What is diabetes?
Nov 12, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels, caused by insufficient insulin secretion or impaired insulin utilization. Patients with diabetes should pay attention to controlling their diet and increasing physical activity in daily life to maintain stable blood glucose levels and prevent complications affecting multiple systems, including the cardiovascular, nervous, retinal, and renal systems.
Generally, diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood glucose levels, caused by insufficient insulin secretion or impaired insulin utilization. A detailed analysis is as follows:
The core feature of diabetes is hyperglycemia, which primarily results from inadequate insulin secretion or the body's impaired ability to use insulin. Insulin, a hormone secreted by pancreatic beta cells, plays a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels. When insulin secretion is insufficient, the body cannot effectively convert glucose into energy or store it, leading to persistently elevated blood glucose levels. Moreover, even if insulin is secreted normally, reduced responsiveness of body cells to insulin—known as insulin resistance—can also cause blood glucose levels to rise. Both conditions can lead to diabetes. Diabetes not only affects blood glucose control but may also damage multiple systems, including the cardiovascular, nervous, retinal, and renal systems, resulting in a range of complications.
Patients with diabetes should pay attention to diet control and increased physical activity in daily life to maintain stable blood glucose levels and prevent complications affecting the cardiovascular, nervous, retinal, renal, and other systems.
