What is Diabetes Mellitus?
- Diabetes is a chronic illness in which the body cannot produce enough insulin in the pancreas or the insulin produced does not work effectively in the body.
- It is a serious complex condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are abnormally high and can affect the entire body.
| Fasting plasma glucose | ≥ 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dl) or |
| 2-h plasma glucose | ≥ 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dl) or |
| HbA1c | ≥ 6.5% |
Diabetes mellitus type 2:
It is the most common type of diabetes which occurs when there is low production of insulin in the body or the insulin is not working effectively leading to an increase in the level of blood glucose.
Symptoms
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss
Risk Factors
Modifiable
- Lack of physical activity
- Being obese
- Unhealthy diet
Non-modifiable
- Family medical history: You are at a high risk if you have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes mellitus type2.
- Age: Risk increases with advancing age
Complications of diabetes mellitus
Diagnosis
Blood Test
- Fasting plasma glucose: it is the first thing done in the morning before eating anything.
- 2-h plasma glucose: Plasma glucose test should be done 2 hours after ingestion of 75g oral glucose load.
| Fasting plasma glucose | ≥ 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dl) or |
| 2-h plasma glucose | ≥ 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dl) or |
| HbA1c | ≥ 6.5% |
- HbA1c: Performed to check the level of HbA1c in the blood. It is the first thing in the morning before eating anything.
| % | mmol/mol | |
| Normal | <4.0 – 6.1 | < 20.0 – 42.1 |
| Prediabetes | 6.1 – 6.4 | 43.2 – 46.4 |
| Diabetes | > 6.5 | > 47.5 |
Preventive measures
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Do regular exercise (30 minutes every day)
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Stop Smoking
- Eat a healthy diet: reduce sugar intake and eat less starchy food
- Managing optimal blood pressure: Check your blood pressure regularly at home or at clinics.