Understanding the Types and Treatments of Diabetes
The primary cause of diabetes varies depending on the kind. If not appropriately managed, diabetes can accumulate sugar in the blood, increasing the risk of severe consequences such as stroke and heart disease.
Diabetes can manifest itself in several forms, and how people manage the ailment varies according to the type. Many health insurance companies can also be considered great support for diabetes management as they have various plans covering this disease and its treatments.
Being overweight or living an inactive lifestyle does not always cause diabetes. Some have been present since childhood. Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes are the most prevalent types of diabetes, which we will discuss in detail below. Monogenic and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes are rarely prevalent kinds of diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a condition that increases glucose in your body beyond acceptable limits. That said, glucose is a vital energy source for the muscles and tissue cells. It is also the primary source of fuel for the brain. It develops when your body's cells cannot absorb glucose and use it to create energy. This causes an accumulation of excessive sugar in your system.
Diabetes that is poorly managed can have catastrophic effects, including damage to many of your body's organs and tissues, including your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1
This is an autoimmune condition, which means your body fights itself. The cells producing insulin in your pancreas get damaged in this situation. Type 1 diabetes affects up to 10% of all diabetics. It is most commonly detected in children and young people but can happen at any age. Diabetes was previously classified as "juvenile" diabetes. People with Type 1 condition must take insulin daily. This is why it's sometimes referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes.
Type 2
This occurs when your body either does not produce enough insulin or your cells do not respond normally to insulin. This is the most frequent form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affects up to 95% of diabetics. It commonly affects persons in their forties and fifties. Type 2 diabetes is also known as adult-onset diabetes and insulin-resistant diabetes.
Prediabetes - This is the stage preceding Type 2 diabetes. The blood glucose levels seem above normal but not excessive enough to be identified as Type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes - Some women develop this type during their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes typically disappears after pregnancy. However, those with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Less common type diabetes include,
Monogenic Diabetes Syndromes - These rare hereditary diabetes types account for up to 4% of all cases. Neonatal diabetes and young-onset diabetes are two examples.
Diabetes Caused by Cystic Fibrosis - This is a type of diabetes that only affects people with this disease.
Diabetes Caused by Drugs or Chemicals - Examples of this type occur during organ transplantation, HIV/AIDS treatment, or are connected with the use of glucocorticoid steroids. And, diabetes insipidus is an uncommon condition in which your kidneys produce an abnormally high amount of urine.
Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes treatments vary based on the type of diabetes, how well your blood glucose levels are controlled, and any other medical conditions you may have.
Diabetes Type 1- You must take insulin daily if you have this type of diabetes. Your pancreas is no longer producing insulin.
Diabetes Type 2 - If you have this type, your treatments may include drugs for diabetes and for diseases that are risk factors for type 2, insulin, and lifestyle modifications like shedding weight, eating healthier, and exercising more.
Prediabetes - Prediabetes treatment aims to keep you from developing diabetes. Treatments are centred on modifiable risk factors, such as decreasing weight through a healthy diet and exercise. Many of the measures used to prevent diabetes are also implemented to cure diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes - Your initial course of treatment, if your blood glucose level is not excessively high, may involve dietary changes and routine workout activity. If the target objective is still not accomplished or your glucose level is exceptionally high, your medical team may begin medication or insulin administration.
Using Insulin
Insulin must be administered to all type 1 diabetics and some type 2 diabetics to prevent high blood sugar levels.
There are several insulin subtypes, most of which are categorised according to how long they last. Several types of insulin include mixed, rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting.
Long-acting insulin is sometimes used to keep blood sugar levels consistently low. Others may mix different insulin kinds or short-acting insulin. The patients will often check their blood sugar levels to decide how much insulin they need, regardless of the type.
A patient can use a blood glucose monitor or continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which regularly measures blood sugar levels throughout the day. These measures can assist the patients in changing their medication if necessary.
Other Medicines
Acarbose - In addition to dietary changes and other drugs, acarbose is used to treat diabetes.
Canagliflozin - Along with diet and exercise, canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, is administered as an anti-diabetic for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Chlorpropamide - Chlorpropamide is a type 2 diabetes medication known as a sulfonylurea.
Dapagliflozin - Dapagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2) recommended to people with type 2 diabetes to lower blood sugar levels.
Desmopressin - Desmopressin is used to treat the symptoms of water diabetes, also known as diabetes insipidus, in which the body generates an unusually high amount of urine.
Epalrestat, Exenatide, Glibenclamide, Glibenclamide and Metformin, Gliclazide, Glimepiride, Glipizide, and Glyburide are some drugs prescribed in different types and stages of diabetes.
Conclusion
People with diabetes must carefully control their blood sugar levels and lead a healthy lifestyle to manage the condition effectively. Diabetes comes in a variety of forms.
It must be managed since complications, including kidney failure and stroke, can be very serious. Any person who believes they may have diabetes should see a doctor.
A diabetes health insurance plan is also a wise choice, considering the risks of these conditions. You can buy suitable Diabetes Health Insurance online with the help of Paytm.
Diabetes type 1. People must inherit potential risks from both parents in most type 1 diabetes occurrences.
Although type 2 diabetes has no known cure, studies indicate that some people may be able to reverse it. By making dietary adjustments and losing weight, you might be able to maintain normal blood sugar levels without taking medication. This does not, however, imply that you are fully recovered.
Most kinds of diabetes lack a known precise cause - sugar increases in the bloodstream in every situation. This is a result of inadequate insulin production by the pancreas. Diabetes of either type can result from hereditary and environmental causes.
To treat type 2 diabetes, metformin must be used as the first-line medication. Insulin and sulfonylureas would come in second, and glitazones should come in third.
Using blood testing, your doctor can determine whether you have diabetes, prediabetes, or gestational diabetes. The results of the blood tests indicate whether your blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is higher than considered healthy for you. Additionally, blood tests can determine the kind of diabetes you have.