Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease in which the body can no longer balance blood sugar itself. As a result, there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. This is because the body has too low a level of the hormone insulin. It is often also accompanied by your body's poor response to insulin. It is also possible that the body no longer produces insulin at all. Insulin regulates blood sugar levels and is made in the pancreas.
In the Netherlands there are more than 830.000 people with diabetes. Diabetes can be divided into two variants. 90% of patients have type 2, the rest have type 1. (And a very small percentage have another form of diabetes). There are also many people who have diabetes, but have not yet been diagnosed.
type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the body's cells no longer produce insulin. As a result, the glucose (sugar) that one consumes through food is not absorbed into the body and the sugar level rises. If your blood sugar level is too high, you will have to urinate often and feel very thirsty. In this case, insulin will have to be injected several times a day or even an insulin pump will have to be worn.
type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes This is by far the most common. The body has insufficient insulin and/or no longer responds properly to it. In some cases insulin will have to be injected. Excess weight, little exercise and old age are usually the causes. Hereditary predisposition can also be a factor in developing type 2.
Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes means that it is possible to reduce the risk of this chronic disease with a healthy lifestyle.
Who Gets Diabetes?
We can all get diabetes. One has a greater chance than the other. We know what increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Unfortunately, we are not that far yet with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is mainly caused by genetic predisposition. In some cases, exposure to a virus or viral disease also plays a role in developing this variant. Strangely enough, type 1 diabetes is also more common in people from countries such as Finland and Sweden. Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common. The risk increases as you get older, but also due to obesity, passivity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, if you have had gestational diabetes or a baby weighing more than 9 pounds. Origin, certain medications and certain diseases such as PCOS or celiac disease also increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. These are less important factors. According to the American magazine 'Menopause', menopausal women who have many hot flashes or night sweats are also more likely to develop diabetes. Healthy living is extra important to them.
Young people with diabetes
More and more young people, but also students, are overweight. It is therefore not surprising that these groups also develop diabetes. Type 2 diabetes then, because this is developed due to excess weight. Type 1 diabetes is also increasingly being diagnosed in young people and this has nothing to do with being overweight. Doctors have expressed concern that diabetes at a young age causes harmful effects as age increases.
In a country like the United States, diabetes is increasing fastest among young people. Researchers carried out measurements here which showed that diabetes had increased by 20 percent. Researchers also saw many signs of diabetes. Diabetes at an early age can lead to kidney failure, heart disease and limb amputations later in life. Doctors recommend exercise and a healthy diet. Of course only for those with type 2 diabetes.
A lot of research is currently being conducted into the prevention of diabetes among young people and students. Diabetes can be partly prevented, type 2 could be prevented by more exercise and a healthy diet. Type 1 is a different story and the increase in type 1 diabetes among young people cannot yet be fully explained. More research is needed to determine what causes diabetes in young people and how it can be prevented.
Gestational diabetes
One in twenty pregnant women develops gestational diabetes. The risk increases if you have had it before during pregnancy. But also if you were already (much) overweight before your pregnancy, have previously had a heavy baby, have high cholesterol or blood sugar, are of Turkish/Hindustani/Moroccan descent or have a family member with type 2 diabetes.
Measure glucose
You can measure your blood sugar (glucose) yourself at home. For this you will need: a lancing device with lancet, an test strip and an blood sugar meter. You then measure the blood sugar value with a drop of blood from your fingertip. First wash your hands. With warm hands the blood comes out more easily. You start with the lancing device and/or lancet. The lancing device is a device that you must hold against the side of your fingertip (preferably index or ring finger). You then press a button. A short needle will then prick your fingertip briefly, enough to allow a drop of blood to come out. Then you take the test strip. This is the strip on which you then put the obtained drop of blood. The place where the drop should be placed is indicated on the strip.
Finally, with the blood sugar meter you can read how high the blood sugar (glucose) is in the collected drop of blood. Place the strip in the measuring device. Some brands require you to insert the test strip in advance. You can read the result within 10 seconds.
The lancing devices, blood sugar meters and test strips are available in different types from various brands. You can discuss with your GP or diabetes nurse which options are most suitable for you. The GP or diabetes nurse will agree with you which blood sugar values you should contact. You naturally order the products on diabetesmagazijn.nl.