Diabetes and Its Complications: Why Early Diagnosis and Prevention Critical?

Published on: 15th September 2024
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Alina Gabdulbarova

If your blood sugar (glucose) levels are high, you may have diabetes. It is a condition when your pancreas does not produce any or insufficient insulin, or when your system does not adequately respond to the effects of insulin. While diabetes symptoms can show up early, timely checkups can help you understand which type of diabetes you have, its symptoms, treatment, prevention, and how to keep the complications in check.

What is Diabetes and Its Types?

While most types of diabetes are lifelong, you can manage all forms of it through lifestyle changes and medicines. Your blood carries the energy source – glucose (sugar) to the body cells. But insulin (a hormone that the pancreas produces), is also necessary in the process. If the body does not utilize the insulin properly, or receive enough of it, the glucose level increases in the bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Here are the types of diabetes you should know about:

1. Type 1 Diabetes

This is an autoimmune disease, wherein the immune system destroys and attacks the cells producing insulin in the pancreas. This type of diabetes usually affects young adults and children. However, it can happen at any age.

2. Type 2 Diabetes

Your body cells may not respond to insulin normally (known as insulin resistance) if the body does not produce enough insulin. This condition is called Type 2 diabetes, which is also the most common type of diabetes affecting children and adults.

3. Other Types of Diabetes

Here are other forms of diabetes that you should be acquainted with:

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnancy for some people and usually disappears after childbirth. However, those with gestational diabetes are also at a higher risk of developing symptoms of Type 2 diabetes in the long run.

Prediabetes

If your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, however, they are not that high to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes, then you have prediabetes. It is a crucial early warning sign for you to watch out.

Type 3c Diabetes

Damage to the pancreas other than that caused due to autoimmune disease, can affect insulin levels. Some of the causes of diabetes in this case are pancreatectomy, pancreatic cancer, hemochromatosis, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis.

Brittle Diabetes

This is a Type 1 diabetes form wherein, the person’s blood sugar level suddenly increases or decreases, leading to instability and hospitalization. Permanent diabetes treatment in this case is a pancreas transplant.

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

LADA occurs due to an autoimmune reaction and affects people mostly after 30 years of age. The progression of LADA is slower than Type 1.

Neonatal Diabetes

Neonatal diabetes happens in infants usually within the first 6 months of life. Sometimes the condition goes away after the initial few months but returns later in life. For the rest 50% of infants, the disease is chronic, and known as permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus.

Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)

When genetic mutation affects insulin levels and its use by the body, the condition is called monogenic diabetes or MODY. There are more than 10 different types, usually affecting family members already at risk of genetic diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms to Watch for: The Early Warning Signs

Early detection of diabetes is possible if you carefully notice the onset symptoms mentioned below:

Common Diabetes Symptoms

Blurred vision.
Slow healing of cuts and sores.
Fatigue.
Dry mouth and increased thirst.
Unexplained weight loss.
Frequent urination.
Frequent vaginal or skin yeast infections.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

It can take just a few weeks or months for Type 1 diabetes symptoms to develop.
When these symptoms become severe, the condition is called DKA (diabetes-related ketoacidosis).
Signs include stomach pain, labored breathing, vomiting, and fruity-smelling breath.

Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes Symptoms

As prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes progress slowly, it is not always possible to note the early signs.
However, you may encounter urgency for urination, darkened skin, or skin patches on the body.
Routine examination may indicate high blood sugar levels.

Causes of Diabetes: Understanding the Risk Factors

Here are the major causes of diabetes, and the related risk factors:

When the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. It is a common cause of LADA and Type 1 diabetes.
When cells in fat, muscles, and liver are not receptive to insulin as they should, leading to insulin resistance. It can cause Type 2 diabetes.
Hormone imbalance causing insulin resistance, Cushing syndrome, and acromegaly often result in symptoms of Type 2 diabetes in people.
Other causes of diabetes include long-term use of corticosteroids, and certain medicines, especially those for HIV/AIDS.
Genetic mutation can lead to neonatal diabetes and MODY, while pancreatic damage can give rise to Type 3c diabetes.

Diabetes Test for Early Diagnosis and Other Complications

Keeping track of symptoms of type 2 diabetes and others is possible through screenings:

Fasting blood glucose test, wherein you don’t eat or drink (except water) for 8 hours, and then a diabetes test is run. After which you eat food, and then there is a repeat test.
You can also get a random diabetes test regardless of fasting.
HbA1C or glycated hemoglobin test informs about the average blood sugar level over the last 2-3 months. It is a prediabetes screening.

High blood sugar can result in diabetes complications affecting the:

Cardiovascular system, nervous system, and digestive system.
Several organs like the heart, eyes, feet, bladder, kidney, etc.).
It can cause neuropathy, coronary artery disease, periodontal disease, hearing loss, and more.

Diabetes Prevention Strategies to Stay Healthy

Here are the diabetes prevention strategies to follow:

Lifestyle Changes

Try to maintain a regular 8-hour sleep pattern. Quit smoking, reduce mental stress, learn meditation techniques for diabetes prevention, and lose excess pounds.

Healthy Diet

Consult a dietician for a diabetes-friendly diet and natural diabetes treatment food to include in meals. Avoid high sugar content items and processed/refined food.

Regular Exercise

Remain physically active and exercise daily for 30 to 60 minutes. Start with brisk walking, yoga, aerobics, cycling, and other simple exercises to manage weight.

Diabetes Treatment Methods and Medications

Here are the common diabetes treatment options and medications:

Those who produce at least some insulin, especially people with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, can take Metformin and other prescribed medicines.
Those with Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes may inject synthetic insulin through a syringe (shot), insulin pumps, insulin pens, or rapid-acting inhaled insulin.
You may call a doctor at home to consult about diabetes treatment, monitor your blood glucose level, and get a list of suitable medicines.

Doctor on Call Service for Strep Throat and Tonsillitis

Managing diabetes effectively requires timely intervention and continuous monitoring. At First Response Healthcare, our doctor on call service ensures that you receive expert medical care right at your doorstep. Whether you need regular check-ups or immediate assistance with managing diabetes-related complications, our experienced doctors are available 24/7 to support your health needs in the comfort of your home. Our doctors speak multiple languages, including English, Arabic, and Hindi, ensuring clear and comfortable communication. With First Response Healthcare, you receive professional and personalized care whenever you need it.

To book an appointment with our doctors who are available 24 hours in Dubai, you can call us at 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC. You can also make an appointment by visiting our website or messaging us on WhatsApp.

Final Thoughts on Diabetes Prevention and Management

Be it any form of diabetes, early diagnosis can help control the condition and provide you with a better scope of life. If you have a family history of diabetes or an erratic lifestyle, it is best to run a routine diabetes test annually to keep track of your health.

Conclusion: The Urgency of Addressing Diabetes

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, In UAE, diabetes is a significant health concern, with prevalence rates reaching 24% among citizens and 17.4% among expatriates. In 2007, the UAE had the second-highest diabetes prevalence in the world at 19.5%, with projections suggesting it could rise to 21.9% by 2025. A study in Al Ain revealed that 29% of people aged 30-64 have diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed), and 24.2% have pre-diabetes. However, there is a lack of data on the age-standardized incidence rates of diabetes in the UAE, which is crucial for planning effective prevention and control strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Why is It Important to Take Care of Diabetes as Soon as You Are Diagnosed?

Since diabetes affects vital organs such as kidneys, eyes, heart, etc., early diagnosis can help manage the condition on time and balance the blood sugar levels.

Q. What Are the Risk Factors for Diabetes?

The risk factors for diabetes are obesity, family history of suffering from the condition, growing age, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and more.

Q. What Happens When First Diagnosed With Diabetes?

You may feel overwhelmed when diagnosed with diabetes. However, start with a nutritious diet as advised by your dietician, get enough physical exercise, stress less, and seek emotional support if necessary.

Q. What is the First Complication of Diabetes?

If you notice diabetes symptoms, the initial complications are reduced blood circulation to your feet, damage to blood vessels of the heart and kidneys, bladder, nerve and eye problems, etc.

Q. How to Control Sugar Levels Immediately?

Apart from lifestyle and diet changes, regular exercise, enough sleep, and managing stress, you can take fast-acting insulin medication to control sugar levels immediately.

Q. What Drink Lowers Blood Sugar?

Some of the drinks that may lower blood sugar levels are black tea, green tea, tomato juice, cow milk, black coffee, and unsweetened teas.

Q. What is the Best Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?

While diet, exercise, and weight management can keep a check on Type 2 diabetes, you can undergo insulin therapy, and take the prescribed medicines on time for treatment.

Q. Does Genetics Influence Diabetes?

If your parents and siblings have diabetes, then you are at a greater risk of developing the condition. The risk is because of shared genetic factors and similar lifestyle and diet patterns.

Q. Which Organs Can Be Affected by Diabetes?

Diabetes can damage the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, skin, bladder, feet, genitals, etc. Thus, it is crucial to work on diabetes prevention strategies early.

Q. How Can I Adapt to Living With Diabetes?

Speak with your healthcare provider about the diet to follow and exercise schedule. Check your blood sugar levels at regular intervals, watch your sleep pattern, and stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Diabetes and Its Complications: Why is Early Diagnosis and Prevention Critical?

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