Diabetes, which is generally known as a hereditary disease, can occur without any symptoms. In order to prevent diabetes, the prevalence of which is increasing in society, it is necessary to adopt a lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and regular exercises.
Don’t say you don’t have diabetes because I don’t like sweets
The most common symptoms in diabetic patients are drinking a lot of water, going to the toilet frequently, eating a lot or loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, and dry mouth. In addition, there may be complaints such as blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, persistent infections, recurrent fungal infections, itching that should alert the patient and the doctor. However, in recent years, the number of cases detected only during screening without these symptoms and without any complaints has been increasing. For this reason, people with a family history of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and triglyceride values, and frequent low blood sugar should have their blood sugar checked once a year.
There are 6.5 million diabetics in Turkey
Diabetes; It is a lifelong disease. If not taken under control, it can lead to many diseases such as heart diseases, kidney failure and blindness. Approximately 6.5 million people in our country struggle with diabetes. 7.5% of this rate consists of newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Instead of being afraid of diabetes, which has become an epidemic in the society, it is necessary to recognize the disease and regulate the lifestyle in a healthy way.
Are you diabetic?
Fasting blood glucose is an important criterion for the diagnosis of diabetes; but it is not enough. For the correct diagnosis to be made, a blood sugar level of 200 mg/dl or higher at any time of the day, along with complaints such as drinking a lot of water and urinating a lot, a fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dl (after at least 8 hours of fasting), 75 gr. In the glucose load test, the 2nd hour blood sugar should be 200 mg/dl and above, and the A1c value should be above 6.5%.
Who is at risk?
Obese or overweight individuals are especially in the risk group. (Body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) If the waist circumference is above 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men, this may indicate danger.
People with diabetes in their first-degree relatives
Women who gave birth to a large baby or who were previously diagnosed with “Gestational diabetes”
Those with hypertension, high blood fats and disorders (HDL-cholesterol ≤35 mg/dl or triglyceride ≥250 mg/dl
Pre-diabetic conditions
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Clinical disease related to insulin resistance or people with symptoms
Those with cardiovascular diseases or cerebral vascular disease
People born with low birth weight
Inactive and high calorie unbalanced diet (nutrition rich in saturated fats and low in fiber) habits)
Schizophrenic patients and people using certain drugs
Solid organ (especially kidney) transplant patients body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 level should pay particular attention.
Gestational diabetes screening is very important
Diabetes screening should be done in all pregnant women whether they are in the risk group or not, in order to minimize the vital risks of the baby, reduce the birth difficulties that a large baby may bring, and to predict Type 2 diabetes that may develop in the mother in the future. .
A personalized treatment plan should be determined
Type 1 diabetes develops on the basis of the insufficiency or ineffectiveness of the hormone insulin, one of the hormones that control blood sugar. In these patients, the complaints of drinking a lot of water, urination and involuntary rapid weight loss occur in a short time. In cases called type 2 diabetes, there is insensitivity to the hormone insulin. These people are the cases with insulin excess for a long time in the periods before insulin deficiency. In addition, there are diabetes tables that occur with the irregular release of other hormones that are effective in the control of blood sugar. Here, the correct diagnosis has a positive effect on the treatment.
Obese or overweight people are recommended to be screened for diabetes every 3 years starting from the age of 40, but annual screening with fasting blood glucose is required for people with risk factors. A life change that includes proper nutrition and exercise is the first and foremost step of treatment. It is necessary to know the patient and to apply the most appropriate method depending on the person. Insulin is an indispensable drug for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. In the treatment of type 2 diabetes; Regular drug use and weight control are important from the first step of treatment. Patients should be told that their eating habits should be changed permanently and that this will continue throughout their lives.
