By Angeline Zengeya
“In 2019, diabetes was the 9th leading cause of death with an estimated 1.5 million deaths directly caused by diabetes.” WHO
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic condition that arises when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or when the body’s insulin is ineffectively used, however, the specific faults that cause these problems are complex and poorly understood. When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose (also called sugar) out of the blood and into cells, where it’s broken down to produce energy. If you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This can cause kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness, lower limb amputation and nerve damage over time. In severe cases, untreated diabetes can lead to death.
Diabetes manifests itself in a variety of ways that can be divided into categories. Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. The main point of difference between the type 1 and type 2 is that type 1 diabetes is a genetic disorder and type 2 is mostly a lifestyle disorder.
An autoimmune reaction that inhibits your body from generating insulin is thought to be the cause of Type 1 (insulin deficiency) diabetes. It affects approximately 5-10% of diabetic patients and symptoms can appear quickly. Children, teens, and young adults are the most common victims.
Type 2 diabetes is largely a product of lifestyle which induces insulin resistance or ineffective utilisation of insulin in the body. It affects roughly 90 per cent to 95 per cent of diabetics and is commonly identified in adults (but more and more in children, teens, and young adults) after a long period of development. If you’re at risk, it is important to get your blood sugar checked because you may not notice any signs. Although genetics can also be a cause, relevant lifestyle changes can keep diabetes in check and postpone its resurgence.
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women, but however, goes away after parturition. Women with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of complications during pregnancy and at delivery. According to some experts, these women and their children are also likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
The signs and symptoms of diabetes differ depending on how high your blood sugar is. Increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, ketones in the urine, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and frequent infections are common symptoms.
Finally, there is no cure yet for diabetes, but may be managed and its repercussions avoided or delayed by following a well-planned diet, getting enough exercise, taking medication, and getting regular screenings and treatment for problems. Getting diabetes self-management education and support, and keeping health care appointments can also reduce the impact of diabetes on your life. Many people lack basic knowledge and information about the condition and how to manage it; many are even living with diabetes without realizing it. Bold measures such as adequate sensitisation and promoting participation in early diagnostic testing are critical in putting an end to a disease that is on the verge of becoming a pandemic. Angeline Zengeya is a Nutritionist and Agripreneur and can be contacted on Mobile +263772528449; Email: [email protected]
