Diabetes is caused by disorder function of insulin hormone. Generally, in our body, the insulin plays role for sending sugar to every part of the body especially, brain and nerves through bloodstreamthe . When the insulin consists of abnormality either decreasing of Insulin or the body slowly react to the hormone called “Insulin Resistance” thus, the body is unable to take blood sugar and flow to every part of the body properly, then there is high amount of accumulated sugar obstructed in the stream. If the sugar level is quite high, effect that could happen to the kidney, normally it absorbs the sugar for a use, according to the effect it then cannot function this properly. The sugar leaked due to dysfunctional kidney which is a cause of chronic disease known as “Diabetes” If a person is not treated by a doctor after symptoms are found, serious complications may occur afterward.
Type of Diabetes
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- Type 1 It is caused by body immune system which destroys cells that produce the insulin, this condition is a cause of insulin insufficiency
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- Type 2 It is caused by decreased insulin and condition of insulin resistance regarding heredity
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- Specific cause For example, diabete associates with pancreatitis or Insulin dysfunction by birth
- Diabetes in pregnancy It occurs during the pregnancy and disappear after the labor, however there is high chance for the type 2 in the future.
Complications of Diabetes
When high level of sugar in blood called hyperglycaemia kept over years, it will directly affect both small and large vessels causing inflammation and stroke. Apart from that, it also significantly impact on immune body system which the hyperglycaemia makes the sugar accumulate in white blood. Strength of it changes ineffectively which is why the body is easily infected by things around.
Complications of Diabetic Patients
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- Diabetic retinopathy high sugar in the blood will significantly affect sight, one of affected symptom is Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Moreover, retinal detachment, cataract, and blindness may also happen
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- Diabetic Kidney Disease at the beginning, the kidney will intensively function itself as high levels of sugar stimulate the blood pressure in kidney, during this period, no abnormalities are found in an organ. In urine, white egg protein might or might not leak with the urine. Next stage, the protein will be released during urination, and the kidneys may slowly function itself. However, when they are not treated properly, it can lead a patient to renal failure.
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- Nerve Complication common symptoms include numbness or muscular weakness in arm and legs, patients feel like they are wearing socks all day. Some feel like stabbed by a needle in their foot including sweating, abnormal heartbeat, choke, flatulence and chest pain. These are symptoms of abnormal nerve system in gastrointestinal or digestive function.
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- Arterial Occlusion it happens in a leg, a symptom is a pain in the organ while walking or running, it disappears when the legs are rested, foot tips are cold, leg hair start falling if the patient is not treated properly, the occlusion can occur and lead to legs removing.
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- Coronary artery disease a complicated condition in diabetic patient considered as a severe complication. It happens when the arteries that flow the blood to the heart is stenosis causing myocardial infarction, heart attack, low blood pressure and acute death.
- Stroke a severe complication when the infarction affects cerebral function and nerve by causing paralysis, facial palsy and slurred speech
How to notice your diabetic symptoms?
As we know that, the complication of this disease can cause disability and death if we receive early screening even it is the first stage proper treatment can lower the possibility of complication above.
Diabetes has a variety of symptoms starts from not showing to stage of acute symptom (Shock) However, what we can notice by seeing are sweating, frequent urination, thirsty or waking up for urination at night (3 times ) including acute weight loss, numbness, chronic ulcer, Eresctile dysfinction and blurred vision.
People who are at risk for diabetes are those who are overweight and have the body mass index ≥ 23 kg / m2, also people who have obesity, especially in men who have the BMI ≥ 90 cm. including women with BMI ≥ 80 cm. Moreover, women who used to have diabetes during pregnancy or give a birt with 4 kg baby or higher are also those who are at the risk.
Diagnosing The Diabetes
There are four ways to notice the disease regarding te dianosis as follows:
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- Blood sugar after abstaining from food for 8-12 hours, is over 126 milligrams per deciliter.
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- Blood glucose after having 75 grams of glucose for 2 hours is over 200 mg / dl.
- Blood sugar level without fasting is above 200 ml/dl together with several symptoms such as frequent urination and feeling thirsty.
Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes Treatment requires cooperation from doctors, nurses, nutritionists and most importantly patients themselves. Every patient must see an importance of the treatment. They have to understand that the Diabetes is a chronic disease that is incurable, but condition can be controlled and maintain to be stable. Everday, pateints can still do regualr actitvities what to bemindful is controlling their sugar levels by excercise, having healthy food, and using a medicine as well as seeing a doctor regularly regarding an apppointment to prevent complication affected by the disease in the future.
Dietary is essential for the diabetic pateints, blood sugar control is the main thing that they have to follow and do properly. Foods that allow the patients to have anytime are vegetales, lean meats and white egg etc.However, certain foods still require suitable amount, moreover, low-sweet fruit such as guava, apple and dragon fruit are what we receommend you to have. Other fruits like bananas, rose apple, pineapple, orange. One banana requires for everyday while half of the pinaapplpe should be eaten in eac day, not for the whole part, at the same time for the orange patients can have at least 1-2 of them a day. However, what should be avoid is bakery, dessert, sugar in both, drinks and meals.
Exercise is also important as it contributes insulin function to work effectively. Aerobic excercise is recommended at least 150 minuites per week such as jogging or cycling including intensive workout like weight lifting for at least 45 minutes a day or 2 days a week. If pateints sit or lay down in bed for more than 90 minutes,their posture then should be changed to other activities.
The use of medication is determined bases on the type of diabetes, such as type, pateints will be treated with insulin alone while type 2, a doctor will consider refering to severity, the complications, the risk of hypoglycemia and financial support.
Diabetes Prevention
Currently result of the treatment consideration said Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, but for the Type 2 there is a way of protection. There are several studies showing that people who are at risk for diabetes and exercise regularly along with strict dietary control. Their body weight then decreased by 7-10% from original. The incidence of diabetes or possibility was significantly decreased by that practice.
Can diabetes be cured?
Historically, the ability to treat diabetic patinets is only by controlling behaviours to reduce the occurrence of complications, but today there are medical innnovative development for the patients to be cured, especially in those recently having the disease. Abdominal operation is what doctor use in obese pateints, a result found giving the patients cured, however, the treatment can only be applied to specific case.
Diabetes is a chronic disease and its incidence has been increasing every day. It is a disease that causes many complications but can be controlled. If the patient understands and knows how to cooperate with the treatment. They, therefore, can have good quality of life similar to others.
Dr.Sasipat Chontong
Endocrinologist and Metabolic Therapist
Diabetes Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
Tel: +662-2944-7111 ext. 2313
