Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a chronic disease that arises when the pancreas stops making insulin or the body is not able to use it properly, causing an increase in blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Insulin is a hormone manufactured by the pancreas that allows glucose, the sugar present in the bloodstream, to enter the cells so that they can generate the energy necessary to function properly. When the body is not able to produce or use this insulin effectively, blood glucose levels increase (hyperglycemia) and we speak of diabetes mellitus.
There are two main types of diabetes, in addition to gestational diabetes. Type 1 occurs because the pancreas does not produce insulin. It is, therefore, a chronic condition with an unknown cause, which cannot be prevented and implies that people who suffer from it must inject insulin daily throughout their lives, in addition to taking into account other factors such as the importance of having a balanced diet or physical exercise. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of this condition, is characterized by the body not producing enough insulin or using it properly. It is, in addition to the most common type, the most underdiagnosed, since it is estimated that nearly half of adults with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it. Its appearance is associated, in addition to family history, to unhealthy lifestyle habits related, in turn, to pathologies such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia or high blood pressure.
According to the IFD, studies conducted in the United States, Finland, China, India and Japan “have overwhelmingly shown that lifestyle changes (healthy body weight and moderate physical activity) can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. 2 in high-risk people.”
In this sense, they recommend doing physical activity at least three to five days a week, for a minimum of 30-45 minutes, following a balanced diet and avoiding sugary and processed foods. In addition, it is advisable to maintain a healthy weight and ensure that regular reviews and check-ups are carried out, especially in those at risk, who can detect early signs and delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. Treatment in the case of type 2 diabetes will depend on both the phase in which it is diagnosed and its evolution, and may include a diet and exercise plan combined or not with oral or injectable drugs and the use of insulin.
If blood glucose levels remain high, diabetes can cause heart disease, vascular disease and poor circulation, blindness, kidney failure, poor healing, stroke and other neurological diseases, according to the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. Hence the importance of both preventing the onset of the disease and promoting its early diagnosis, in addition to ensuring control and monitoring of blood glucose levels to prevent complications. A field in which, according to the Spanish Diabetes Federation, there is a long way to go since studies carried out in Spain show that 40-50% of people diagnosed with diabetes do not achieve their glycemic control goals.