Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, which can eventually cause catastrophic damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nervous system.
The most prevalent form is type 2 diabetes, which primarily affects adults and occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough of it.
Over the last three decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased rapidly in countries of all income levels.
Read Also: How To Identify Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a long-term illness in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin.
For diabetics, access to affordable therapy, particularly insulin, is critical for survival.
There is a global goal to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025.
Diabetes affects approximately 422 million people globally, the vast majority of whom live in low- and middle-income nations.
Diabetes causes around 1.5 million deaths annually. In recent decades, the number of diabetes cases and global prevalence have continuously increased.
Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, persistent hunger, unexplained weight loss, visual problems, and exhaustion.
These symptoms may arise suddenly.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms are often comparable but less severe, which can delay identification until complications develop.
As a result, understanding the risk factors linked with type 2 diabetes is critical for early detection and management.
