Diabetes is on the rise in modern society due to poor diet and lifestyle changes, and it’s difficult to detect early because there are few early symptoms. To prevent and manage diabetes, regular blood glucose testing is important, and eating right and exercising are essential to avoid complications.
As our lifestyle and dietary habits have changed in the modern era, diseases that were not common in the past have become a major threat to modern people. One of the most common is diabetes. Diabetes is growing rapidly around the world, and according to a recent article, more than 100 million people in the United States, about one-third of the population, have diabetes or are in the pre-diabetic stage. The problem is also serious in Korea, where the death rate from diabetes ranks seventh out of 30 OECD countries. However, diabetes is often referred to as the “silent killer,” meaning it doesn’t cause any symptoms. Most people don’t even realize they have diabetes until it leads to more severe conditions, which can be debilitating or even fatal. Let’s take a closer look at this disease.
To understand diabetes, we must first understand the role of insulin in regulating blood sugar. The food we eat is digested and broken down into glucose, which is the basic source of energy for our activities. While blood glucose levels can vary between meals and after meals, in a normal person, blood glucose levels in the body remain relatively constant. This is because the pancreas releases various hormones in response to changes in blood sugar. One of these hormones, insulin, is responsible for lowering blood sugar and is secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. The islets of Langerhans are endocrine tissues located in the ear that look like an island of cells. When blood sugar levels rise after a meal, insulin secreted by the islets prevents the liver from making new glucose and increases the use of glucose in muscle and fatty tissue to regulate blood sugar within a normal range.
Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar is uncontrollable because not enough insulin is produced or insulin itself does not function properly. In diabetes, glucose is excreted through the patient’s urine, hence the name ‘diabetes’. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as “juvenile diabetes”, is caused by a congenital problem with the beta cells that results in an absolute lack of insulin. It usually develops in young children and adolescents because of a congenital problem. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% of all diabetes, is caused by a relative lack of insulin due to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that the same amount of insulin is less effective in some people than in others. Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by environmental factors, such as a poor diet and lack of exercise, but it can also be caused by genetics or after effects of surgery. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, usually in the first trimester of pregnancy.
In the early stages of diabetes, it“s a silent disease with no symptoms, but as it progresses, you”ll notice the following symptoms
1. increased thirst and increased water intake.
2. increased urination and frequent trips to the bathroom.
3. You don’t feel strong no matter how much you eat.
4. unexplained weight loss.
It“s easy to ignore these symptoms because they don”t bother us in our daily lives. However, if you have a family history of diabetes, obesity, or other risk factors for diabetes, it”s recommended that you check your blood sugar levels regularly.
In fact, diabetes itself is rarely a problem. In most cases, it”s the complications of diabetes that cause the patient to suffer. Macrovascular complications of diabetes are one of the main causes of death from diabetes. This includes conditions such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, which are two to five times more common in people with diabetes than in those without. Atherosclerosis is a vascular disease characterized by cholesterol deposits and endothelial cell proliferation in the innermost lining of the blood vessels, called atheroma, which narrows the diameter of the blood vessels, much like rust and debris in an old water pipe. Myocardial infarction is a condition in which a blood vessel in the heart is suddenly blocked by a blood clot, spasm, or other cause, resulting in damage to the heart muscle.
Another complication is chronic kidney failure. This is a condition in which the kidneys have been damaged for more than three months or in which there is a persistent decrease in kidney function. Although it’s the last of the microvascular complications to appear, it’s a serious condition that requires dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes that involves macular edema or retinal detachment, which can lead to vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness.
Diabetes is a difficult disease to cure. It’s a lifelong condition that requires constant care to manage and prevent dangerous complications. For diabetics, dietary control is an essential part of any treatment. There are many different diets for diabetics on the internet, but it”s hard to say which one is best because everyone has different blood sugar levels and different lifestyle habits. The best dietary regimen will be one that is customized for each patient. As for exercise, it can be dangerous for some patients, so you should always consult your doctor before you start exercising. In addition, diabetics are prescribed insulin medication, so they must be careful about hypoglycemia before and after exercise.
In modern times, westernized diets have led to the prevalence of high-calorie, high-protein, and high-fat diets. This doesn”t suit Koreans, who have a different anatomy than Westerners, and as a result, the number of diabetics is growing rapidly. Although diabetes itself has no symptoms, it can lead to serious complications and, in some cases, death. Therefore, it’s always important to be vigilant and prevent it, and if you’re at risk, it’s a good idea to get tested regularly. However, there”s no need to be afraid if you have diabetes. If you”re willing to manage it, you can live without major complications. In the modern era, diabetes is becoming a chronic disease, and in the future, it may be something that can be treated like a common cold. As this future approaches, we need to be better informed and prepared for it.
