What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-term condition recognised when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high (we call it hyperglycemia). High glucose levels suggest that the body cannot process glucose efficiently for energy.
Call us:
Living with diabetes
To use glucose for energy, your body needs insulin. Energy comes from food, specifically carbohydrates. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas and acts like a “key” to unlock the cells in your body to allow glucose in.
Cells need glucose for energy, but if your body cannot make any insulin, or cannot make enough insulin, or your body does not use insulin well enough, the glucose doesn’t get to the cells. As a result, your blood glucose levels rise.
Diabetes is a serious and chronic condition which can affect the entire body. While there is currently no cure, you can live an enjoyable life by learning about the condition and effectively managing it.
The way you manage diabetes depends on its type or classification. There are three main types of diabetes; all types are complex.
Symptoms of diabetes
In the short term, high levels of glucose in your blood make you feel tired, even exhausted. The kidneys work hard to pass some of the excess glucose through the urine, so you may go to the toilet to pass urine more often. You can also feel thirsty (sometimes very thirsty). If your body does not produce insulin at all (Type 1 diabetes), but you still don’t know about it, you might also notice sudden weight loss, as your body starts to take insulin from fats instead of glucose which cannot be used.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes via:
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
For many people living with Type 2 diabetes, symptoms are not that easy to identify, therefore sometimes diagnosis may come out as a surprise during a health check or even a different health visit. Even without the symptoms, it is extremely important to start treatment (Diet, lifestyle +/- medications).
If you feel you might be at risk of Type 2 diabetes, check the online:
Long-term complications
In the long term, chronically high blood glucose levels can damage small and large blood vessels and nerves which can cause damage to your heart, brain, kidneys, eyes and feet.
That’s why it is crucial to seek medical help in managing your diabetes as soon as possible.
