Diabetes is a health condition where the body cannot take up glucose(blood sugar)into the cells- this causes high levels of blood sugar in the body. Diabetes affects how your body turns food into energy. {Normally, when you eat, the food is broken down into sugar and released into the bloodstream ... once in plenty, the pancreas is stimulated to produce insulin, a hormone that enables the blood sugar into the different body cells for use as energy}

Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. It is responsible for helping the body to turn food into energy and controls the blood sugar levels. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin it produces. People with diabetes may have less insulin production, faulty pancreas or genetically acquired condition where cells don't respond to insulin. Hence, the major causes include pancreatic damage, hormonal imbalances, genetic mutations, auto immune disorders and insulin resistance.

Lets look at the different types of diabetes:

▪️Type 1 diabetes- this is where the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that is used by the body to keep glucose in check. This leads to daily administration of artificial insulin.

▪️Type 2 diabetes- This is caused by dietary complications and other environmental factors. It affects how your body uses sugar for energy. The cells become resistant to insulin and fail to respond. This is the most common type of diabetes and is proved to be genetic, and can be caused by inappropriate diet and lack of physical exercise.

▪️Gestational diabetes- This is a condition that develops in pregnant women when their blood sugar levels tend to get high. However, for many, the blood sugar levels will drop back to normal after they deliver their babies.

📍The following are the signs and symptoms of diabetic patients:

Frequent urination

Fatigue

Increased thirst

Blurred vision

Weight loss

Slow healing cuts, sores and wounds

Frequent urinary tract infections

Many people with diabetes develop problems with their extremities, especially the feet, because they experience nerve damage and poor blood flow which can lead to foot ulcers and amputation.

💡For these patients, the blood sugar is high in the bloodstream and this makes them uneasy and weak because the cells don't have energy for them to function properly. This leads to much fainting and dizziness.

📍Extremely high blood sugar levels can also lead to complications such as:

1) Diabetes Ketoacidosis- This happens when the body does have enough insulin constantly, and hence can't use glucose, and so it breaks down fat instead. This process ends up releasing ketones which make the blood to become acidic. This leads to unconsciousness.

2) Hyperglycaemia- This condition happens when blood sugar levels are very high over a long period of time leading to severe dehydration and fatigue, especially in Type 2 diabetes patients.

3) Hypoglycaemia- This condition happens when your blood sugar levels are severely low and drop below the normal health range. This condition majorly affects those who use artificial insulin. It makes them to experience blurred vision and dizziness.

How do we manage diabetes??

▪️ It is important for Type 1 patients to use the synthetic insulin to manage the condition. It is usually acquired from health care facilities and can be injected using a syringe, pumped or inhaled.

▪️ It is important for Type 2 patients to use oral medication such as Metformin, Glibenclamide and Glimepiridein managing the condition since they have high blood sugar levels but still produce some little insulin.

▪️ Frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels using the glucose meter by your healthcare provider can help in tracking its range.

▪️ Healthy diet and lifestyle, especially on eating habits can help to alleviate or worsen the situation. Patients need to be cautious on the foods they take, especially carbohydrates, fats and sugars.

▪️Regular exercise is important for all diabetic patients since it helps in increasing insulin sensitivity.

▪️ Avoiding stress, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, getting footcare for foot ulcers and getting enough sleep are among the other management hacks.