Surely Friends of Persada is familiar with diabetes, right? According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, the number of people with type 1 diabetes in Indonesia has reached 41.8 thousand people in 2022.
This makes Indonesia the country with the most type 1 diabetes patients in ASEAN, and 34th out of 204 countries globally.
So, what exactly is diabetes? What are the symptoms, and how to prevent it? Persada Hospital will review them in the following article.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels. Your body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin made by the pancreas.
Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the body, which functions to help the body control blood sugar levels while managing glucose as a source of energy through muscle, fat and liver cells.
In the body of a diabetic, the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, making the body's cells unable to convert glucose into energy.
Untreated diabetes mellitus can damage nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. Therefore, it is important for Sahabat Persada to understand this disease, such as its symptoms and causes. This is for prevention or to control your diabetes for a healthier life.
There are several types of diabetes that you need to know. Namely:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is produced. It is not yet clear what causes this attack.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar levels build up in your blood. This is the most common type of diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are high during pregnancy. Insulin-inhibiting hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.
There are specific diabetes conditions such as monogenic diabetes syndrome caused by certain genes, exocrine pancreatic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis, as well as diabetes caused by drugs or chemicals.
To understand the causes of diabetes, it is important for Friends of Persada to understand how the body normally uses glucose.
The first is how insulin works. Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland behind and below the stomach (pancreas).
1. The pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream
2. Insulin circulates, letting sugar into the cells
3. Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in the bloodstream
4. As blood sugar levels drop, so does insulin secretion from the pancreas
Second, is the role of glucose. Glucose is the source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.
1. Glucose comes from two main sources: food and liver
2. Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream and enters the cells with the help of insulin
3. The liver stores and makes glucose
4. When glucose levels are low, such as when you haven't eaten, the liver then breaks down stored glycogen into glucose. This keeps your glucose levels in a sufficient range
The exact cause of most types of diabetes is unknown. In all cases, sugar levels build up in the bloodstream. This is because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be caused by a combination of genetic or environmental factors. It is not clear what those factors are.
Diabetes symptoms depend on how high your blood sugar is. For some people, especially if they have pre-diabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes, may not experience symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and are more severe.
Here are some symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, such as:
1. Feeling thirstier than usual
2. Frequent urination
3. Weight loss
4. Presence of ketones in urine. Ketones are compounds from the breakdown of muscle and fat that occurs when there is not enough insulin available.
5. Often feel tired and weak
6. Feeling irritable or experiencing other mood swings
7. Experience blurred vision
8. Having a wound that takes a long time to heal
9. Have multiple infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections.
Type 1 diabetes can start at any age. But it often starts during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people older than 40 years. But type 2 diabetes in children is increasing.
A person is at risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes if they have the following risk factors:
1. A child or adolescent
2. Having a parent or sibling with a history of type 1 diabetes
3. Carrying certain genes associated with type 1 diabetes
Meanwhile, a person is at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes if they have the following risk factors:
1. Overweight
2. 45 years old and above
3. Having a parent or sibling with a history of type 2 diabetes
4. Not physically active
5. Has had gestational diabetes
6. Have pre-diabetes
7. Has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides
Type 2 diabetes is also indirectly affected by certain types of races and ethnicity. Adults who have African-American, Latin American, or Asian-American ancestry are more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than white adults, according to a 2016 study published in the Diabetes Care Journal.
Then, in gestational diabetes, this type of diabetes is more at risk in pregnant women with risk factors:
1. Overweight
2. Over 25 years old
3. Suffered from gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
4. Has given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
5. Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
6. Has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Although diabetes is an incurable degenerative disease. This disease can still be managed and controlled. Here are things that can be done to prevent diabetes with CERDIK steps;
1. Regular health checks, i.e. check blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol regularly, and control ideal body weight.
2. Get rid of cigarette smoke and don't smoke
3. Do physical activity at least 30 minutes a day with the principles of good, right, regular and measurable.
4. A balanced diet by eating healthy and nutritious foods, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, reducing sugar consumption to a maximum of 4 spoons or 50 grams per day, and avoiding sweet or carbonated foods.
5. Get enough rest
6. Manage stress properly
Knowing how dangerous diabetes is, it is important for Friends of Persada to consult a doctor immediately if you experience some symptoms of diabetes that do not get better. This is important to detect diabetes early and start proper treatment. With quick action, the risk of diabetes complications can be minimized.
If you experience symptoms or risk factors for diabetes in yourself or your family, come and have yourself examined at Persada Hospital so that it can be detected and treated as soon as possible.
For more information, please call the Persada Hospital hotline at 0811-3058-8585.
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