Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels that over time lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
It is due to a deficiency in insulin production and, often, to a decrease in its biological efficacy. Insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas, is essential for controlling blood glucose levels.
Types of Diabetes
Diabetes is a complex and multifactorial medical condition, representing a collection of different clinical syndromes. Although these may differ from each other, they are all characterized by high blood glucose levels.
The various forms of diabetes share this common trait, but manifest themselves in different ways:
- Type 1 Diabetes : This is primarily the result of the destruction of pancreatic beta cells resulting in a lack of insulin. This condition is autoimmune in nature, which means it is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking its own body. It usually occurs at a young age and the only treatment available is insulin.
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Type 2 Diabetes: more common than type 1, it can range from predominant insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency to a predominant secretory defect with insulin resistance. It usually presents in adulthood, although in recent years it has been increasingly diagnosed in adolescence.
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Gestational diabetes : Affects women during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery. However, it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Blood sugar regulation
Glucose is the main source of energy for cells. Blood sugar regulation occurs thanks to insulin. This hormone, in fact, helps cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and lowers the levels in the blood. In diabetes , this process is impaired, leading to high blood sugar, which can cause various health problems over time.
Risk factors and prevention
Risk factors for diabetes vary depending on the type. Type 1 diabetes is influenced by genetic and potentially environmental factors, while type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to lifestyle. Risk factors for the latter include obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, and a family history of diabetes. To manage diabetes, preventive measures include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and getting regular exercise.
The thyroid glands produce hormones such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which impact your basal metabolic rate. These hormones increase your metabolism and regulate the rate at which your body uses energy.
Other hormones, such as insulin and glucagon (produced by the pancreas), help manage blood glucose levels, providing a steady supply of energy.
Symptoms and diagnosis
In type 1 diabetes, symptoms may develop suddenly, while in type 2 diabetes, they develop gradually and more gradually. Common symptoms include increased urine output (polyuria), intense thirst (polydipsia), constant hunger, weight loss, tiredness, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests that measure glucose levels. Common tests include fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test, and urine tests. These tests help identify abnormal blood glucose levels, which are indicative of diabetes.
Management and treatment
Diabetes Management and Treatment require an integrated approach aimed at maintaining blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, thus reducing the risk of long-term complications. To manage diabetes, this approach includes:
Regular blood sugar monitoring
Monitor glucose levels frequently to adjust therapy and diet.
Lifestyle changes
Eating a balanced and varied diet, rich in nutrients and low in sugar and saturated fat, and increasing the intake of high-fiber foods, along with a regular routine of physical activity, is essential to controlling diabetes.
Drug therapy
In type 1 diabetes, insulin therapy is always necessary to manage diabetes. For type 2 diabetes, oral medications may be prescribed, which can be used alone or in combination. If these are not sufficient, therapy can be supplemented with insulin or other injectable medications.
Therapeutic education
Diabetes therapeutic education provides patients with the knowledge and skills to manage diabetes effectively, emphasizing the importance of self-monitoring of blood glucose, a balanced diet, regular exercise and the correct use of medications. The goal is to improve the patient's autonomy and quality of life, reducing the risk of future complications.
