Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the body's ability to produce and process insulin.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the body's ability to produce and process insulin.
1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year. One-fourth of diabetics do not know they have the disease.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood sugar is too high. Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is energy converted from food. Glucose is the body's main source of fuel, powering cell functioning and metabolic processes.
The process is reliant on insulin, a hormone created by the pancreas. Insulin is used to transform blood glucose into energy. If the body cannot produce or utilize insulin, blood glucose builds up and causes serious health problems.
Type 1 diabetes, mostly affecting children and adolescents, occurs when the body can’t produce insulin. The immune system destroys pancreatic cells that release insulin, requiring patients to take insulin every day.
Type 2 diabetes, commonly developing during middle age, is caused by an inability to utilize insulin. Known as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or managed by patients.
1 in 3 people will receive a diabetes diagnosis. However, different factors lead to the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot prevented. Though the cause is unknown, scientists believe it's related to a combination of the genetics and environmental triggers. Type 1 diabetes develops at a young age.
Individuals age 45 and older are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Health problems, like high blood pressure and obesity, indicate that pre-diabetes may be on the horizon. Certain factors and predispositions increase the risk, such as family history or a poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.
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Diabetes can be monitored, treated and managed. Despite popularity, some treatments may come with unknown risks.
Monitoring diabetes involves regularly testing your blood sugar levels, whereas managing diabetes is all about losing weight, eating healthy and staying active.
In addition to lifestyle changes, doctors may prescribe certain medications to treat diabetes. Diabetes drugs are divided into various classes, with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors at the forefront.
SGLT2 inhibitors are new-age treatments that work with the kidneys to deposit excess sugar in urine. Researchers have linked SGLT2 inhibitors to ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury and kidney failure.
DPP-4 inhibitors stop the body's enzymes from blocking the production of incretin, natural hormone that release insulin. The medications work by triggering the release of insulin to lower blood sugar. DPP-4 inhibitors have been linked to gastrointestinal problems, flu-like symptoms and skin reactions.
SGLT2 inhibitors
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Knowing the symptoms and complications are key to staying safe.
Diabetes has been linked to a number of health problems. Less severe symptoms of diabetes are part of managing the disease, whereas complications caused by severe mismanagement of the disease can lead to long-term damage.
When diabetes isn't properly monitored, excess sugar in the body can can cause mild symptoms like thirst, hunger and fatigue. Diabetes complications, on the other hand, may be life-threatening.
If left untreated, diabetes can affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and limbs and cause lasting complications. Diabetes has been linked to peripheral artery disease (PAD), which could lead to amputation of the feet or lower limbs. When blood sugar is too high, patients may go into diabetic shock. Diabetic shock may require hospitalization.
Diabetes treatments, SGLT2 inhibitors in particular, may also cause complications. Researchers have linked SGLT2 inhibitors to ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury and kidney failure. Learn more about complications from diabetes medications.