Diabetes is a chronic methabolic disorder that occurs as a result of the deficiency and/or insufficient secretion of the insulin hormone, which balances the sugar level in the blood, and its inability to use it in the body.
Types of Diabetes
There are 4 main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, Gestiational Diabetes and Prediabetes.
- Type 1: The body’s own immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, thereby affecting insulin production. Usually starts around adolescence.
- Type 2: Even though the production of insulin is fine, the body doesn’t utilize the available insulin properly, thereby leading to high blood sugar levels. In contrast to Type 1 which has an immune basis, Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolism based disorder. That’s why obesity is a major risk factor for developing this type. Mostly, starts around adulthood, however with the increasing prevalence of obesity among children, there has been a rise in the number of younger people developing Type 2 Diabetes.
- Gestational Diabetes: Develops during pregnancy, usually in the 2nd trimester. Mainly happens because of hormones produced by the placenta that interfere with the proper functioning of insulin in the mother, leading to raised blood sugar levels in the mother’s blood.
- Prediabetes: It is a chronic type of diabetes where even though the production of insulin is fine, the body doesn’t utilize the available insulin properly, thereby leading to high blood sugar levels. Also named as insulin resistence.
Type 1 Diabetes
The energy need of our body is provided by the basic nutrients in our food: Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats. The most important of the nutrients that are broken down into their smallest parts in order to be absorbed are simple sugars called glucose. Glucose is an important nutrient source for all organs of the body, especially the brain. Cells use the glucose they need with the help of a hormone secreted by the pancreatic gland located behind the stomach. If this hormone, known as insulin, cannot be made in the body, the food taken cannot be used as energy.
Type 1 Diabetes, also called “Juvenile Diabetes”, often occurs in childhood and youth when the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are damaged as a result of an autoimmune process. Since there is an absolute or relative insulin deficiency, patients have to take insulin hormone externally (by injection) for life. For this reason, this type is also called Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM).
Who Is at a Higher Risk for Type 1 Diabetes?
Those who have Type 1 Diabetes in first degree relatives such as mother, father, sibling; in those who have many relatives with Type 2 Diabetes; women who develop diabetes during pregnancy and their children in the future are at higher risk for Type 1 Diabetes.
Enviromental Factors
Being infected with a virus (type unknown) at an early age can trigger Type 1 Diabetes in some people.
People are more likely to have Type 1 Diabetes if they live in a cold climate. Doctors also diagnose people with Type 1 Diabetes more in often in winter than in summer.
Type 2 Diabetes
It is a chronic disease characterized by an abnormal rise in blood sugar levels due to insulin resistence. This type, which was formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, has now begun to be seen in children and young people with the increase in childhood obesity. Type 2 diabetes, which constitutes approximately 95% of all diabetes cases, requires lifelong follow-up and treatment.
Who Is at a Higher Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
People with obesity, family history of diabetes, lack of physical activity, impaired glucose tolerance, history of diabetes during pregnancy are at a higher risk. Also increase in age and race/ethnic group can be factors for being at risk.
Gestational Diabetes
Pancreatic cells, which can secrete enough insulin before pregnancy, cannot secrete enough insulin as the pregnancy progresses, so blood sugar may rise during pregnancy even though there is no sign of diabetes before. Usually resolves at the end of pregnancy.
Who Is at a Higher Risk for Gestational Diabetes?
People who are overweight or obese, not physically active, have prediabetes, have had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy, have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), have an immediate family member with diabetes, have previously delivered a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4.1 kilograms) are at a higher risk.
Prediabetes
If a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose diabetes, then the person is defined as pre-diabetic. Diabetes developed in 11% of pre-diabetics who participated in the Diabetes Prevention Program.
Prediabetes is an important problem due to low awareness rates, increased risk of developing diabetes, and this situation manifests itself with negative economic effects. The prediabetes group can be identified with early diagnosis through screenings, and the transformation of the disease into diabetes can be prevented with various measures to be taken in this group.
Who Is at a Higher Risk for Prediabetes?
People who are 45 or older, have parent or sibling with Type 2 Diabetes, have had previous Gestational Diabetes, have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), certain medications, such as steroids, certain antipsychotics and some HIV medications, have hormonal conditions including Cushing’s Syndrome and Acromegaly, have sleep disorders such as sleep apnea are at a higher risk for Prediabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Type 1 Symptoms
- Urinating too often (Polyuria)
- Drinking a lot of water (Polydipsia)
- Desire to eat a lot (Polyphagia)
- Dry mouth
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Nocturnal urination and bedwetting
- Blurred vision
- Numbness or tingling in the feet
Type 2 Symptoms
- Frequent urination
- Dry mouth
- Drinking a lot of water
- Feeling of hunger
- Delayed healing of skin wounds
- Dry and itchy skin
- Frequent infection
- Hirsutism
- Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
- Drinking a lot of water
- Urination too often
- Detection of glucose in the urine
- Recurrent urinary tract/vaginal infections
- Nausea
- Weakness
Prediabetes Symptoms
- Increase in body weight, obesity
- Frequent hunger and needing to eat a lot
- High blood pressure
- Anger attacks
- Increased cholesterol
- Weakness, tiredness
- Difficulty focusing
- Thirst, dry mouth feeling
- Water consumption above normal
- Blurred vision
- Sleep problems
- Darkening of the skin, color changes
- Hirsutism
Treatments
Treatment for Type 1
The invariable rule in the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes is insulin injection. In this type, using insulin is a necessity and is life saving. Other cornerstones of treatment are healthy eating, regular exercise and education. Maintaining ideal blood sugar levels requires significant care and daily care throughout the day. The care needed for a person to feel good and lead a healthy life should be made a way of life.
Treatment for Type 2
Medical nutrition therapy, regulation of eating habits, changing lifestyle, and putting into practice exercise programs are included in the primary treatment plan. If blood sugar cannot be kept within normal limits despite following this treatment plan, oral sugar-reducing drugs taken as pills are added to the treatment. It is extremely important for people with Type 2 who are taking oral sugar-lowering pills or insulin therapy to measure their blood sugar on certain days of the week.
Treatment for Gestational Diabetes
Regular blood sugar monitoring, healthy diet, exercise, medication, and close monitoring of the baby are very important. The aim of the treatment of this type is to keep the blood sugar levels of pregnant women with diabetes at the same level as those without. The first treatment is diet. Patient gets in touch with a dietitian and gets a diet. Although carbohydrate restriction in the diet is the main idea, recommendations can be given by keeping in mind the three basic nutritional components such as calorie calculation, carbohydrate intake and calorie distribution. In most women, blood sugar returns to normal after birth. However, women with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes in the future.
Treatment for Prediabetes
In cases where hidden sugar is treated, it can be said that the risk of the disease turning into diabetes will disappear. The main aim of treatment is to reduce insulin resistance. Insulin hormone can be kept under control by paying attention to nutrition, getting rid of excess weight and doing regular sports. At the same time, drug therapy can be started when deemed necessary. Treating and controlling hidden sugar contributes to preventing serious health problems.
Tips for Healthy Eating
- The daily intake of carbohydrate, fat and protein should be well adjusted.
- With a diet based only on protein, a person can be greatly harmed. Three main meals and three snacks should be added into daily meal plan. In between meals, protein and carbohydrates should be taken together.
- Consumption of calcium source in main meals is essential to balance blood sugar level. Low-fat yogurt or buttermilk consumption in every meal is necessary to keep blood sugar stable and reduce sudden drop or rise.
- Foods with a low glycemic index should be consumed. Whole wheat and rye bread should be preferred instead of white bread; bulgur or wholemeal pasta instead of white rice.
- Should pay attention to the consumption of whole wheat bread and salad in every meal.
- Butter, fried foods and foods with simple sugar content should be avoided.
- 2-3 liters of water should be consumed every day.
- Adding cinnamon to fruit, yogurt and juices can reduce sweet and sugar cravings.
- Consuming fruits should be preferred instead of drinking fruit juices.
- Packaged foods should be avoided as much as possible because they contain sugar and salt.
- Processed meats such as salami, sausages should not be consumed.
- Simple sugar foods such as sweets, biscuits and cakes, especially if they contain syrups, should be avoided as much as possible.
- It should not be forgotten that foods such as pastries or bagels contain white flour and should be consumed rarely.