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Diabetes is a group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood (High blood Glucose).

They occur either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body can not effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin on the other hand is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.

Hyperglycaemia or raised blood sugar is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and overtime lead to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

Here are some facts about diabetes;

It is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, strike, cardiac arrest and lower limb amputation.

Between year 2000 and 2016, there was a five per cent increase in premature mortality from diabetes.

The number of people living with diabetes rose from 108million to 422million in 2014. Prevalence has been rising more rapidly in low and middle income countries than in high-income countries.

A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.
In 2019, an estimated 1.5million deaths were directly caused by diabetes. Another 2.2million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose in 2012.
Diabetes affects nerves, especially those in the feet. Combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy (nerve damage) increases the risk of foot ulcers, infection and eventual need for limb amputation.

TYPE 1

Type 1 diabetes(previously known as insulin dependent, juvenile or childhood onset) is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin. Neither the cause of type 1 diabetes nor the means to prevent it is known. Symptoms include excessive excretion, of urine(polyuria, thirst(polydipsia), constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue. The aforementioned symptoms may occur suddenly.

TYPE 2

Type 2 diabetes(formerly called non-insulin dependent or adult onset) results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. The majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is mostly a result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. Symptoms may be similar to those of type 1 diabetes but are often less marked. As a result, the disease may be diagnosed several years after onset after complications have already emanated. This type of diabetes was initially seen in adults but now it occurs frequency in children.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES

This is hyperglycaemia with blood glucose values above normal but below those diagnostic of diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of complication during pregnancy and at delivery. Those women and possibly their children are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the future. It's often diagnosed through prenatal screening, rather than through reported symptoms.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Impaired Fasting Glycaemia(IFG) are intermediate conditions in the transition between normality and diabetes. People with IGT or IFT are at high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, although this is not inevitable.

PREVENTION

Simple lifestyle measures have been identified as an effective means of preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. However, achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight is another way of preventing type 2 diabetes. Other ways include; engaging in physical activities for at least 30mins per day, eating a healthy diet(avoiding sugar and saturated fats), avoiding tobacco use(this is because smoking increases diabetes risks and other cardiovascular diseases).

TREATMENT
Here are ways some diabetes could be treated;

A.Blood Glucose Control
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin whereas people with type 2 can be treated with oral medication but may also require insulin.

B. Blood Pressure Control
When the blood pressure is controlled, diabetes is under check.

C. Foot Care
Patients should maintain foot hygiene, wearing of appropriate footwear and regular examination of feet by health professionals.
Other important interventions include;
1. Screening and treatment for retinopathy in order to prevent blindness.
2. Blood lipids control. This is done to regulate cholesterol level
3. Screening for early signs of diabetes related disease and treatment.

Ref:
- Diabetes mellitus, fasting blood glucose concentration, and risk of vascular disease: a collaborative meta-analysis of 102 prospective studies. Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration - Sarwar N, Gao P, Seshasai SR, et al.
- Causes of Vision loss worldwide, 1990-2010, a systematic analysis - Bourne R.R, Stevens G.A, et al.
- World Health Organization(WHO)

Diabetes

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