That glucose level, also called blood sugar, is too high and out of balance in people with diabetes. This can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves and therefore to many organs in the body. Patients often do not notice this high blood sugar level for a long time. Not everyone has clear complaints.
Place
In the initial stage, complaints may also be missing because they resemble things that everyone has, says Erasmus MC’s internist-diabetologist Behiye Özcan. “Initially, the complaints of high glucose levels are thirst, drowsiness, fatigue, and frequent urination,” summarizes Özcan. “And in the long run, chronically higher blood sugar can cause complications like heart, eye, kidney and foot problems. Mental problems and problems with sexuality can also arise.”
But there are also people who only find out they have diabetes after a serious complication such as a heart attack has already occurred. This makes diabetes an insidious disease, warns Özcan, which mainly treats patients with complex diabetes. In addition to diabetes, they have, for example, heart failure, have had a transplant or lack a pancreas.
“Half of patients with diabetes develop cardiovascular disease and a quarter develop eye defects. Due to damage to the vessels, toes, feet or legs sometimes have to be amputated. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness worldwide”.
Two types
There are several types of diabetes, of which type 1 and type 2 are the best known. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease and is not very common. About 90 percent of people have type 2, also known colloquially as adult-onset diabetes. A major risk factor for type 2 is obesity. An unhealthy diet, too little exercise, and smoking also increase your risk. Diabetes can also run in the family. “If diabetes runs in the family and you’re overweight, then get yourself checked.”
At the moment, around 150 people are diagnosed every day in the Netherlands. There are many, but Özcan is particularly concerned about the 1.1 million people with prediabetes, a precursor to diabetes.
No complaints
“There’s a huge group of people who haven’t had any complaints yet, but who have mildly elevated blood sugar levels. These mildly elevated blood sugar levels can cause initial damage to blood vessels, including vessels in the eye,” he said. she warns her.
Prediabetes often becomes full-fledged diabetes in the long run. Research has shown that one to two thirds of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 6 years. “Prediabetes is reversible. A healthy lifestyle lowers those slightly elevated blood sugar levels and prevents further damage. I know it’s not easy, but a healthy lifestyle really is the most important thing.”
Diabetes-distress
In addition to all the physical health problems, diabetes often has a bad influence on the mind as well. “Diabetes drags you everywhere: to your holiday destination, to a party, to your wedding. This is no ordinary popular disease. Many people are busy day after day with their diabetes and can therefore experience severe distress due to diabetes Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help in trouble.And when people are happy again, blood sugar levels normalize again too.
Özcan therefore advises: if you are overweight and/or if you have a family with diabetes, be vigilant. Also be careful if you have Turkish, Moroccan or Surinamese-Hindu roots: these population groups have an increased risk of diabetes. Women who had diabetes during pregnancy also have an increased risk of developing type 2.
By: National Care Guide
