Diabetes: qué es y cuál es su tratamiento

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by blood glucose levels that are above normal. This is due to an alteration in the action of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that is needed for normal glucose metabolism. If the pancreas does not produce insulin or it does not exercise properly its function is when diabetes occurs.

What causes diabetes

Diabetes can be caused by different mechanisms, that's why we talk about different types of diabetes. All of them have in common the lack of secretion or action of insulin that produces abnormally high levels of glucose in blood, tissues and urine. In the long term, diabetes has very serious consequences for the organism, both at the vascular level, at the retina level, in the kidneys and in the nervous system.

What types of diabetes exist

The different types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes: typical diabetes in children or young people, always under 40. This is usually due to an alteration in the production of insulin by the pancreas of immunological cause. 
• Type 2 diabetes : usually occurs in people over 40 years. This diabetes is associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyle, but it also has an important genetic base. This is the most common diabetes, since it affects a large part of the population of developed countries. In this type of diabetes there is enough insulin, but this is not able to act properly. It is initially treated with diet, exercise and oral or parenteral medications that improve the action of insulin, but insulin is not injected. 
• Gestational diabetes : this type of diabetes appears during pregnancy. 
• Other types of diabetes : Diabetes may also occur after undergoing treatment with corticosteroids or in those who have suffered a destruction of the pancreas. The less frequent types of diabetes are the LADA or MODY type.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

People with diabetes tend to have an intense thirst, increased diuresis and appetite.

In type 1 diabetes these symptoms are frequent at the beginning of the disease, but progressively increase until they cause weight loss, vomiting and dehydration.. If left untreated, this ends up leading to a diabetic coma.

In type 2 diabetes, the onset is insidious , often without symptoms. Due to this, it is important that it be detected in time, especially in people at risk such as elderly, obese or people with a family history.. Many patients suffering from diabetes have been diagnosed in medical check-ups. The ophthalmologist may suspect that a patient suffers diabetes if vision problems occur. Those who present these problems are usually patients with diabetes for years and without knowing it, which can cause serious and irreversible damage to the retina.

Can diabetes lead to other pathologies or problems?

If diabetes is not treated it can cause very severe problems. These may be cardiovascular, cerebral ischemic attacks or severe ischemia of lower limbs with need and amputation of toes.

Diabetes can also cause lesions on the retina, which can lead to blindness. Another problem may be kidney damage, which can lead to kidney failure that may require dialysis. The nervous system can be damaged, so there are frequent cases of peripheral diabetic neuropathy or the autonomic nervous system. Due to these problems associated with diabetes it is important that the diagnosis is early and that the correct treatment is applied by a specialist in endocrinology and diabetes.

• At the level of small arteries, diabetes produces lesions in the retina that can lead to blindness, kidney injuries that can lead to kidney failure with dialysis. Also the nervous system can be damaged. Cases of peripheral diabetic neuropathy or autonomic nervous system are frequent. 
• Therefore, early diagnosis and correct treatment by a specialist in Endocrinology and diabetes are of great importance.