Diabetes - Symptoms, Risk Factors and Prevention

Posted by Anika Dixit on August 18th, 2022

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus has now become a common disease. In the year 2019, it was reported that around 77 million individuals had diabetes which is further expected to increase to over 134 million by 2045.

Furthermore, 57% of the cases remain undiagnosed. Having said that, the risk of diabetes is influenced by age, physical inactivity, obesity, lifestyle and more. To control the rate of diabetes it is important to spread awareness and the ways it can be prevented. Let us learn about the disease in detail and opt for quality diabetes treatment in Kolkata.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is known as a group disease that affects the body’s usage of blood sugar/glucose. Sugar or glucose is an important source of energy used up by the cells to make muscles and tissues.

Chronic diabetes can be of two types - Type 1 and Type 2. Other reversible types can include gestational diabetes and prediabetes. Diabetes refers to the excessive amount of sugar in the blood. Prediabetes is an excess amount of glucose in the blood but not enough to be called diabetes. If left untreated, it can escalate to serious diabetes.

Gestational diabetes usually affects during pregnancy and the condition might go away after the mother gives birth.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

The common symptoms of diabetes may include -

• Blurry vision

• Feeling excessively thirsty than usual

• Urinating often

• Unexplained loss of weight

• Fatigue

• Excessive mood swings

• Slow-healing sores

• Increased rate of infection such as vaginal, gum and skin infection

• Presence of ketones in the urine

Type 1 diabetes is more common in children or teens, while Type 2 diabetes is common among people older than 40 years of age. However, diabetes can affect people of any age. Thus, upon noticing the slightest symptoms, it is essential to opt for quality diabetes treatment in Kolkata to reduce the threat.

Who is more at risk? - Risk factors of diabetes

The risk factors may depend on the type of diabetes. Family history in diabetes may play a very important part in all types of diabetes. Therefore, those having diabetic members in the family might be at a higher risk of suffering from diabetes.

Additionally, race or ethnicity also puts individuals at risk of diabetes. It has been reported that Hispanic, Asian American, Black and American Indians are at a higher risk of being affected by diabetes.

Having said that, people with excessive weight or obesity are more prone to type 2, prediabetes and gestational diabetes.

How can you prevent diabetes?

Some of the effective ways you can prevent diabetes may include -

• Ensuring a healthy diet

• Increasing physical activity

• Lose excessive weight

It is better to avoid over-the-counter drugs and reach out to professionals. Diabetes can increase several health complications such as nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, skin and mouth conditions, kidney damage, depression, eye damage, Alzheimer's disease and more.

Diabetes can be life-threatening if not treated on time and hence it is important to change your lifestyle to prevent and seek medical advice and diabetes treatment in Kolkata to recover from diabetes.