Facts about Diabetes Mellitus

242 Comments / By EDITOR / October 24, 2023 November 2, 2023

Dr. Sanoop Kumar Sherin Sabu M.D., (Int Med),FCPM , Consultant Physician and Diabetologist

What is diabetes?
1. Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugars resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.
What are the different types of diabetes?

Diabetes can be classified into the following general categories:

Type 1 diabetes (due to autoimmune β-cell destruction, usually leading to absolute insulin deficiency, including latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood)

Type 2 diabetes (due to a progressive loss of adequate β-cell insulin secretion frequently on the background of insulin resistance)

Specific types of diabetes due to other causes, e.g., monogenic diabetes syndromes (such as neonatal diabetes and maturity-onset diabetes of the young), diseases of the exocrine pancreas (such as cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis), and drug- or chemical-induced diabetes (such as with glucocorticoid use, in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, or after organ transplantation)

Gestational diabetes mellitus– diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy

How common is diabetes?
- The prevalence of diabetes world wide is 10.5%
- The prevalence of diabetes in India stands at 11.4%

Who is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes?
- Family history
- Advancing age
- Diabetes during pregnancy
- Weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes. Losing 5% to 10% of your body weight—in addition to getting regular physical activity—can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes
- Physical activity: Physical inactivity is a key modifiable risk factor for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity helps lower insulin resistance. This means your body can use its own insulin more effectively. Even a brisk 30-minute walk at least five days a week has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Diet is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
- Alcohol: Heavy use of alcohol can cause inflammation in the pancreas and limit its ability to produce enough insulin
- Stress and well-being:
- Sleep: Adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep a night

What causes type 2 diabetes?
- In T2DM, the response to insulin is diminished, and this is defined as insulin resistance. During this state, insulin is ineffective and is initially countered by an increase in insulin production to maintain glucose homeostasis, but over time, insulin production decreases, resulting in T2DM.

How can I manage my diabetes?
- Medical nutritional therapy
  - A diet low in saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, high fructose corn syrup, and high in fiber and monounsaturated fats needs to be encouraged.
- - Aerobic exercise for a duration of 30 minutes per day for at least 5 days in a week The major target in T2DM patients, who are obese, is weight loss by atleast 5 to 10 %
- Drugs
  - Oral Hypoglycaemic agents
  - Insulin

How can you detect diabetes early?

Fasting Plasma Glucose > 126mg/dl or

2 hours after food Plasma Blood glucose >200mg/dl

A random plasma glucose of 200 mg/dL In a patient with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis or

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of more than 6.5%