Diabetes
About diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or blood cells do not respond normally to insulin resulting in high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, which over time leads to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood produced by pancreatic cells.
Diabetes globally
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In 2019 there were approximately 463 million adults (20-79 years old) with diabetes and by 2045 this number will rise to 700 million.
- Studies have shown that 79% of adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Studies have reported that 1 in 5 people over 65 years old have diabetes and 1 in 2 (232 million) people with diabetes are not diagnosed.
- Studies have reported that 374 million people are at increased risk of developing type II diabetes.
- Diabetes has killed 4.2 million people.
- More than 1.1 million children and adolescents live with type 1 diabetes and more than 20 million natural births (1 in 6 live births) are affected by diabetes during pregnancy.
Diabetes in Saudi Arabia:
Studies and research indicate an increasing number of people with diabetes in Saudi Arabia.
After reviewing the overall survey studies that were previously conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to determine the prevalence of diabetes among the population from 1982 to 2015, we found that there is an annual increase in the incidence of diabetes of more than 1% annually, and a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the University of Washington in the United States of America in 2014 showed that the prevalence rate is 13.4%
that is, the number of people with diabetes aged 15 years or over reaches 1,745,532 males and females, and this percentage increases with age.
Studies also indicate that the percentage of infected people reached approximately 51% in those over the age of 65 years.
The percentage of those who were currently taking diabetes medications and had controlled levels of sugar (7 and below) was 31.6%. 43.6% were diagnosed with diabetes and had no knowledge of the disease. The study also revealed that 15.2% of Saudis have pre-diabetes (Bcheraou et al., 2014).
The study of Dr. Khaled Al-Rubaian and colleagues (2014) showed that the incidence of the disease among those aged 30 years and over reached 25% (i.e. a quarter of the population in this group).
Prevention of type II Diabetes:
Prevention of diabetes
Prevention of diabetes mellitus for adults
To reduce the risk of diabetes, you must follow a healthy lifestyle through:
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Work to lose weight to the ideal weight and maintain it.
- Continuity in physical activity.
- Follow a healthy, balanced diet.
- Avoid the causes of cardiovascular disease.
- Avoid stress and anxiety.
Prevention of diabetes mellitus for children:
- Encourage them to eat healthy at home and school.
- Limit junk food intake.
- Encourage them to move constantly and not sit permanently.
Diabetes Risks
About the risks of diabetes
- Although the exact causes of type II diabetes are still unclear, there are several important risk factors to watch out for and avoid, including:
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Age 35 and higher with weight gain.
- Family history of diabetes.
- Women with a history of gestational diabetes.
- History of cardiovascular disease.
- Hypertension.
- High level of triglycerides.
- History of pancreatitis.
- Gout.
- Mental disorders.
- AIDS.
- Sleep apnea.
- Cystic.
- Use of drugs associated with diabetes, glucocorticoids, atypical antipsychotics, statins, effective antiretroviral therapy or anti-rejection drugs for the transplanted organ.
- Women with PCOS.
- Women with a history of having a large infant or frequent pregnancies
- Physical inactivity.
- Other conditions associated with insulin resistance such as acronchosis nigricans ... etc.
Pre-diabetes (prediabetes):
Pre-diabetes profile:
It is the pre-diabetes stage and the fasting sugar level is 100-125 mg / dL or cumulative sugar between (5.7-6.4%). Its main treatment is to follow a healthy lifestyle (sports, protect and lose weight) which may lead to avoiding diabetes.
Treatment and self-care
Leading a healthy lifestyle helps restore blood sugar levels to normal levels, or at least keep it from rising to significant levels in type II diabetes.
To prevent the development of prediabetes into type II diabetes:
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Eat healthy balanced foods.
- Increased physical activity.
- Get rid of extra pounds.
- Quit smoking.
- Taking prescribed medications.
Type I diabetes
About type I diabetes:
One type of diabetes is caused by damaging the pancreas' autoimmune system, leading to an inability to produce insulin and to complete dependence on insulin injections. It was previously known as juvenile diabetes because it usually occurs in children but can also occur in adults. Type I diabetes is less common than type II diabetes (accounting for about 5% of people with diabetes).
Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms of type I diabetes can appear:
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Increased thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Bedding gets wet in children whose habit was not to wet the bed at night.
- Extreme hunger.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Mood changes with fatigue and weakness.
- Blurred vision.
Complications:
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Heart disease and vascular sclerosis.
- Nerve damage (neuropathy).
- Kidney damage (nephropathy). Eye damage. (diabetic retinopathy).
- Nerve damage in the feet.
- Diseases of the skin and mouth.
Treatment and self-care:
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Take insulin regularly as directed by a specialist.
- Calculation of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
- Continuous monitoring of blood sugar level.
- Follow a proper healthy diet as directed by a dietitian.
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight according to the recommendations of the specialist doctor.
Type II diabetes
About type II diabetes:
One type of diabetes occurs because the body becomes resistant to the action of insulin or the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body. The early stages of this type of diabetes can be treated with changes in diet and exercise. Oral medications and/or insulin therapy are usually needed to treat type II diabetes. Type II diabetes was called "adult diabetes" because it tended to occur later in life. However, the obesity epidemic has led to increased insulin resistance and consequently higher levels of type II diabetes in younger age groups as well. Type II diabetes is the most common type of diabetes (accounting for about 90-95% of people with diabetes) and tends to spread in families.
Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of type II diabetes often develop slowly and in fact, type II diabetes can occur for years and be unknown.
The following signs and symptoms of type II diabetes can appear:
- Increased thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Increased feeling of hunger.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Exhaustion.
- Blurred vision.
- Sores are slow to heal.
- Frequent infections.
- Areas of the skin are discolored in a dark color, usually in the neck or underarms.
Complications:
- Heart disease and vascular sclerosis.
- Nerve damage (neuropathy).
- Kidney damage (nephropathy).
- Eye damage. (diabetic retinopathy).
- Nerve damage in the feet.
- Diseases of the skin and mouth.
Treatment and self-care:
- Take insulin regularly as directed by a specialist.
- Continuous monitoring of blood sugar level.
- Eat healthy foods as directed by a nutritionist.
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight according to the recommendations of the specialist doctor.
Gestational diabetes:
About gestational diabetes
A type of diabetes that appears during pregnancy and usually disappears after birth. Gestational diabetes is detected early in the second trimester of pregnancy and can be treated with diet therapy and oral medications or insulin, depending on the severity of the disease.
Its effect on the child:
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Increased birth weight of the baby.
- Premature birth (prematurely).
- Serious breathing difficulties.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in a child after birth.
- Obesity and type II diabetes later in life.
- Death of the child.
Treatment and self-care:
- Modify lifestyle to a healthy lifestyle as directed by a health educator.
- Continuous monitoring of blood sugar level.
- Take medications as directed by a specialist.
Living with diabetes
Control blood sugar levels:
Maintaining blood sugar levels as much as possible helps prevent or delay complications of diabetes such as nerve damage, eye disease, and kidney disease. Controlling blood sugar levels also helps improve energy and mood.
Types of blood sugar tests
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Fasting plasma glucose test.
- Random blood glucose test.
- Oral glucose tolerance test.
- Cumulative diabetes test.
Daily blood sugar level goal:
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Before eating: 80 to 130 mg / dL.
- Two hours after the start of the meal: less than 180 mg / dL.
Causes of low blood sugar? (Hypoglycasemia)
It has many causes, including:
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Missed diets.
- Improper use of insulin.
- Taking diabetes medications.
- Exercise more than usual.
Signs of low blood sugar vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
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Feeling of shivering.
- Feeling stressed or anxious.
- Sweating and chills.
- Irritability and confusion.
- Acceleration in heartbeat.
- Feeling dizzy or dizzy.
- Feeling hungry.
- Nausea.
- Pallor of the skin.
- Feeling drowsiness.
- Feeling of general weakness.
- Blurry vision.
- Feeling of tingling or numbness.
- Headaches.
- Poor concentration.
Self-care for low blood sugar:
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Glucose tablets.
- Half a glass of juice or sweetened beverage.
- tablespoon of sugar, honey or corn syrup.
- Chewing gum.
Causes of hyperglycemia:
It has many causes, including:
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Not taking enough insulin.
- Eat more than planned.
- Exercise less than planned.
- Having an illness such as a cold or flu.
- Life stressors, such as family problems or problems at work or school.
Signs of high blood sugar vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
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High blood sugar.
- High levels of sugar in the urine.
- Frequent urination.
- Blurry vision.
- Increased thirst.
Self-care for hyperglycemia:
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Increased physical activity.
- Take medications as directed by a specialist.
- Follow the appropriate diet plan for people with diabetes.
- Check your blood sugar as directed by a specialist.
Healthy lifestyle for diabetics
Lifestyle changes are always recommended for people who have recently been diagnosed with type II diabetes to help them manage diabetes and prevent complications.
Recommended healthy lifestyle interventions include:
- Exercise for 30 minutes a day.
- Reach a healthy BMI gradually.
- Replace foods that contain simple starches such as rice, white bread and sweets with foods that contain fiber, such as whole wheat grains, vegetables, and other foods rich in dietary fiber.
- Reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet.
- Stay away and control psychological pressures.
Foot Care and Diabetes
Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. To prevent the loss of a toe, foot or leg due to diabetes, the chances of developing diabetic-related foot problems can be reduced by taking care of your foot on a daily basis. Controlling blood sugar levels can also help keep feet healthy.
Factors that increase the risk of infection:
- Blood sugar levels that are difficult to manage.
- Having diabetes for a long time, especially if your blood sugar is often higher than normal levels.
- Weight gain.
- Age is higher than 40 years.
- Hypertension.
- High blood cholesterol.
Tips for healthy feet:
- Check your feet every day for any cuts, redness, swelling, ulcers or any other skin change.
- Wash feet every day with warm (not hot) water. Dry the feet with the application of the preparation prescribed by the doctor.
- Never walk barefoot.
- Always wear shoes and socks.
- Wear appropriate footwear and fitting shoes.
- Cut nails straight and smooth sharp edges with a nail file.
- Examination of the feet at each visit to the health care center.
- Elevate the feet when sitting.
What is the diabetes technique?
Everyone knows how important technology is, as it is inevitable in our daily lives, and diabetes technology is the term used to describe the hardware and software that diabetes patients use to help manage blood sugar levels, avoid diabetes complications, reduce the burden of living with diabetes, and improve the quality of life. There are many different types of diabetes technologies, such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.
The main goal of controlling sugar levels in diabetes is to avoid complications of diabetes such as eye, kidney and nerve problems, by monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels, and making sure that people who have diabetes do not suffer from a serious rise in blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and therefore you should talk to the treating doctor about the appropriate option for the patient.
Examples of the technique used in the treatment and management of diabetes include:
Blood glucose meters (self-monitoring)
Insulin pumps Continuous glucose meters
Automated insulin for insulin delivery
