What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness where the glucose (sugar) levels in blood are too high. This condition can cause damage to the body if not treated correctly. There are several types of diabetes and ways to manage them.
- Blood Glucose Watch
- Non-Invasive Glucose Monitor
- Watch For Diabetes
Overview of diabetes
Glucose is essential for humans to function; we get it from the food we eat, especially from carbohydrates. A hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas, allows glucose to enter cells and that gives humans the energy they need to live. When this system works correctly, the body releases insulin when glucose enters the bloodstream, allowing it to enter cells.
For people with diabetes, this system doesn’t work, and although the types of diabetes have different causes, they all end up with too much glucose in the blood which causes a range of complications and health problems.
We explain more about the most common types of diabetes below, as well as treatment, and management of the condition.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes can feel very extreme or hardly be noticeable at all, depending on the person. Some people’s symptoms can be subtle and go unnoticed for years, whereas for others they are out of the norm and quickly picked up on. The most common symptoms are:
- Urinating more frequently
- Feeling thirsty a lot
- Being hungry even after eating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Experiencing extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Taking longer than usual for sores and infections to heal, or catching more infections (e.g. cold, flu, UTI’s) than usual
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet
It’s important to be aware of your risk factors as well as the symptoms. Seek medical advice from your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. They can help you with a diagnosis or to rule out anything else.
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What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body can’t make the insulin hormone. Insulin is needed to help move glucose from the blood into the cells to be used for energy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, and, although it can develop at any age, it is more common in children. It is understood that if a family member has type 1 diabetes, it is likely that another family member will also develop it. It can also be triggered by exposure to a virus, like COVID-19.
People with type 1 diabetes can get seriously ill if they do not control their glucose levels. Before insulin was discovered and isolated as a medicine, people with diabetes would die soon after they developed it. Unlike type 2 diabetes, which can go into remission (see below), type 1 diabetes is not reversible. Insulin is needed to manage the condition permanently.
Glucose management is still essential for type 1 diabetes patients, both to improve their quality of life, and to prevent common diabetes complications. Glucose management can also prevent people with type 1 diabetes from developing double diabetes: a condition where someone with type 1 diabetes develops insulin resistance, also becoming a type 2 diabetes patient, and needing treatment for both types.
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What is type 2 diabetes?
The most common type of diabetes is type 2 which develops when a person has high blood sugar and not enough insulin to convert it into energy. This could be because the insulin has stopped working, known as insulin resistance, or the pancreas is not making enough. This means the glucose levels in your blood will keep rising, which can eventually lead to type 1 diabetes and the associated symptoms.
The main causes of type 2 diabetes are environmental, which means living an unhealthy lifestyle, such as poor diet and little to no exercise. Other risk factors include:
- Obesity
- Too much fat stored in or around your liver and pancreas
- High blood pressure
- Genetic predisposition (e.g., certain ethnicities and age groups; a family history of diabetes)
Although you can’t change your family history or your age, you can control your weight and waist size. If you have a lot of risk factors but do not have type 2 diabetes, you may get diagnosed with prediabetes.
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What is prediabetes?
Non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, or prediabetes occurs when a person has higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be considered for a diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes doesn’t usually present with any symptoms but can be noticed during a blood test. If you are experiencing any diabetes symptoms, speak with your GP immediately. The diabetes charity Diabetes.org.uk says there are 13.6 million people in the UK who have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, it’s important to know that the condition doesn’t always lead to a diabetes diagnosis. With lifestyle changes, such as a change in eating, smoking and exercise habits, blood sugar levels can be reduced back to normal levels. By making lasting health and lifestyle changes, almost 50% of prediabetes cases can be prevented.
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What are the less common types of diabetes?
There are 13 types of diabetes. Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes developed during pregnancy) are by far the most common types of diabetes, but about 2% of people with diabetes have rarer types. It’s thought that the actual number of people with rare diabetes types is higher than known, because they are often misdiagnosed as the more common types of diabetes. Here are six less common types of diabetes.
Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) is a type of diabetes caused by a genetic mutation. The gene mutation is passed from parents to children and someone with MODY is usually diagnosed before they are 25. Different gene changes can mean different causes of MODY, it isn’t always the same gene in each person.
Neonatal diabetes is usually diagnosed in babies less than six months old. A very rare type of diabetes, it is caused by changes to a gene that affects insulin.
Wolfram syndrome is a different genetic disorder that can result in diabetes and several other defining features. These include deafness, renal problems, vision loss, chronic fatigue, and neurological problems.
Alström syndrome is a genetic disorder passed from parent to child and can be recognised by a resistance to insulin when young, that goes on to become type 2 diabetes. Vision problems, hearing loss, and cardiomyopathy are common features of Alström syndrome.
Steroid-induced diabetes occurs when medical steroids increase blood glucose levels which causes adverse effects on glucose absorption and/or insulin production, leading to diabetes. Some statins, antipsychotics, and beta-blockers can also raise blood glucose levels during treatment.
Cystic fibrosis diabetes is unique to people with cystic fibrosis. Although it seems similar to type 1 diabetes, it occurs because of scarring to the pancreas that sometimes leads to a reduced ability to produce insulin. Cystic fibrosis can also lead to insulin resistance and is sometimes related to taking steroids as a treatment.
Different genes, syndromes, medical treatments, and illnesses can lead to diabetes, and no one person has exactly the same experience of living with diabetes as another, even if they have the same type of diabetes.
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What are the treatments for diabetes?
There are different methods for treating and managing diabetes. There are standard treatments, but they also depend on the individual’s circumstances, such as the type of diabetes they have and other medications they might be on. The different types of diabetes all require the monitoring of glucose levels and making sure there is enough insulin in the blood to healthily control those levels. This is usually done through a combination of glucose monitoring, medicine, emotional support, carefully planning out food and drinks, and getting regular exercise.
The main medicinal treatment is insulin. All people with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin, and some people with type 2 diabetes do too. Insulin can be injected with an insulin injection pen or continuously pumped into the body through an insulin pump. It’s possible to have medication that can stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin, and an option for some people is an islet cell transplant.
For type 2 diabetics, weight management, a healthy diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle changes are a legitimate treatment as they can all help reduce the level of glucose in the blood. Continuous glucose monitoring plays a huge part in tracking what affects your blood glucose levels, which includes not only the foods you eat, but also activity levels, the weather, and stress levels.
Glucose monitoring
Regularly monitoring blood glucose levels to manage the condition effectively can be done through self-monitoring using a glucose meter, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, or other devices. Regular monitoring helps individuals make informed short- and long-term decisions about insulin dosages, food choices, and lifestyle.
Medicine
Insulin is the most common medication for diabetes and there are various types of insulin, such as rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting. Some people with diabetes may also take oral medications or use other injectable medications to help control blood sugar levels. A common medicine is called Metformin but it is not the only medication option.
Emotional support
Living with diabetes can be challenging, and emotional support is crucial. Support groups, counselling, and educational resources can help individuals cope with the emotional aspects of managing such an all-encompassing condition. Friends and family who understand the condition, also play a huge role in emotionally supporting their loved ones.
Food and drinks
A person’s diet plays a significant role in managing diabetes. Individuals often work with healthcare professionals or dietitians to create a balanced meal plan that considers the impact of different food and drinks on their blood sugar levels. This can mean people with diabetes have to be extra careful when eating out or drinking alcohol.
Exercise
Regular physical activity is important for managing diabetes. Exercise can help control blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and contribute to overall health and mental wellbeing. A healthcare team usually works with a person who has diabetes before they start a new exercise regime just to make sure they are aware of the risks and how to take care of their blood glucose levels.
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What complications are associated with diabetes?
There are many complications that can occur directly or indirectly because of diabetes. Some common ones include:
- Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues
- Nerve damage often in the hands and feet which can lead to infections and ulcers
- Damage to the blood vessels in the eyes which can lead to vision problems and blindness
- Kidney disease or failure
- Increased risk of skin conditions, such as bacterial and fungal infections
- Digestive problems
It’s important for people with diabetes to work closely with a healthcare team and manage their condition to reduce the risk of complications. Regular medical check-ups, monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments are key components of diabetes management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, disposable diabetes medical waste such as needles, lancets, and glucose monitors with a short shelf life all contribute to the overall immense environmental impact of disposable medical waste. Glucowear™ aims to improve the environmental impact of CGM’s.
Yes, some forms of diabetes can be related to genetics, for example, you can be at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, if you have a family member who has it. Other types of diabetes are directly related to changes in genes but aren’t always passed on from generation to generation.
Type 2 diabetes can go into remission when a person’s HbA1c is below 42 mmol/mol (6%) without medication. This is usually due to successful lifestyle changes and weight loss.
Gestational diabetes can go away when the pregnancy ends, however it can stay, or return as type 2 diabetes later in life. If you have had gestational diabetes, your risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is higher.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease; however not all types of diabetes are. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin, which is needed to regulate blood sugar levels.
There is currently no cure for diabetes. Although type 2 diabetes can go into remission, it can also come back. Much research is being dedicated across the world to find a cure for diabetes.
