What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body processes glucose, a crucial source of energy for movement, growth, repair, and other vital functions. When we eat, our bodies break food down into organic compounds, one of which is glucose. Before our cells can use glucose, it must move from the bloodstream into the cells, a process that requires insulin.
What Causes Diabetes?
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. When glucose enters our bloodstream, the pancreas should automatically produce the right amount of insulin to move glucose into our cells. However, in people with diabetes, the pancreas either produces too little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body. The body is therefore unable to utilize its main source of fuel, even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.
Types of Diabetes
مرض السكري من النوع 1
In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin, so the person with this type of diabetes must take insulin daily to live. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in children and young adults (previously known as juvenile diabetes) but can appear at any age. The cause of this type of diabetes has been linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
مرض السكري من النوع 2
يشكل مرضى هذا النوع من السكري ٩٠-٩٥٪ من إجمالي إصابات السكري، وحدوث هذا النوع من السكري آخذ بالازدياد عالمياً وغالباً في المرضى الأكبر سناً الذين يعانون من الوزن الزائد، حيث أن ٨٠٪ من مرضى السكري البالغين يعانون من السمنة، والتاريخ العائلي للإصابة، والإصابة السابقة بسكري الحمل، والكسل والخمول وأخيراً العامل العرقي، كلها عوامل تزيد احتمالية الإصابة بسكري البالغين. في هذا النوع من السكري يصنع البنكرياس كميات كافية من الأنسولين ولكن ولأسباب معينة لا تستطيع خلايا الجسم الاستفادة منه كما يجب، وهذا ما يسمى بمقاومة الأنسولين، بعد عدة سنوات من هذه الحالة تقل قدرة البنكرياس على تصنيع الأنسولين كما في النوع الأول ( المعتمد على الأنسولين)، وتراكم الجلوكوز في الدم دون استفادة خلايا الجسم منه.
النوع الثالث: سكري الحمل
Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, experience high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy. Scientists believe that hormones from the placenta, which help the baby develop, can sometimes interfere with the mother’s insulin action. Testing for blood glucose levels is recommended during pregnancy. Although gestational diabetes usually resolves after pregnancy, it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Constant hunger
- فقدان الوزن
- رؤية ضبابية
- الغثيان
- التعب
- Frequent infections
- Slow healing of wounds or sores
If not diagnosed and treated, a person with diabetes can lapse into a life-threatening diabetic coma. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop gradually and may be mild, which is why regular testing of blood sugar levels is recommended.
فحوصات السكري المخبرية
The fasting blood glucose test (taken after at least 8 hours of fasting) is the preferred method for diagnosing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is most reliable when done in the morning. A diagnosis of diabetes can also be confirmed with any of the following tests:
-
Random Blood Glucose Test
Taken at any time of day.
-
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Measures how quickly glucose is cleared from the blood. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed based on glucose values measured during the GTT.
-
HbA1c Test
Identifies the average blood glucose concentration over prolonged periods. This test is also important for monitoring the effectiveness of diabetes treatment in known diabetic patients.
Diabetes Treatment and Routine Testing
Managing diabetes effectively requires regular monitoring and routine testing. The recommended testing schedule includes:
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) & Random Blood Sugar (RBS): Once a month
- HbA1c Test: Every 3 months
- مجموعة فحوصات الدهنيات: Every 6 months
- Creatinine: Annually
- زلال في البول: Annually if normal; every 3 months if abnormal
Effective diabetes treatment involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and regular monitoring to manage blood sugar levels and prevent complications.