Health Advisory Tips for men above 50 years
Presented by: Dr. Paul Ojinkeya
TOPIC: DIABETES MELITUS
UNIQUE85 HEALTH WEEK
July 11-16, 2022
DEFINITION
Diabetes melitus is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism characterised by impaired ability of the body to produce or respond to insulin and thereby maintain proper levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
If you have diabetes, it’s either your pancreas doesn’t make any insulin or enough insulin or your pancreas makes insulin but your body cells don’t respond to it and can’t use it as it normally should. This leads to accumulation of glucose in the blood.
TYPES OF DIABETES :
A. TYPE 1 DIABETES
This is autoimmune disease, meaning that the body attacks itself. In this case the insulin producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed so that there is lack of production of insulin in the body. It’s usually diagnosed in children and young adults but can develop at any age. It was once better known as juvenile diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Melitus. People with type 1 DM need to take insulin every day.
B. TYPE 2 DIABETES
With this type the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or body cells don’t respond normally to the insulin. It occurs in the middle-aged and older people. It’s otherwise known as adult-onset diabetes or non insulin dependent.
C. PREDIABETES
This type is stage before type 2 diabetes. The blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
D. GESTATIONALDIABETES
This type develops in some women during their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. However a woman with gestational diabetes is at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.
RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES MELITUS
The factors that increase the risk differ depending on the type of diabetes one ultimately develops.
RISK FACTORS FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES INCLUDE:
× Having a family history (parent or sibling) of type 1 Diabetes
× Injury to the pancreas(such as by infection, tumour, surgery or accident )
× Presence of auto antibodies(antibodies that mistakenly destroy ones own body’s tissues or organs)
× Physical Exposure to illnesses caused by viruses.
RISK FACTORS FOR PREDIABETES AND TYPE 2 DIABETES
× Family history (parents or siblings) of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
× Being African, African – American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian -American race.
× Having high blood pressure
× Having low HDL Cholesterol(the good cholesterol) and high triglyceride level.
× Being physically inactive
× Being age 45 or above
× Having gestational diabetes or giving birth to big baby weighing more than 4 kg.
RISK FACTORS FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES
× Family history
× Being overweight before pregnancy
×Being over 25 years of age.
CAUSES OF DIABETES
The cause of diabetes regardless of the type, is having too much glucose circulating in the blood stream. However, the reason why blood glucose levels are higher differs depending on the type of diabetes.
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes:
This is an immune system disease. The body attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin to allow glucose enter the cells, glucose builds up in the blood stream. Genes may also play a role in some patients. Also a virus may trigger the immune system attack.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes:
The body cells don’t allow insulin to work as it should to let glucose into the cells. The body cells have become resistant to insulin. The pancreas can’t keep up and make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Glucose levels therefore rise in the blood stream.
Causes of Gestational Diabetes:
Hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy make the body’s cells more resistant to insulin. Also the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to overcome this resistance and so much glucose remains in the blood stream.
SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES
Symptoms of diabetes inlcude:
*Increased thirst
*Weak, tired feeling
*Blurred vision
*Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
*Slow-healing sores or cuts
*Unplanned weight loss
*Frequent urination
*Frequent unexplained infections
*Dry mouth
*Excessive hunger
In Women: Dry and itchy skin and frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections.
In Men: Decreased sexy drive, erectile dysfunctions and decreased muscle strength.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms:
Symptoms can develop quickly over a few weeks or months. Symptoms can begin when young, as a child, teen, or young adults. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.
Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes Symptoms:
You may not have any symptoms at all or may not notice them since they develop slowly over several years. Symptoms usually begin to develop when you are an adult, but prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is on the rise in all age groups.
DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES
Diabetes melitus is diagnosed and managed by checking glucose levels in a blood test and also by checking for glucose in the urine
Fasting blood glucose : The test is done in the morning after an eight hours fast through the night, not eating anything or drinking.
Normal value is between 70 and 130mg/dly
Random blood glucose: This test can be done anytime without need to fast. About 2 hours after the start of meal; Normal value is less than 180mg/dl. Values above the normal are diagnostic.
Urinalysis: Presence of glucose in the urine at anytime is also a pointer towards diagnosis of diabetes but it’s confirmed by the above blood tests.