World Diabetes Day | Pay attention to your health and stay away from the "sweet burden"

Author: Zhao Lina Chifeng Cancer Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Reviewer: Liu Shuling, Professor of Chifeng University, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Xia Jingyi, Chief Physician, Chifeng Cancer Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Vice Chairman, Endocrine Branch, Chifeng Medical Association, Standing Committee Member, Endocrine and Metabolic Physician Branch, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Medical Association, Member, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Endocrine Society

November 14th of each year is World Diabetes Day, a special day that aims to arouse global attention and attention to the chronic disease of diabetes. Diabetes, like a quietly lurking health "killer", is gradually affecting the lives of more and more people.

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※What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by insufficient secretion of insulin or its impaired action. Simply put, our body is like a sophisticated machine, and insulin is the "key" to regulate blood sugar. When there is a problem with this "key", blood sugar will get out of control and continue to rise.

Imagine that our body cells are like small rooms, blood sugar is the "guest" who wants to enter the room, and insulin is the "key" to open the door. Under normal circumstances, insulin can smoothly open the door, allowing blood sugar to enter the room and be used by cells to provide the body with the required energy. However, in diabetic patients, either insulin secretion is insufficient or cells are insensitive to insulin, so the "door" cannot be opened normally, and blood sugar is retained in the blood, resulting in elevated blood sugar.

※Types of diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, usually develops during childhood and adolescence. This is due to the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. Just like a factory production line suddenly breaks down and cannot produce enough insulin, patients need to rely on exogenous insulin treatment for life.

Type 2 diabetes is more common and accounts for the majority of diabetic patients. It is often closely related to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as a high-calorie diet, lack of exercise, obesity, etc. Over time, the body's cells' response to insulin gradually weakens, and insulin secretion may also be relatively insufficient. This type of diabetes can be controlled through diet control, exercise, and drug therapy in the early stages of blood sugar.

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※Symptoms of diabetes

Symptoms of diabetes may not be obvious and can be easily overlooked. Common symptoms include drinking more, eating more, urinating more, and losing weight, also known as "three mores and one less."

Polydipsia is caused by the dehydration of body cells due to increased blood sugar, which causes the brain to send signals and make people feel thirsty. Polyphagia is caused by the inability of cells to fully utilize blood sugar, which causes the body to mistakenly think that there is insufficient energy, thus causing hunger. Polyuria is caused by the kidneys increasing their workload to excrete excess sugar, resulting in a large amount of urine. Weight loss is caused by the body's inability to effectively utilize blood sugar and instead breaking down fat and protein to provide energy.

However, many diabetic patients may not have these typical symptoms in the early stages and are not discovered until complications occur. Therefore, regular physical examinations and blood sugar monitoring are very important.

※The harm of diabetes

If not controlled for a long time, diabetes can cause serious damage to various organs of the body.

►Eyes: May cause retinal disease and, in severe cases, blindness.

►Kidneys: May cause diabetic nephropathy and eventually develop into renal failure.

►Heart and blood vessels: Increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke.

►Nerves: May damage peripheral nerves, causing symptoms such as numbness and pain in the hands and feet.

►Feet: May cause foot ulcers, infection, and even require amputation.

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These complications not only seriously affect the patient's quality of life, but also bring a heavy burden to their families and society.

※Prevention of diabetes

The key to preventing diabetes is to develop a healthy lifestyle.

In terms of diet, we should have a balanced diet, control calorie intake, reduce the intake of high-sugar, high-fat, and high-salt foods, and increase the proportion of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. For example, eat less candy and fried foods, and eat more green vegetables, apples, oats, etc.

Exercise is also an important means of preventing diabetes. Perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, such as brisk walking, running, swimming, etc. You can also combine it with strength training, such as weightlifting, push-ups, etc. Exercise helps consume excess calories and improve the body's sensitivity to insulin.

In addition, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a regular schedule, and reducing stress can also help prevent diabetes.

※Treatment of diabetes

Once diabetes is diagnosed, don't panic. Active treatment can effectively control the disease.

Treatment methods include diet therapy, exercise therapy, drug therapy and blood sugar monitoring. Diet and exercise are the basis, and drug therapy can choose insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs according to the different conditions. Blood sugar monitoring is like our "navigator", helping us understand the changes in blood sugar and adjust the treatment plan in time.

Self-management is very important for diabetic patients. They should strictly follow the doctor's advice for treatment, have regular checkups, and maintain an optimistic attitude and face the disease positively.

Although diabetes is terrible, it is not invincible. By understanding the relevant knowledge of diabetes, we can better prevent and control it. Let us start from now on, pay attention to health and stay away from the "sweet burden".