Access to Diabetes Education 2022

 What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that results in high sugar in blood particularly glucose. There are types of diabetes that include:

1. Type 1 Diabetes

Typically known as juvenile diabetes. It is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.It typically appears in adolescence.

2. Type 2 diabetes 

This is also known as adult onset diabetes.A chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). With type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin, or it resists insulin.

3. There are other types of diabetes such as gestational diabetes which which is a form of high blood sugar that happens in pregnant woman. Many women are asymptomatic but blood sugar test is a required for its diagnosis 

4. Another condition that exists is also known as prediabetes- also known as impared glucose intolerance. It is a condition in which blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes. Without intervention, it's likely to become type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Many people with pre diabetes are asymptomatic.

What causes diabetes?

Diabetes can be hereditary.Firstly there is inheritation of the prediposted genetic material then followed by an environmental trigger. This simply implies that genes are not only enough for there to be diabetes. American Diabetes Association explained that identical twins have identical genes yet when one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other gets the disease, at most, only half the time. When one twin has type 2 diabetes, the other's risk is three in four at most.

In most cases, type 1 diabetes requires one to inherit risk factors from both parents. However,there has been some association of type 1 diabetes with cold climates. It was found out that mostly type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in winter than in summer and has been mostly commonly encountered in white people. Viruses are also thought to be a trigger of type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family history and lineage than type 1, and studies of twins have shown that genetics play a very strong role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

What are the risks factors of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is known to be caused by an autoimmune reaction( the body's antibodies fight its own tissues by mistake). The risk factors of type 1 diabetes are not as clear as in type 2 diabetes but major risk factors include:

1.Family history- a brother, sister or parent with type 1 diabetes 

2. Age- Children, young adults and teenagers are more likely to get type 1 diabetes although one can get it at any age

People are at risk of type 2 diabetes if they had:

1. Prediabetes

2. Overweight

3. Have parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes

4. Have ever had gestational diabetes 

5. Physically inactive 

People who are at risk of getting prediabetes are:

1. Overweight 

2. 45 years or older

3. Have a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes

4. Are physically inactive 

People who are at risk for getting gestational diabetes: 

1. Have had gestational diabetes during previous pregnancy.

2. Are 25 years or older.

3. Have a family history of type 2 diabetes

4. Have a hormone disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome 

5. Have given birth to a baby who weighed 4kg or above.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

1. Excess thirst 

2. Frequent urination

3. Fatigue

4. Blurred vision

5. Slow healing sores

6.Hunger

7. Weight loss unintentionally 

8. Getting a lot of infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections.

What are the complications of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes affects many major organs, including heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Managing diabetes and controlling your blood sugar can lower your risk for these complications or coexisting conditions.

Here are some potential complications of diabetes:

1.Heart and blood vessel disease. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and narrowing of blood vessels (atherosclerosis).

2.Nerve damage (neuropathy) in limbs. 

High blood sugar over time can damage or destroy nerves, resulting in tingling, numbness, burning, pain or eventual loss of feeling that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.

3.Other nerve damage. 

Damage to nerves of the heart can contribute to irregular heart rhythms. Nerve damage in the digestive system can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, nerve damage may cause erectile dysfunction.

4.Kidney disease. 

Diabetes may lead to chronic kidney disease or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

5.Eye damage. 

-Diabetes increases the risk of serious eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma, and may damage the blood vessels of the retina, potentially leading to blindness.

6.Skin conditions. 

Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.

7.Slow healing. 

Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections, which may heal poorly. Severe damage might require toe, foot or leg amputation.

8.Hearing impairment. 

Hearing problems are more common in people with diabetes.

9.Sleep apnea. 

Obstructive sleep apnea is common in people living with type 2 diabetes. 

Obesity may be the main contributing factor to both conditions. It's not clear whether treating sleep apnea improves blood sugar control.

10.Dementia. 

Type 2 diabetes seems to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders that cause dementia. Poor control of blood sugar levels is linked to more-rapid decline in memory and other thinking skills.

How to reduce the risk of getting Diabetes?

1. Reduce total carbohydrate intake

2. If you're overweight- reduce extra weight

3. Be physically active

4. Take water as primary beverage

5.Eat healthy fat

6. Stop smoking 

7. Avoid too much alcohol intake

Let's reduce the risk of getting diabetes at any age! Together we can conquer!

Article written by Shiloh Vongai Paswani