Diabetes: Everything You Need To Know

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is one of the fastest growing diseases globally. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), over 463 million adults had diabetes in 2019. In 25 years, this number could rise to over 700 million adults worldwide.

According to the WHO, the growth rate of this disease has been rapidly increasing in low and middle income countries. 

Because of this, diabetes has been considered a major health problem alongside other diseases such as stroke, cancer, and heart disease. 

But what exactly is diabetes mellitus, and what steps can people take in order to lower their risk of acquiring this condition?

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

What is diabetes mellitus? Diabetes mellitus is a condition that affects how the body manages the amount of sugar in the blood. Whenever we eat, our bodies break down the carbohydrates into sugar, which our body can convert into energy.

For a person without diabetes, their pancreas produce a chemical called insulin that helps regulate blood sugar levels to a manageable amount. But for a person with diabetes, their body finds it difficult to control their blood sugar levels.  

As a result, the blood sugar in the body goes unregulated, and can lead to a number of health problems and complications, including death.

In 2019 alone, diabetes was responsible for the deaths of about 4.2 million people worldwide. In fact, diabetes ranks 7th in the top 10 causes of death. Additionally, diabetes is also a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which rank 1st and 2nd respectively.

Diabetes in the Philippines

Diabetes Statistics

Based on a paper published in the Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine, there were over 6.37 million adults in the country who were diagnosed with some form of diabetes. This accounts for roughly 7.2% of the population at the time.

And now, with the Philippine population at over 100 million, there’s a high probability that the number of adults with diabetes has also increased.

This is why knowing what steps to take in order to prevent diabetes is very important, especially in a developing country such as the Philippines.

Type 1 Diabetes

What is Diabetes Mellitus Type 1?

Diabetes is classified into 2 main types: type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is when the body stops making insulin, which helps regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. It is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that causes the body to stop producing insulin. However, the exact cause of this is still unknown.

It usually manifests at an early age, and is usually diagnosed when a person is a child, in their teens, or early on in adulthood. About 10% of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. 

People with type 1 diabetes need to have insulin injections (or insulin shots) daily in order to manage their blood sugar levels. Constant monitoring of their blood sugar is also important to make sure their blood sugar is at a manageable level.

Type 2 Diabetes

What Is Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?

If  type 1 diabetes is caused by the body not producing insulin, then what is type 2 diabetes? 

Type 2 diabetes is a condition wherein the body develops a resistance to insulin. Which means that, while the body can produce insulin, it has a difficulty using it efficiently to manage blood sugar levels.

People with type 2 diabetes sometimes also make too little insulin, but oftentimes, the problem is that their cells do not respond to insulin.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adulthood. This is due to the fact that type 2 diabetes is a result of being overweight, and lack of physical activity. 

However, it’s also possible that children and teenagers can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

Another type of diabetes is called gestational diabetes. It occurs during a woman’s pregnancy, and usually goes away after she gives birth. However, it puts the mother and the baby at risk for acquiring type 2 diabetes later on in life.

If left alone, diabetes can cause complications such as blindness, cardiovascular problems, nerve damage, and kidney disease. It will also be more difficult for people with diabetes to manage infections, and in some cases limb amputation might be necessary.

In cases where a person with diabetes suffers from high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), there is a possibility of going into a diabetic coma. If it’s not treated immediately, a diabetic coma can cause death.

Risk Factors

Who is at Risk of Diabetes?

The risk of having type 2 diabetes can potentially be increased by a number of things such as the following:

• Obesity
• A family history of diabetes
• Unhealthy diet (red meat, processed meat, sugar beverages)
• Gestational diabetes
• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle/physical inactivity

These risk factors also explain why some people with diabetes also have other health problems such as hypertension or heart disease even before their diagnosis.

In contrast to type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is believed to be partly hereditary. This means that if you have a family member with type 1 diabetes, there’s a possibility of acquiring it as well. There is currently no known way to avoid type 1 diabetes.

Signs and Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

In the case of type 1 diabetes, the symptoms usually appear quickly, and without warning. 

These symptoms can include the following:

• Constantly feeling thirsty, and a dry mouth
• Rapid weight loss
• Having a constant feeling of hunger
• Urinating frequently
• Lethargy, or a lack of energy
• Blurred vision

If you experience any combination of these symptoms, it would be best to visit your doctor in order to get checked.

For type 2 diabetes, the symptoms are similar to those of type 1 diabetes, with the following additional symptoms:

• Having skin infections that don’t seem to heal
• Wounds heal very slowly
• A feeling of numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

In the case of type 2 diabetes, it is possible for people to have the condition or experience these symptoms for a while without even knowing that they have it. 

Diagnosis

The best way to confirm if you have diabetes or not would be to undergo blood sugar testing. 

There are several ways of testing for diabetes, namely the following:

Glycosylated Hemoglobin (A1C) Test

This is a test that checks the average amount of sugar in your blood for the past two to three months by measuring the percentage of sugar attached to the hemoglobin in your blood. 

If two separate test results show an A1C level that’s 6.5% or higher, then that means you have diabetes. A result between 5.7% to 6.4% means that you are pre-diabetic or prone to having diabetes. A lower score means that the levels of sugar in the blood are normal.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test

Before taking this test, you will need to fast overnight. Afterwards, a sample will be taken to measure the level of sugar in your blood. If the result shows your blood sugar levels at around 126 mg/dL, then it means you have diabetes. 

A result between 100 and 125 mg/dL means that you are pre-diabetic, and less than 100 means that your blood sugar is normal.

Random Blood Sugar Test

This is a test where blood samples will be taken at a random time and does not require fasting. 

A result of 200 mg/dL or higher can possibly mean that you have diabetes. 

Prevention

How Can You Prevent Diabetes?

Since the causes of type 1 diabetes are not exactly known, there isn’t a way to prevent it.  

However, type 2 diabetes can be prevented by keeping yourself healthy.

Here are some important things to remember:

• Stay active. Keeping active and engaging in daily exercise helps keep your body healthy, and can significantly lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Eat healthy. Try and incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet.
• It is also a good idea to lessen the amount of processed foods you eat, since a number of processed foods have extra sugars added.
• For pregnant moms, daily exercise and eating just the right amount of food can lower the chances of gestational diabetes.

It is a good idea to start incorporating these healthy habits into your lifestyle since physical activity and eating right can also prevent other “lifestyle diseases” such as heart disease and hypertension.

Management Tips

Diabetes Management Basics

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, there is no need to worry. Diabetes can be managed, and people who have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can live long and healthy lives.

Tips for diabetes management:

• Make sure to eat healthy. There are no recommended diets for people with diabetes, but it’s important to eat foods that are low in fat and calories, but high in vitamins and nutrients. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and olive oil is associated with reduced risk of diabetes. Consulting a nutritionist may also help.
• Avoiding eating too many sweets. Since you want to keep your blood sugar in check, being careful about your sugar intake is very important. Eating sweets would be fine, so long as it is done in moderation, and only in small portions.
• Engage in daily exercise. Exercise helps keep your body strong and healthy, and also lowers your blood sugar. This is because when you exercise, your body uses the sugar in your blood and converts it to energy.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels. This is especially important for those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes since it helps you know if your blood sugar is within the ideal range. For type 2 sufferers, it lets you know how well you’re managing your blood sugar.
• Don’t forget to take insulin. Insulin therapy is necessary for type 1 sufferers, since they will die if they don’t take insulin regularly. For type 2 sufferers, it would depend on the doctor’s recommendation.
• Don’t forget your other medication. There are some cases where your doctor will ask you to take other types of medication to help manage your condition. Taking these medicines on schedule helps you manage your condition better.

Learn more about Diabetes here.