World Diabetes Day: 10 common doubts about the disease

Approximately 12.3 million people live with the diabetes in Brazil, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health. In the last 30 years, the number of cases has more than tripled in the Americas, reaching about 62 million, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The adoption of healthy eating habits and the regular practice of physical activities are the main measures that prevent and control the disease.

Also according to Opas, about 40% of people do not know they have the disease. This Monday (14), World Diabetes Day promotes awareness of timely diagnosis, with the aim of reducing the risk of complications.

1. What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome, caused by different factors, which causes the body to develop defects in the action or production of insulin.

The disease is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which is an increase in blood sugar levels and develops through genetic, biological and environmental factors. It can be classified as type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

2. What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

At the type 1 diabetes , the body loses its ability to metabolize glucose (sugar). O diagnosis It is precocious and usually affects children and adolescents. In addition, the hereditary factor, which is when there is a family history, can also contribute.

already the type 2 diabetes It is defined by insulin resistance, presents itself gradually and is more common in adults with inappropriate habits that result in excess weight, presence of fat in the blood (dyslipidemia) and hypertension. This type of diabetes is not common in children.

3. What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

You symptoms most common in this type of diabetes are:

• increased hunger
• constant thirst;
• need to urinate several times;
• weakness;
• fatigue;
• unexplained weight loss;
• nausea;
• vomit.

4. What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

In type 2 diabetes, the manifestations can include: frequent hunger, constant thirst, and the urge to urinate several times.

In more advanced cases, with complications, there may be tingling in the feet and hands, frequent infections in the bladder, kidneys, skin infections, wounds that take time to heal and blurred vision.

5. What are the risk factors for diabetes?

In addition to genetic factors and the absence of healthy habits, there are other risk factors that can contribute to the development of diabetes.

The main ones include:

• High pressure;
• high cholesterol or changes in the level of triglycerides in the blood;
• overweight, especially if fat is concentrated around the waist;
• parents, siblings or first-degree relatives with diabetes;
• chronic kidney diseases;
• history of cardiovascular diseases;
• smoking;
• woman who gave birth to a child weighing more than 4 kg;
• Gestational diabetes;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• diagnosis of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder;
• sleep apnea;
• use of drugs of the glucocorticoid class.

6. What is the difference between pre-diabetes and diabetes?

O prediabetes is the stage that precedes type 2 diabetes 🇧🇷 The difference between them is blood glucose. Normal fasting blood glucose is between 70 mg/dl and 100 mg/l.

With fasting blood glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dl, a person is classified as pre-diabetic. That is to say, your blood glucose levels are above normal, but still below the DM diagnostic values. Levels above 126 mg/dl characterize a diagnosis of diabetes.

7. How is diabetes diagnosed?

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed through blood tests.

8. What are the complications of diabetes?

Patients with diabetes need to control the disease to avoid complications in other organs.

The worsening of the disease can lead to problems in the brain, such as stroke, in the eyes, causing blindness, in the heart, such as heart attack, in the kidneys, including chronic kidney disease, in the nerves, with emphasis on decreased sensation in the feet, and in the ears, with effects on hearing loss.

9. Is diabetes curable?

Diabetes has no cure, but it is possible to control the disease, both in type 1 and type 2.

The patient must undergo permanent treatment and periodic medical follow-up in order to maintain adequate blood sugar levels.

10. What are the ways to prevent the disease?

The disease can be prevented by adopting healthy habits, such as eating vegetables and at least three servings of fruit daily.

Other preventive measures include reducing the consumption of salt, sugar and fat, quitting smoking, exercising regularly and keeping your weight under control.

Sources: Karla Melo, PhD in endocrinology, physician at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo (USP) and coordinator of the Department of Public Health of the Brazilian Society of Diabetes, specialists from the Secretariat of Primary Health Care (SAPS) of the Ministry of Health and Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM)