Diabetes is a disease in which glucose in the blood enters the cells and cannot be used as an energy source, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar.
∙ Diabetes can be divided into type 1 diabetes
and type 2 diabetes.
∙ Type 2 diabetes is often caused by a combination of
genetic and environmental factors.
∙ Diabetes is not simply a disease in which
blood sugar rises. If it is not well controlled, it causes complications over
time.
Overview – Definition
1) Diabetes is the name given to the excess of
glucose in the urine due to high glucose (blood sugar) in the blood. When we
eat carbohydrates, they are converted into glucose, the basic component of
carbohydrates, by digestive enzymes in the stomach and then absorbed into the
blood.
2) Glucose is the most basic energy source our
body uses. In order for the absorbed glucose to be used by the cells of our
body, a hormone called insulin is required.
3) Insulin is secreted by beta cells of the
pancreas and functions to lower blood sugar that rises after a meal. If insulin
is insufficient or insulin resistance increases, the glucose absorbed into the
body is not used and accumulates in the blood and overflows in the urine. This
pathological condition is called 'diabetes'.
Diabetes mellitus can be divided into type 1
diabetes and type 2 diabetes according to the mechanism. Diabetes mellitus
caused by a lack of insulin secretion from the pancreas is called type 1
diabetes, and type 2 diabetes is when the insulin resistance is relatively
increased while some of the insulin secretory ability remains.
1) Type 1 Diabetes
(1) It accounts for less than 2% of diabetes in
Korea. It occurs mainly in puberty or childhood, and is usually diagnosed
before the age of 30, but it can also appear in adults.
(2) Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction
of the beta cells of the pancreas, which in turn causes a deficiency of insulin
to be secreted from the beta cells. Most autoimmune mechanism because it is
caused by Islet-specific autoantibody test Diagnosis is possible if it comes
out as positive or if the degree of insulin deficiency is confirmed by
measuring the level of insulin secretion.
(3) In type 1 diabetes, insulin is not secreted at
all, so insulin treatment by injecting insulin from the outside is essential.
If insulin treatment is not taken, high blood sugar can worsen. diabetic
ketoacidosiscute complications may occur with As such, acute complications
caused by hyperglycemia are very dangerous as they can lead to death if not
properly treated in the early stages. Such a history of ketoacidosis or
detection of plasma and urine ketones accompanied by hyperglycemia may be
useful clues to suspect type 1 diabetes.
2) Type 2 diabetes
(1) Type 2 diabetes is characterized by increased
insulin resistance in the body, resulting in poor insulin action and relatively
impaired insulin secretion, resulting in increased blood sugar. Most of Korean
diabetes mellitus is type 2 diabetes. It usually occurs at the age of 40 or
older, but it can also occur at a younger age, and the number of young type 2
diabetes patients under 30 is increasing recently.
(2) People with type 2 diabetes are often obese or
overweight. In addition, there is a strong genetic predisposition and, unlike
type 1 diabetes, a family history is common. Genetic factors and environmental
factors, such as obesity caused by bad lifestyles, act in a complex way, such
as increased insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, which are the
main mechanisms of development.
1.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
The causes of diabetes are very diverse and complex. It is often caused by a combination of factors rather than any single reason. Genetic and environmental factors identified as leading causes of diabetes include:
1) Genetic factors
What has been shown so far is genetic factors. If both parents have diabetes, there is a 30% chance that the child will develop diabetes, and if only one person has diabetes, the chance is about 15%. However, not all people with genetic factors become diabetic, and various environmental factors work together to develop diabetes in people with genetic factors.
2) Environmental factors
(1) Obesity: As the saying goes, "If you are fat, suspect diabetes." Obesity is closely related to diabetes. Continued obesity makes insulin in the body not able to lower blood sugar well, and the pancreas' insulin secretion function gradually drops, leading to diabetes. Obesity can also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
(2) Aging: Diabetes occurs more often after middle age, and the incidence increases with age.
(3) Diet: Excessive intake of carbohydrates (including sugar) and fat causes weight gain and diabetes.
(4) Lack of exercise: Lack of exercise leads to obesity, weakens muscles, and lowers resistance.
(5) Stress: Stress accumulated for a long time in our body increases the secretion of corticosteroids and reduces resistance to cause diseases.
(6) Gestational diabetes: Gestational diabetes is an increase in blood sugar due to physiological changes caused by pregnancy. If you have had gestational diabetes or have had a large baby weighing 4 kg or more, the risk of developing diabetes increases.
(7) High blood pressure or dyslipidemia: If you have high blood pressure or dyslipidemia, you often have diabetes. This is because obesity, bad lifestyle, and genes are common to these diseases.
(8) Hormone secretion: If there is an abnormality in insulin and glucagon hormones, which are directly related to diabetes.
(9) Infectious diseases: When you get an infection, the body's resistance decreases and sugar metabolism deteriorates, making it easy to develop diabetes. In particular, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and cholecystitis can cause diabetes.
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