Symptoms of Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes often present the following symptoms:
- Thirst
- Frequent urination
- Extreme hunger
- Rapid weight loss
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing wounds
- Fatigue
- Presence of ketones in urine
Causes of Diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes:
- Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells or pancreatic diseases.
- Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes:
- Insulin resistance due to factors like age, genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Gestational Diabetes:
- Occurs during pregnancy due to placental hormones inducing insulin resistance, often resolving post-delivery.
Complications Associated with Diabetes: Diabetic individuals are prone to developing various related illnesses over time, including:
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
- Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Capillary damage due to excess sugar leads to nerve tingling, numbness, and even dysfunction in the digestive and reproductive systems.
- Kidney Damage (Nephropathy): Glomerular damage from high glucose levels can progress to kidney failure.
- Eye Damage (Retinopathy): Diabetes-induced damage to retinal blood vessels can cause blindness, cataracts, or glaucoma.
- Foot Damage: Nerve impairment can result in foot complications, infections, and potential amputations.
- Skin Conditions: Bacterial and fungal infections are more common in individuals with diabetes.
- Hearing Problems: Diabetes can contribute to hearing impairments.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: High diabetes levels increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Managing diabetes effectively involves proper medication, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring to mitigate the risk of complications and ensure overall well-being.
