Diabetes: A Stealthy Epidemic

Concentration problems, excessive thirst, and frequent urination may signal: Warning! Blood sugar is too high. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that leads to chronically elevated blood sugar levels. This happens when insulin production is either partially reduced (as in type 2 diabetes) or completely depleted (as in type 1 diabetes). The number of undiagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes is high because the metabolic disturbance develops slowly and remains unnoticed for a long time. Early symptoms of chronic high blood sugar can easily be overlooked. In the worst case, diabetes is only diagnosed once complications have already developed. Various blood sugar tests provide clarity. Treating diabetes is absolutely necessary, as untreated it can lead to severe vascular diseases.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by an absolute deficiency of the hormone insulin because the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. This form of diabetes usually begins in childhood or adolescence, which is why it is also known as “juvenile diabetes.”

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It occurs due to impaired insulin action on body cells, preventing enough sugar from being transported from the blood into the tissue. Type 2 diabetes is often referred to as “adult-onset diabetes,” as it typically starts in adulthood. However, due to rising rates of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in teenagers and young adults.

Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include:

• A family history of diabetes

• Being overweight

• Lack of physical activity and reduced muscle mass (even in individuals of normal weight)

• High blood pressure

• Elevated blood fats

• History of gestational diabetes during pregnancy

New: DiaB