What is diabetes?
Disease description:
Recently, an increasing number of young people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Want to understand how diabetes works?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease primarily characterized by high blood glucose levels. It is usually caused by insufficient insulin secretion or a decreased response of the body to insulin (insulin resistance).
1. Etiology: Diabetes mainly results from defects in insulin secretion and/or insulin utilization. Insulin resistance, obesity, and hyperglycemia often run in families and are related to genetic factors. Additionally, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, high triglycerides, and high cholesterol levels, are closely associated with type 2 diabetes.
2. Symptoms: The classic symptoms of diabetes include the "three P's and weight loss," namely polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyphagia (excessive hunger), polyuria (frequent urination), and weight loss. These symptoms are more pronounced in patients with type 1 diabetes, while patients with type 2 diabetes may exhibit only some of these symptoms.
3. Treatment: Diabetes treatment mainly involves dietary therapy, pharmacological therapy, and exercise therapy aimed at controlling blood glucose levels and preventing complications.
Diabetes management includes dietary control, regular physical activity, medication (which may include insulin injections), and monitoring of blood glucose levels. Proper control of blood glucose can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy.
