Diabetes is a medical term referring to a set of metabolic disorders that lead to high levels of sugar in a person’s blood. More specifically, diabetic patients usually have a blood glucose level of no less than 90 mg/dL before eating. This level can increase to more than 180 mg/dL after they consume a meal. In contrast, 125 mg/dL or less is what is most often found in the blood of a person who does not have diabetes.

Relatively Known and Unknown Types of Diabetes

Many people know about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. For example, they are aware of the fact that the insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas often results in Type 1 diabetes. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is often defined by the inadequate use of insulin by the cells in your body. In short, Type 1 occurs because of insulin deficiency while Type 2 happens because of insulin resistance.

However, most people do not know that another type of diabetes exists. It occurs in pregnant women and the medical term used for it is Gestational diabetes. Usually, there is no history of diabetes in these women, yet they develop high levels of blood glucose during their pregnancy. Insulin resistance is the principal cause of Gestational diabetes.

Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

• Causes

Scientists believe that several factors lead to the development of this condition in a patient. These factors include inherited genes, environmental triggers, and lifestyle choices. For instance, researchers speculate that around 7% of all diabetic cases result from the pursuit of a sedentary lifestyle. A strong correlation seems to exist between the development of diabetes and poor eating habits.

Researchers associate excess body fat with 60% to 80% of these patients. Dieticians use these statistics to warn people about the dangers of consuming unhealthy foods. This consumption can lead to the development of obesity and in some cases, diabetes. Obesity is far from the only cause of diabetes. There may be many other factors that lead to diabetes, so it is important to see a clinician regularly.

• Symptoms

Symptoms that are present in all three forms of diabetes include hunger, fatigue, and frequent urination. Others are blurred vision, itchy skin, and dry mouth. The ones that mostly occur in Type 1 diabetes include weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Those that manifest themselves in Type 2 diabetes are yeast infections, slow healing cuts, and numbness in the feet.

Surprisingly, the occurrence and severity of these symptoms depend on the form of diabetes that you have. For example, Type 1 diabetes symptoms usually manifest themselves quickly. Additionally, they are usually more severe than the ones experienced by Type 2 diabetes patients. Interestingly, Gestational diabetes resolves itself after the mother gives birth to the baby in 90% of the cases where it occurs. However, diabetes treatment may be necessary during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetic patients may have symptoms that slowly manifest themselves, so type 2 diabetics may seek treatment further into the disease’s progression.

• Prevention

Unfortunately, preventative measures for Type 1 diabetes remain unknown. However, it constitutes less than 15% of all the diabetic cases worldwide. In fact, some estimates indicate that Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of diabetic cases globally. Fortunately, preventing Type 2 diabetes may be possible. You can engage in daily exercises in addition to the adoption of a balanced diet. Forgoing certain lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcoholism lowers your risk of developing this illness as well.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.