Diabetes Exploration: Signs, Origins, Remedies, Prevention Strategies, and Additional Insights

Diabetes Exploration: Signs, Root Causes, Management, Prevention Strategies, and Additional Insights

Diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, affects millions of people worldwide. It's essential to understand its different types, causes, and management strategies.

Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels. For those with diabetes, especially Type 1 and Type 2, general guidance is to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Regular exercise not only helps manage blood sugar levels but also aids in reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of diabetes-related health complications.

Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, occurs when the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in the blood. Since 2015, the onset of Type 2 diabetes has been divided into three stages: pre-clinical, pre-clinical with higher blood sugar levels, and symptoms development.

LADA (Type 1.5) is an autoimmune disease that sets in gradually like type 2 diabetes and occurs during adulthood. Gestational diabetes, high blood sugar during pregnancy, is caused by insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta.

Healthy eating is an essential part of diabetes management, and counting carbohydrates is an important part of eating for those with diabetes who take insulin and manage their blood sugar levels. In some cases, changing your eating habits may be enough to manage the disease. If blood sugar levels are high during gestational diabetes, dietary changes and exercise may be enough to bring them down.

The symptoms of diabetes include increased hunger, increased thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, blurry vision, extreme fatigue, sores that don't heal, and, for Type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis. For gestational diabetes, monitoring blood sugar levels several times per day during pregnancy is necessary.

Treatment for diabetes depends largely on the type. Insulin is required for Type 1 diabetes and LADA, while lifestyle changes, pills, non-insulin injections, or insulin therapy are used for Type 2 diabetes. Rapid-acting insulin starts to work within 15 minutes and lasts for 2 to 4 hours, while short-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes and lasts 3 to 6 hours. Premixed insulin starts working within 15 to 30 minutes (depending on whether a rapid-acting or short-acting insulin is part of the mix) and lasts 10 to 16 hours. Long-acting insulin starts to work 2 hours after injection and lasts up to 24 hours. Ultra-long acting insulin starts to work 6 hours after injection and lasts 36 hours or more.

In addition to traditional treatments, recent research is focusing on new approaches. Leading organizations and research groups, such as SAB Biotherapeutics and ZyVersa Therapeutics, are working on innovative treatments for diabetes. SAB Biotherapeutics' SAB-142, a fully human anti-T-cell immunoglobulin, has shown promising results in Type 1 Diabetes treatment, while ZyVersa Therapeutics' inflammasome ASC inhibitor IC 100 is being developed for Type 2 Diabetes, showing potential in reducing insulin resistance and inflammation.

It's important to note that diabetes can lead to several complications, including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, hearing loss, foot damage, skin conditions, depression, dementia, and more. Gestational diabetes can also lead to complications for both the mother and baby, including premature birth, higher-than-typical weight at birth, increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life, low blood sugar, jaundice, stillbirth, and more.

In conclusion, understanding diabetes and its management is crucial for those affected and for everyone aiming to prevent its onset. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and timely medical intervention, when necessary, can significantly improve the quality of life for those living with diabetes.

References:

American Diabetes Association. (2021). Diabetes basics. [online] Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/diabetes-basics
Diabetes UK. (2021). What is diabetes? [online] Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Diabetes mellitus. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20369306
SAB Biotherapeutics. (2021). SAB-142. [online] Available at: https://sabbiotherapeutics.com/pipeline/sab-142/
ZyVersa Therapeutics. (2021). ZVT-01. [online] Available at: https://zyversa.com/pipeline/zvt-01/