What are the types of diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which is caused by the long-term combined effects of genetic and environmental factors.
Its definition covers many aspects. From the symptom point of view, it manifests as polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, weight loss, etc. From the pathogenesis point of view, it is mainly caused by defects in insulin secretion and (or) utilization.
There are several main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes usually develops in adolescents and children, and patients are thin. The main cause of the disease is the destruction of pancreatic β cells, which leads to an absolute lack of insulin secretion. Patients often have positive antibodies such as pancreatic islet cell antibodies, insulin autoantibodies, and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, and are prone to ketoacidosis, with a more rapid onset.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, common in adults. Its pathogenesis is insulin resistance with relatively insufficient insulin secretion. The early symptoms of patients may not be obvious, often manifested as fatigue, drowsiness, etc. As the disease progresses, “three more and one less” symptoms will appear. Many patients with type 2 diabetes will have obvious obesity in the early or middle stages, especially abdominal obesity.
Gestational diabetes
It refers to abnormal glucose metabolism that occurs during pregnancy, but the blood sugar level does not reach the level of overt diabetes, accounting for 83.6% of gestational hyperglycemia.
Specific types of diabetes
This is a type of diabetes with a clear cause, such as genetic defects in pancreatic beta cell function, pancreatic exocrine diseases, endocrine diseases, drugs or chemicals, etc.
Understanding the definition and types of diabetes will help us have a preliminary understanding of this disease so that we can better prevent and deal with it.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Typical symptoms
The typical symptoms of diabetes are “three mores and one less”, namely, drinking more, eating more, urinating more and losing weight. Patients often feel thirsty, and their daily water intake increases significantly, and their urine output also increases accordingly. Sometimes the urine output in 24 hours can reach 5,000 to 10,000 milliliters. At the same time, they feel very hungry, their food intake increases, but their weight gradually decreases. This symptom is more obvious in some patients with type 1 diabetes.
Symptoms of complications
Cardiovascular complications: Patients may experience symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and precordial pain, which may lead to myocardial infarction in severe cases.
Cerebrovascular complications: Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, limb numbness, fatigue, slurred speech, and may even lead to stroke.
Diabetic eye disease: blurred vision, decreased vision, visual field loss, etc. may occur, and in severe cases it can lead to blindness.
Diabetic nephropathy: manifested by proteinuria, edema, hypertension, etc. If not effectively controlled, it may develop into renal failure.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: There will be symptoms such as limb numbness, pain, abnormal sensation, etc. In severe cases, it can also lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
Diabetic patients should pay attention to their symptoms and undergo regular physical examinations to promptly detect and treat complications, delay disease progression, and improve their quality of life.
How to prevent diabetes?
Diet
Diet plays a key role in preventing diabetes. First of all, the total calories of food intake per day should be strictly controlled. For light manual laborers, it is recommended to consume 25-30 kcal/kg·d of calories per day, 30-35 kcal/kg·d for medium manual laborers, and 35-40 kcal/kg·d for heavy manual laborers. In terms of nutritional elements, carbohydrates should account for 50%-60%, proteins 15%-20%, and fats 20%-30%. The energy intake of the three meals can be distributed according to 1:1:1, or it can be given according to 1:2:2.
In terms of food selection, we should correct bad eating habits, put an end to overeating, eat regularly, avoid having dinner too late and snacks before going to bed. Avoid high-sugar and high-fat foods, such as snacks, beverages, fried foods, etc. It is recommended to focus on whole grains as the staple food, increase the intake of coarse grains, and eat less refined rice and white flour, because its glycemic index is high. Eat more vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, which are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, but pay attention to cooking methods with less oil and salt. Eat a moderate amount of protein at each meal, such as milk, eggs, lean meat and soy products. In addition, avoid a high-salt diet, and the daily salt intake should not exceed 6 grams.
Sports
Exercise is one of the effective means to prevent diabetes. You should choose the appropriate exercise according to your physical condition and follow the 12-word principle of gradual progress, doing what you can and knowing when to stop. It is recommended to choose aerobic exercise, such as swimming, brisk walking, jogging, yoga, Tai Chi, etc., and exercise at least 150 minutes a week. If conditions permit, ensure one hour of exercise every day. Even if you can’t do it every day, ensure more than one hour of exercise at least 2-3 days a week. Strength training, such as weightlifting, push-ups, sit-ups, etc., at least twice a week, helps to strengthen muscles and improve metabolism. Stretching exercises, such as yoga and Pilates, can improve body flexibility.
Regular physical examination
Regular physical examinations are an important part of preventing diabetes. It is recommended to have a physical examination at least once a year, especially for people over 40 years old. For people with a high risk of diabetes, such as obesity and those with a family history of diabetes, diabetes screening should be actively carried out, including blood sugar tests and glucose tolerance tests. Through regular physical examinations, abnormalities in various body indicators can be discovered in time, so that corresponding measures can be taken to achieve early detection and early treatment.
