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This is a condition that develops when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high. This may be because the body cannot use it properly. This is because the pancreas either does not produce any insulin or produces it in inadequate amounts to enable the glucose to enter the cells of the body.
Types of diabetes
Type 1: The body does not produce any insulin. It is also referred to as early-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.
Type 2: The body produces inadequate insulin, or the insulin is there but does not work properly. Some people are able to control the symptoms by making lifestyle changes. However, this is a progressive disease and usually requires insulin medication.
Gestational diabetes: The body does produce enough insulin during pregnancy. It results when the woman has very high glucose levels in their blood and the body is unable to produce enough insulin to transport the glucose into their cells.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Feeling very thirsty
Frequent urination
Male sexual dysfunction
Feeling very hungry
Extreme fatigue
Blurry vision
Bruises and cuts that heal slowly
Weight loss
Weight gain
Pain, tingling or numbness in the feet and hands
Risk factors
Low testosterone levels
Obesity
Age
Pregnancy
A family history of diabetes
Eating unhealthy foods
Being physically inactive
What is a diabetes risk test?
This is a test that assesses your risk to diabetes. Diabetes can develop without someone realizing it. This is because in the early stages diabetes is asymptomatic. Taking the risk test is important for early diagnosis which can prevent complications from arising.
Risk tests include:
The A1C test: This is a blood test that measures the average blood glucose levels. It is also known as HbA1c, hemoglobin A1C, or glycohemoglobin test. The A1C test shows the average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months.
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test: This test is easy to do. Before the test, you should not eat anything for at least 8 hours. It involves drawing blood and sending it to the laboratory for analysis.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). : A blood sample is taken before the test. You are then asked to drink a liquid with some amount of glucose. Your blood is then taken every 30-60 minutes after drinking the liquid. The test may take up to 3 hours.
Complications linked to diabetes include:
Eye complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Foot complications such as ulcers, neuropathy and sometimes gangrene that require foot amputation
Skin complications such as skin infections and disorders
Heart problems such as ischemic heart disease
Hypertension
Gum disease
Gastroparesis where the stomach muscles do not work properly
Ketoacidosis which is accumulation of acidity in the blood and ketone bodies
Mental health deterioration due to depression and anxiety
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