On this page, you will find everything you need to know about diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to fluctuations in blood sugar (glucose) levels.
There are several types:
Prediabetes Stage:
This is a condition that occurs before one develops type 2 diabetes, where blood sugar (glucose) levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
Type 1:
This involves a deficiency in insulin secretion within the body, or a complete lack of insulin secretion due to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas, necessitating external insulin.
Type 2:
The body produces insulin in insufficient amounts or there is insulin resistance.
Gestational Diabetes:
During pregnancy, the placenta secretes hormones that make cells more resistant to insulin. Gestational diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, leading to less glucose entering the cells while much remains in the blood, resulting in gestational diabetes, which usually disappears after delivery.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Extreme thirst
Fatigue
Frequent urination
Sudden weight loss
Blurred vision
Difficulty in wound healing
What are the causes of diabetes?
Family history
Obesity
Aging
Gestational diabetes
What are the diagnostic methods?
The doctor takes a medical history and performs a clinical examination and may order additional procedures as needed, such as:
Random blood sugar test
The test can be done at any time when the person feels fatigued and does not require fasting. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.
Laboratory tests:
Fasting blood sugar test
This test measures the blood sugar (glucose) level after at least 8 hours of fasting, usually in the morning.
Glucose tolerance test
This test measures the blood sugar (glucose) level before and two hours after drinking a glucose solution.
Hemoglobin A1C test
It provides an average blood sugar (glucose) level over the past 2–3 months and does not require fasting.
What are the treatment methods for diabetes?
Treatment is carried out through several procedures or as needed and may include the following:
Type 1 Diabetes:
Type 1 requires external insulin due to the pancreas's inability to produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes:
Treatment methods for type 2 diabetes vary depending on the case.
Some may need medications to lower blood sugar (glucose) levels, or sugar regulation medications such as Metformin, while others may manage blood sugar (glucose) levels through lifestyle changes.
General treatment methods include:
Adhering to a special diet for diabetes patients.
Regular exercise.
What are the prevention methods for diabetes?
Maintaining normal blood sugar (glucose) levels.
Adhering to a healthy diet.
Exercising.
Quitting smoking. For more details, here's a smoking cessation guide.
Regular doctor visits for follow-up.
Annual routine check-ups.
Maintaining dental hygiene.
What are the complications of diabetes?
Acute diabetes complications:
Low blood sugar
High blood sugar
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Chronic diabetes complications:
Diabetic retinopathy
Heart diseases and atherosclerosis
Oral health issues
Kidney problems
Neuropathy
Diabetic foot
When should you visit the doctor?
Visit the doctor if you notice any of the main symptoms of diabetes, which include:
Extreme thirst
Fatigue
Frequent urination
Sudden weight loss
Blurred vision
Difficulty in wound healing
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the normal blood sugar levels?
The table below shows the basic readings:
| Blood Sugar Level | Normal | Prediabetes | Diabetes | | — | — | — | — | | Fasting Blood Sugar (before meal) | Less than 100 mg/dL | 100-125 mg/dL | Above 126 mg/dL | | Two hours after meals | Less than 140 mg/dL | 140-199 mg/dL | 200 mg/dL or more | | A1C | Below 5.7 | 5.7 – 6.4 | 6.5 or higher |
What is the honeymoon period?
It is a period following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes when the pancreas secretes insulin for a certain period, which may last days, weeks, or even months.
Upon starting insulin injections, reliance on the pancreas decreases, as it secretes insulin from the remaining live cells. After this period, dependency shifts to insulin injections.
What are the important routine tests a diabetic should undergo?
Cholesterol and triglycerides test every 12 months.
Kidney function test every 12 months.
Dental check-up every 6 months.
Eye check-up every 12 months.
Foot examination by a healthcare provider every 6 months.
What are the types of insulin, and how should it be stored, injected, and its injection sites?
Types of insulin:
Rapid-acting insulin (before meals): Starts working within 12-30 minutes, peaks within half an hour to an hour, and lasts 3 to 5 hours.
Long-acting insulin: Taken once or twice daily, lasting up to 24 hours.
Mixed (cloudy) insulin
Storing insulin:
Check the expiration date on the box.
Ensure clear insulin is clear like water, and cloudy insulin should appear evenly mixed, without clumps.
Store it out of sunlight and heat, in the fridge between 4-8 degrees Celsius.
Discard the entire vial if the insulin freezes.
Record the start of use when opening the bottle.
Once opened, insulin can remain at room temperature (below 25°C) for up to 28 days.
When traveling, it can be stored in a cooler without placing insulin vials directly in water or the insulin-specific bag.
Injection sites:
Back of the arms
Abdomen (around the navel)
Front and back of the thighs and buttocks
Injection method:
Keep a two-finger distance from the last injection site.
Maintain a four-finger distance from the navel and any scars.
Do not inject in swollen, stiff, or painful areas.
I do not have any symptoms of diabetes; therefore, I do not need to test my sugar levels?
Mostly, those with type 2 diabetes show no symptoms until years later, when complications arise.
There's no one with diabetes in my family, so I don't need to worry?
Many people with diabetes do not have family members with it. Lifestyle and genetics can increase the risk of the disease.
