What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of diseases when your body cannot properly process and uses blood sugar (glucose) which is an important source of energy for cells and especially your brain. There are several types of diabetes and all leads to the condition of having excess blood sugar. Insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas, help facilitate bringing in glucose through cells and ultimately used as energy. If you have diabetes, either your pancreas do not produce insulin sufficiently (or not at all) or cells do not respond to insulin’s actions. Poorly controlled diabetes may lead to serious complications and may be life-threatening.

Common types of diabetes are as followed:
Pre-diabetes: A condition when your blood glucose is higher than normal but not yet met the criteria to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle modifications are recommended at this point.
Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune disease where your pancreas are destroyed by your own immunity. Type 1 diabetes patients will need continuous monitoring for blood sugar and use insulin everyday.
Type 2 Diabetes: The most common type of diabetes. Your body does not respond well to insulin’s actions or does not make enough of it. Medications used for Type 2 Diabetes would focus on promoting insulin’s actions.
Gestational Diabetes: A diabetes developed in pregnant woman and usually resolved after.

Complications which may be life-threatening include:

• • Cardiovascular diseases
• • Neuropathy
• • Kidney damage
• • Erectile dysfunction
• • Eye damage
• • Skin infections
• • Wounds not healing well and develop necrosis requiring amputation

Risk Factors
For Type 1 Diabetes
   • Family history of Type 1 Diabetes
   • Pancreas injury
   • Presence of autoantibodies
For Type 2 Diabetes
   • Family history of Type 2 Diabetes
   • Race: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American
   • Obesity
   • High Blood Pressure
   • Low HDL, High Triglyceride
   • Sedentary lifestyle
   • History of Gestational diabetes
   • Smoking

For Gestational Diabetes
   • Family History of Gestational Diabetes
   • Race: African-American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian-American
   • Obesity

Symptoms
   • Feeling more thirsty than usual
   • Frequent urination
   • Feeling weak
   • Blurred vision
   • Unexplained weight loss
   • Prone to infections
   • Slow healing wounds
   • Numbness in the hands or feet

Treatment

        Prediabetes: Lifestyle modifications recommended by doctor to prevent further progression and development into Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes: Daily insulin intake with individualized dose

        Type 2 Diabetes: Medications with several mechanism to maintain appropriate amount of blood glucose and lifestyle modifications as recommended by doctor

        Gestational Diabetes: Diet modification and exercise where possible and recommended by doctor. Insulin and medications may be offered on individualized approach. 

When to see a doctor?

If you think you have clear symptoms which may be diabetes or you have had too high blood sugar in your health check-up, consult your doctor to prevent further disease progressions which lead to serious complications.