Diabetes – Symptoms and Causes
Diabetes is a health condition that affects how the body manages glucose (blood sugar). Glucose provides essential energy for muscles, tissues, and the brain.
Diabetes makes it hard for the body to regulate blood sugar, leading to serious health problems over time.
There are several types of diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes: A chronic condition where the body doesn’t make insulin.
- Type 2 Diabetes: A chronic condition where the body doesn’t use insulin properly.
- Prediabetes: Blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
- Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and often resolves after childbirth.
Each type has different causes, but they all share the problem of too much sugar in the bloodstream. Without proper management, high blood sugar can damage many body systems.
Prediabetes is a warning sign that type 2 diabetes may develop unless lifestyle changes are made. Many people can prevent or delay diabetes by taking action when they have prediabetes.
Signs and Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms vary based on blood sugar levels. People with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes might not notice symptoms. Type 1 diabetes often causes symptoms to appear quickly and severely.
Common symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:
- Increased Thirst
- Frequent Urination
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Ketones in Urine (resulting from muscle and fat breakdown when insulin is lacking)
- Fatigue and Weakness
- Irritability or Mood Changes
- Blurry Vision
- Slow-Healing Wounds
- Frequent Infections (gum, skin, vaginal)
Type 1 diabetes can begin at any age, but often starts in childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes typically develops in adults over 40, though cases in children are rising.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you notice possible diabetes symptoms in yourself or your child, reach out to a healthcare provider right away. Early diagnosis allows for prompt treatment, which can prevent complications.
For those already diagnosed with diabetes, regular medical follow-up is essential until blood sugar levels become stable. Your doctor will help create a management plan tailored to your needs.
Watch for warning signs like extreme thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight loss, or constant fatigue. These symptoms shouldn’t be ignored, as untreated diabetes can lead to serious health problems.
What Causes Diabetes
How Insulin Functions
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, an organ located near the stomach. When you eat food containing sugars or carbohydrates, your blood sugar rises. The pancreas then releases insulin into your bloodstream.
This insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your cells, where it can be used for energy. As insulin works to lower your blood sugar levels, the pancreas adjusts how much insulin it makes.
When blood sugar drops to normal levels, insulin production decreases. This creates a balanced system that keeps blood sugar at healthy levels.
When this system doesn’t work properly, diabetes can develop. The body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it effectively.
How Glucose Works in Your Body
Glucose is a type of sugar that provides energy for your body’s cells. It comes from two main sources:
- Food, especially carbohydrates like bread, rice, and pasta
- Your liver, which stores and produces glucose
When you eat, glucose enters your bloodstream. Insulin helps this glucose move into your cells where it is used for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose stays in your blood instead of entering your cells.
The liver plays an important role in managing glucose levels. When you haven’t eaten for several hours, your liver breaks down stored glucose (glycogen) to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
In diabetes, sugar accumulates in the blood because the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. Genetic and environmental factors likely contribute to diabetes development, but researchers still don’t fully understand them.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chances of developing diabetes, depending on the type.
For Type 1 Diabetes:
- Family history
- Environmental factors
- Geographic location
- Presence of autoantibodies (immune system cells that can indicate increased risk, though not everyone with these cells develops diabetes)
For Type 2 Diabetes:
- Family history
- Race/ethnicity (higher risk among Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American populations)
- Weight status (being overweight or obese increases risk)
- Having prediabetes
For Gestational Diabetes:
- Weight status (being overweight or obese)
- Family history
Body weight plays a significant role in both type 2 and gestational diabetes risk. People carrying excess weight have higher chances of developing these conditions compared to those maintaining a healthy weight.
Genetic factors influence all types of diabetes, which explains why having family members with diabetes increases your own risk.
Health Issues Linked to Diabetes
Problems with Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy and can cause health issues for both mother and baby. Most women with this condition have healthy babies, but untreated high blood sugar can lead to serious problems.
For babies, several complications may occur:
- Larger than Normal Growth: Extra sugar crosses the placenta and makes the baby produce more insulin. This can make the baby grow too big, which might require a C-section delivery.
- Blood Sugar Drops After Birth: Babies may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) right after birth because their bodies are making too little insulin.
- Future Health Risks: These babies face higher chances of becoming overweight and developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Serious Health Risks: In severe cases without treatment, the baby’s life may be at risk before or soon after birth.
For mothers, gestational diabetes can cause:
| Complication | Description |
|---|---|
| Preeclampsia | A serious condition with high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling |
| Recurring gestational diabetes | Higher chance of having it again in future pregnancies |
Regular checkups and careful blood sugar control help reduce these risks. Healthcare providers typically monitor both mother and baby closely throughout pregnancy when gestational diabetes is present.
Ways to Lower Risk
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. However, there are steps to help prevent prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes through healthy lifestyle choices.
Healthy Eating
Choose foods that are lower in fat and calories but higher in fiber. Build meals around:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Foods with less added sugar
Try different healthy foods to keep meals interesting and sustainable long-term.
Regular Physical Activity
Physical activity helps manage weight and improves how your body uses insulin. Aim for:
- 30 minutes of moderate activity most days
- At least 150 minutes total per week
- Activities like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling
If you can’t exercise for 30 minutes at once, break it into smaller 10-minute sessions throughout the day.
Weight Management
If you’re overweight, even modest weight loss can make a difference. Losing just 7% of your body weight can significantly lower diabetes risk. For example, someone weighing 200 pounds would aim to lose about 14 pounds.
Important: Don’t try to lose weight during pregnancy. Talk with your healthcare provider about healthy pregnancy weight gain.
Medication Options
Healthcare providers may prescribe metformin to prevent type 2 diabetes in patients with prediabetes. These medications work best when combined with lifestyle changes.
Regular Monitoring
If you have prediabetes, get your blood sugar checked at least once a year. This will help catch any progression to type 2 diabetes early.
