The condition can be caused by several factors and needs proper treatment
Food ingested by humans undergoes a process of digestion in the intestines and is transformed into a sugar, called glucose. This sugar is absorbed into the blood and used for energy. In order for glucose to be used by the body, the action of insulin, a substance produced in the cells of the pancreas, is necessary. When glucose is not used well by the body, it rises in the blood and hyperglycemia occurs.
According to endocrinologist Jamilly Drago, diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases that present as hyperglycemia. This condition can result from insulin deficiency, resistance to insulin action, or both. That is, the person with diabetes has too much blood glucose due to lack of insulin.
types of diabetes
type 1 diabetes
Also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes and immune-mediated diabetes, this type occurs when the body produces little or no insulin. According to Jamilly Drago, this type of diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all diagnosed cases.
“It can appear at any age and is characterized by an absolute deficiency in the production of insulin, in the vast majority of cases by an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells,” he adds. However, it is more common in children and adolescents.
Risks and causes
Type 1 diabetes is only life-threatening if insulin doses are not given daily. One of the possible causes of this type of diabetesaccording to the endocrinologist, they are environmental factors such as viral infections, for example.
Treatment
It is not possible to prevent or cure type 1 diabetes. However, it is possible to leave it stable, without major complications. “Over the past few years the pharmaceutical industry has launched new diabetes therapies, new insulins and new classes of drugs that are revolutionizing the treatment of the disease. There is no cure, but there is already a term called remission – control so well done that mimics normality – thus controlling the evolution and worsening of the disease,” assures Jamilly Drago.
Type 2 diabetes
Also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, it develops when the body produces insulin, but it is not enough for the person’s needs. According to Jamilly Drago, this type of diabetes matches most disease cases. It usually occurs in obese people over the age of 40, but can occur in younger adults and even children.
“About 70 to 90% of type 2 diabetic patients also have metabolic syndrome, i.e. associated with changes in cholesterol, obesity, abdominal obesity and hypertension. The disease begins with glucose intolerance,” he adds.
Risks and causes
Although type 2 diabetes is related to poor eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and the stresses of urban life, anyone can get the disease. “While risk factors include obesity, we also have the family history of diabetessuch as parents or siblings with diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and smoking,” lists the endocrinologist.
late diagnosis
In this type of diabetes, insulin is found, but its action is hampered by obesity, known as insulin resistance, one of the causes of hyperglycemia. Because it has few symptoms, diabetes, in most cases, remains undiagnosed and untreated for many years, which aggravates the onset of complications in the heart and brain.
prevention and treatments
There is no prevention for type 1 diabetes, but with proper treatment it can be controlled without major consequences for the diabetic. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, can be prevented through healthy eating habitsthrough the practice of physical activities and with the control of obesity e cholesterol. Also, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
