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Out of those 537 million people, 45% of people living with diabetes are undiagnosed.1 So, what is diabetes?
In short, diabetes is a chronic disease occurring when the pancreas fails to make insulin or the body cannot use the insulin it produced. As a result, glucose levels in the bloodstream become too high and the body becomes susceptible to developing serious health problems.1
The two main types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. Other types of diabetes include gestational diabetes, type 3c diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) 2. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90% of all diabetes cases globally, followed by type 1.1 However, only 6-10% of people with diabetes have LADA, and only 9% of all people with diabetes have type 3c. 3
Regardless, all types of diabetes have one thing in common: an overdose of glucose in the blood. If you don’t have diabetes, your body (pancreas) senses that glucose has entered the bloodstream, releases the right amount of insulin, and allows the glucose into the cells. If you have diabetes, this system of regulating and releasing glucose through the presence of insulin doesn’t work. 1
Diabetes is considered a critical illness because, over time, high glucose levels in the blood can cause severe damage to your heart, eyes, kidneys and other organs. With the correct management, care and treatment, many people living with diabetes manage to live a happy and healthy life. 4
If not managed early, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to the below symptoms:
Type 1 symptoms
Type 2 symptoms
While some of the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar, they’re often experienced in different ways. Note that while type 1 symptoms are quick to develop over the course of weeks, type 2 symptoms can take years to materialise. It’s also not uncommon for some people to experience zero symptoms and only be diagnosed with diabetes when a complication arises later in life. 4
Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can feel like a setback. But identifying the problem brings you closer to the solution. Here are some tips to get started to look at complications like excess weight, kidney and heart issues.
Learn how you can reduce the risk.
While there’s no current way to prevent type 1 diabetes (scientists are still unsure of the cause), type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through achievable lifestyle changes. 2 The most common preventative measures are:
You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing weight and keeping it off. Weight gathered around your middle results in a build-up of fat around vital organs such as your pancreas, which can severely impact insulin production (insulin resistance is widespread among people with obesity).
A physically active lifestyle will help you achieve the first goal of losing weight. Simply moving your body throughout the day will help improve your mood, reduce stress levels, reduce blood pressure and reduce your waist size. Moderate activity, where your breathing is increased, is suitable but vigorous activities (high-intensity workouts, cycling and running) are even better for kicking diabetes to the curb.
A healthy, balanced diet can help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by aiding weight loss, protecting your heart by improving your omega-3 intake and reducing sugar intake.
Other factors contributing to your overall risk of developing diabetes include ethnicity, genetics, family history and existing health conditions.
