Diabetes cases have risen dramatically in recent decades. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people living with diabetes has more than quadrupled since 1990, rising from 200 million that year to 830 million by 2022.
The prevalence of diabetes underscores how significant a threat it poses across the globe. And recognition of that prevalence may prompt questions about the disease, including what can be done to prevent it.
WHAT IS DIABETES?
The WHO notes diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot effectively utilize the insulin that is produced. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that’s problematic because insulin acts like a key to let blood sugar into the body’s cells for use as energy.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIABETES?
Yes. The CDC notes type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and young adults, though it’s important people recognize it can be diagnosed at any age. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that stops the body from making insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to survive.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an inability to utilize insulin well and maintain normal blood sugar levels. Though the CDC notes more and more young people are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the disease is more often diagnosed in adults and tends to develop over many years.
Gestational diabetes is another form of the disease that can develop in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. Gestational diabetes typically goes away after giving birth, but the CDC notes a baby could be at elevated risk for health problems like childhood obesity or type 2 diabetes if a mother develops gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
ARE THERE RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES?
Risk factors vary for each type of diabetes. The risk factors for type 1 diabetes include family history, notably a first degree relative (i.e., parent or sibling) who has the disease, and age since most cases are diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. Age also is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, as the CDC notes most diagnoses of the disease are made in people age 45 and older. Risk for type 2 diabetes also is greater if a person has a first-degree relative with the condition, but that might be because families tend to live similar lifestyles relating to diet and exercise. A poor diet can increase type 2 diabetes risk, as overweight or obesity are risk factors for the disease. A sedentary lifestyle in which people are physically active less than three times per week also is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?
The WHO reports symptoms of diabetes may occur suddenly but also notes that they can take years to be noticed in people with type 2 diabetes. But some of the more notable symptoms include:
• Feeling very thirsty
• Need for frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss The Kovler Diabetes Center at UChicagoMedicine notes that tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, a condition known as neuropathy, also may indicate the presence of diabetes. This occurs over time because high glucose levels can damage the nervous system. Delayed healing of bruises or cuts or frequent infections also can be signs of diabetes.
Diabetes cases are on the rise across the globe, which only underscores the need for everyone to learn more about the disease and what can be done to prevent it.
