job or practicing a sport.

Tests may also be done to determine the possible cause of symptoms

such as increased thirst, urination, hunger, or if there are characteristic
risk factors.
• Treatment
• The treatment of diabetes mellitus is based on three pillars: diet,
physical exercise and medication. It aims to keep blood glucose levels
within normal limits to minimize the risk of complications associated
with the disease.
• However, substitute therapy is often necessary:
• Oral hypoglycaemic drugs: They are prescribed to people with type
2 diabetes who fail to lower blood glucose through diet and physical
activity, but are not effective in people with type 1 diabetes.
• Treatment with insulin: In patients with type 1 diabetes, the
exogenous administration of insulin is necessary since the pancreas is
unable to produce this hormone. It is also required in type 2 diabetes
if diet, exercise and oral medication fail to control blood glucose
levels.
• Prevention
• For type 1 diabetes there is no effective method of prevention at the
moment. On the other hand, it is proven that type 2, which is the one
that appears most frequently, being related to obesity can be avoided
by adopting healthy lifestyles.