Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body processes food into energy. After eating, most of the food is broken down into sugar (glucose) and then released into the bloodstream. As the blood sugar level rises, the pancreas is signaled to release insulin. Insulin functions as a key that unlocks the cells in the body, allowing blood sugar to enter and be used as energy.
Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce sufficient insulin or cannot use it effectively. Consequently, excess glucose remains in the bloodstream when there is insufficient insulin or the cells stop responding to it. Prolonged high blood sugar can lead to severe health issues such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
Prevalence
Recent studies show that approximately 101 million people in India have diabetes and 136 million are pre-diabetic. The prevalence rate is 16.4% in urban areas and 8.9% in rural areas. India’s alarming diabetes rates cannot be ignored. It is crucial to understand the reason behind the high prevalence of the issue affecting a large number of people. The answer is simple – a significant change in lifestyle, environmental factors, lack of physical activity, and heightened stress levels at workplaces due to fierce competition.
In this article, we are going to focus on types of diabetes, its causes, symptoms, and related conditions such as prediabetes and hypoglycemia.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a condition where the levels of glucose in your blood are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, many people remain in this stage and go unnoticed due to the lack of clear symptoms. Being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, being physically inactive, and having PCOD/PCOS conditions are all signs that you may be prediabetic. However, it’s still possible to protect your body from progressing to full-blown diabetes at this stage. Take this opportunity to make all the necessary changes in your lifestyle, such as your diet, exercise routine, and food intake. Additionally, make sure to undergo a full-body checkup at least once a year to prevent prediabetic or diabetic conditions.
Hypoglycemia
While managing diabetes, some people may encounter hypoglycemia. It is a condition where the level of glucose in the blood falls below the normal range. This can happen due to various factors such as missed meals, medication, alcohol consumption, or exercise. It’s important to seek immediate medical attention in case of hypoglycemia as it can be life-threatening. To manage this condition, one can consume 15 grams of sugar in the form of glucose tablets, fruit juice, honey, or regular soda, and then check their blood sugar after 15 minutes. After that, it’s recommended to have a meal or snack.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It usually affects children and young adults. Genetics and gene mutations, as well as environmental factors and viral infections, play significant roles in its development. The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes may be similar to those of Type 2 diabetes, but the exact cause of gene mutations leading to Type 1 diabetes is still unclear. This type of diabetes can be diagnosed only through blood tests and the detection of specific antibodies.
Type 2 Diabetes
Insulin is a hormone that facilitates the transport of glucose into cells, where it is utilized as a source of energy in the body. However, in type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it efficiently. As a result, sugar builds up in the bloodstream, causing a condition known as type 2 diabetes. This condition can develop at any age but it is more commonly diagnosed at or above the age of 45 and is often associated with obesity or overweight. Additionally, it may be hereditary.
Type 2 diabetes is often accompanied by symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, thirst, or urination, numbness or tingling sensation in hands and feet, and sometimes tiredness and blurred vision. However, in some individuals, these symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed until more serious health issues related to diabetes, such as heart or kidney problems, arise. It is essential to pay attention to these symptoms and consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is the type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy in a gestational phase that is from weeks 24 to 28. This doesn’t mean you have diabetes before and it is detected during pregnancy. The condition develops only due to pregnancy. Hormone in the placenta blocks the ability to use or make insulin and it leads to an increase of sugar levels in the bloodstream.
Managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be difficult, but gestational diabetes comes with its own set of challenges as it occurs during pregnancy. In the case of gestational diabetes, diet plays a vital role. Your gynecologist may ask you to take a glucose challenge test and a glucose intolerance test or refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist. It is important to be cautious if you are prediabetic, obese, or have significant heart or kidney-related issues during pregnancy to prevent the development of gestational diabetes.
Rare Forms of Diabetes
LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults)
LADA combines features of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, often called type 1.5. This type of diabetes occurs in the early 30s. There are three types:
Type 1-LADA: Affects non-obese individuals who usually need insulin within five years.
Type 1.5: Impacts overweight people with insulin resistance, requiring insulin in 5-10 years.
Type 2 with autoantibodies: Affects overweight individuals with mild autoimmunity, often needing insulin within five years.
MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young)
There are only 1-2% of diabetes cases, caused by a single gene mutation. Genetic testing and blood tests help to identify the specific MODY type, which may or may not require insulin treatment.
Leptin Deficiency
Low levels of the hunger-regulating hormone leptin can result in obesity, high insulin levels, and insulin resistance which leads to diabetic conditions.
Others
Alström Syndrome (incurable genetic mutation), Diabetes insipidus (occurs when the kidneys cannot retain water), Neonatal diabetes, Type 3C diabetes ( linked with Alzheimer’s disease), Wolfram Syndrome (causes multiple rare forms of diabetes), and steroid-induced diabetes are some rare forms of diabetes.
Conclusion
Diabetes has become increasingly prevalent in India, which is alarming. To tackle this issue, it is important to determine whether one is in the prediabetic or diabetic stage, and if diabetic, which type of diabetes one has. Early identification of diabetes can lead to successful reversal of the condition. Regular health checkups are necessary for this. However, the fast-paced lifestyle of most people often puts their health in second place. Understanding this, we offer at-home healthcare services. You can call us anytime for lab tests, health checkups, medication management, or elderly care in the comfort of your own home.