ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Diabetes

What is diabetes?

6 April 2022

It is a disease of great incidence in Mexico, which consists of increased blood sugar levels, causing a series of serious life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and neuropathies, among others.

There are three types of diabetes: type 1, 2, and gestational.

Potential causes and risks:

Although the causes are unknown, it is considered that in type 1 diabetes genetic and environmental factors come together and affect your immune system and insulin production, which triggers the blood sugar buildup.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, the causes are also unknown, but it is believed that genetic and environmental aspects are also involved, maximized by overweight and obesity. In these cases, cells do not respond to insulin, so glucose begins to accumulate in the blood.

Neither of the two aforementioned types are reversible, they are chronic diseases in which their progress can only be stopped and controlled.

Gestational diabetes appears when a woman is pregnant and usually disappears after childbirth.

Among the potential risks, the following stand out:

  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Family history.
  • Hypertension.
  • High cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • Polycystic ovary.

Signs and symptoms Diabetes

Depending on the blood sugar level, these symptoms range from mild to severe:

  • Weight loss.
  • Visual problems.
  • Tiredness.
  • Thirst and hunger.
  • Excessive urination.
  • Healing problems.
  • Recurring infections.
  • Depression and irritability.

Diagnosis and treatment Diabetes

It is easy to determine if you have diabetes through a blood test and, depending on the suspected type, you will be asked for urine tests to detect the presence of ketones.

Regardless of the type of diabetes, it is essential that you take care of your diet and exercise daily to lower your glucose levels.

Additionally, you will be prescribed medications to control your glucose and in the case of type 1 diabetes, you will need daily insulin shots, or a pancreas transplant in severe cases.

For obese patients with type 2 diabetes, bariatric surgery is recommended as a complement to drugs and insulin treatment.

At the Nutrition & Obesity Center, we offer you comprehensive care according to your needs to help you have a healthy lifestyle, control your weight, change your body composition, prevent and manage associated diseases, as well as improve your physical and sports performance.

We have specialized schemes for accelerated and sustained weight loss under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team, based on safe and scientifically supported methods.

Related centers and departments Diabetes

High Specialty Surgery Center
Center Of Nutrition & Obesity
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • mayoclinic.org
  • cigna.com
  • sos-bariatria.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Casanova-Moreno MC Machado-Reyes F, Gómez-Guerra DB, González-Casanova W, et al. Proposal for a health communication plan for older adults with type 2 diabetes. AMC. 2020;24(2):182-193.
  • Sarduy RA, Cruz ME, Milanés OMR, et al. Parámetros clínicos, bioquímicos y metabólicos predictores de complicaciones micro y macrovasculares en diabéticos tipo 2. Mul Med. 2020;24(4):836-852.
  • González-Gálvez G, Castro-Martínez MG. Seguridad cardiovascular de los medicamentos antidiabéticos. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(2):244-255.

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