World Diabetes Day 2022- Major Causes And Symptoms Of Diabetes

World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 every year to bring the attention of the people to health threats posed by diabetes and how to avoid that. On this day, the enormous achievement of insulin discovery by two outstanding scientists, Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best, is celebrated.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) will be involved in coordinating activities on the day, so keep an eye out for an event near you! Any help or support you can give this cause will be greatly appreciated by everyone concerned.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a life-long condition that causes your blood sugar levels to become too high.

Sugar in the blood is also known as glucose, it’s your body’s main source of energy. It comes from the food you eat, particularly carbohydrates like bread and potatoes.

Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to cells around the body to give them energy to work. When there’s glucose in the bloodstream, the pancreas (an organ near the stomach) makes a hormone (a chemical messenger) called insulin. Insulin tells the body’s cells to absorb the glucose and use it as energy.

In somebody with diabetes, their body can’t absorb glucose because there is a problem with their insulin. This means:

- their cells don’t use the glucose for energy

- the unused glucose stays in their blood and builds up

- the excess glucose can damage their arteries (arteries carry oxygen-rich blood and nutrients around the body)

- if their arteries are damaged, it can increase their risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.

What are the types of diabetes?

There are two main types of diabetes:

* Type 1 diabetes - when your body can’t make insulin because your immune system (which usually protects your body from bad bacteria and viruses) destroys the cells that make it.

* Type 2 diabetes - when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or your body doesn’t use the insulin it makes properly.

Around 1 in 12 people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a common condition.
Sometimes, pregnant women can develop diabetes which usually disappears after giving birth. This type of diabetes is called gestational diabetes.

What causes diabetes?

The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Scientists understand type 1 diabetes causes the body to attack the cells that make insulin. Research is happening to understand why that is.

The cause of type 2 diabetes is a problem with the amount of insulin being made or used. The body can’t control its blood sugar levels so they keep rising. It’s often linked to:

- being physically inactive
- having excess weight or obesity
- having a family history of type 2 diabetes
- having pre-diabetes – when your blood sugar levels are above the normal range but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

It usually develops gradually and affects more adults over the age of 40. But it can develop at any age. And if you have a South Asian, African Caribbean or Black Asian background, you might have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?

The symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:

- blurred vision
- feeling very tired
- feeling very thirsty
- losing weight without trying
- having breath that smells fruity
- peeing more than usual, especially during the night
- having itchy genitals or thrush that keeps coming back
- having cuts, grazes or bruises that take a long time to heal.

If you or someone in your family are experiencing any of these symptoms it might be a sign of diabetes. You can visit your local GP; they will run some simple tests to find the cause of your symptoms.