What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which glucose levels increase in your blood. Normally, the food you eat is broken down into glucose, which is converted into energy with the help of a hormone called insulin. When someone has diabetes, the body either doesn’t make insulin or cannot use it effectively. This leads to excessive glucose in the bloodstream.
There are mainly two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce insulin and is therefore insulin-dependent. Type 2 diabetes is more common, usually developing after the age of 30, where the body produces some insulin but not enough or doesn’t respond properly to it.
If diabetes is left uncontrolled, it can cause severe complications over time, including damage to the eyes, nerves, kidneys and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart attack. In extreme cases, it can also lead to limb amputation. Gestational diabetes may also develop during pregnancy, posing risks for both mother and baby.
Managing diabetes requires a combination of healthy lifestyle habits and medical support. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, weight management and frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels are essential. Along with these, timely use of prescribed medicines or insulin therapy can significantly lower the chances of long-term complications. Recognising early symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination, increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue can also help in quicker diagnosis and better control.