What is Diabetes? What are its Types and Symptoms?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas doesnot produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulinit produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hyperglycaemia,also called elevated blood glucose or raised blood sugar, is a common effect ofuncontrolled diabetes and, over time, leads to serious damage to many of thebody's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.[1]

The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs whenthe body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. In thepast 3 decades the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically incountries of all income levels. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenilediabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which thepancreas produces little or no insulin by itself. There is a globally agreedtarget to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025.[2]

What are the types of diabetes?

There are several types of diabetes. The most common forms include:[3]

·       Type 2 diabetes: With this type,your body doesn’t make enough insulin and/or your body’s cells don’t respondnormally to the insulin (insulin resistance). This is the most common type ofdiabetes. It mainly affects adults, but children can have it as well.³

·       Prediabetes: This type is thestage before Type 2 diabetes. Your blood glucose levels are higher than normalbut not high enough to be officially diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.³

·       Type 1 diabetes: This type is anautoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroysinsulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons. Up to 10% ofpeople who have diabetes have Type 1. It’s usually diagnosed in children andyoung adults, but it can develop at any age.³

·       Gestationaldiabetes: This type develops in some people during pregnancy. Gestational diabetesusually goes away after pregnancy. However, if you have gestational diabetes,you’re at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.³

Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetes may occur suddenly.¹ In type 2 diabetes,the symptoms can be mild and may take many years to be noticed.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

·       feeling verythirsty

·       needing to urinatemore often than usual

·       blurred vision

·       feeling tired

·       losing weightunintentionally.

The dramatic, above-expected increase in diabetes rates over the yearsnecessitates urgent measures. Success in combating obesity and physicalinactivity, which are among the leading modifiable risk factors for diabetesprevention, will be achieved through increased public awareness.[4]

In this context, the United Nations "recognized World Diabetes Day asan important day to encourage all its member states, all relevant organizationswithin the United Nations system, voluntary organizations, and non-governmentalorganizations, including the private sector, to raise public awareness aboutdiabetes and its related complications through mass communication." Italso decided that, starting in 2007, November 14th would be designated asUnited Nations World Diabetes Day. It also stated that diabetes is spreading asa global epidemic far beyond statistical estimates.[5]