Diabetes is a chronic disease It appears when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. The effect of uncontrolled diabetes is hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar), which over time severely damages many organs and systems.
November 14 is celebrated World Diabetes Day, an annual event that serves to generate worldwide awareness of the problem of diabetes, the dizzying increase in morbidity rates and how to avoid the disease in most cases.
World Diabetes Day, instituted at the initiative of the International Diabetes Federation and WHO, is celebrated on this date to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, played a decisive role in the discovery. in 1922 insulin, a hormone that allows diabetics to treat and save their lives.
Types of diabetes
Within the framework of this date, we want to get a little closer to the types of diabetes that exist, a disease that affects more and more pregnant women (gestational diabetes) and more children.
Type 1 diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent, juvenile or onset in childhood). It is characterized by poor insulin production and requires daily administration of this hormone. The cause of type 1 diabetes is still unknown, and cannot be prevented with current knowledge.
Type 2 diabetes (previously called non-insulin-dependent or onset in adulthood) is due to an inefficient use of insulin. This type represents 90% of global cases and is largely due to excessive body weight and physical inactivity. Until recently, this type of diabetes was only observed in adults, but currently it is also manifesting in children.
Gestational diabetes is a hyperglycemic state that appears or is first detected during pregnancy. Its symptoms are similar to those of type 2 diabetes, but it is usually diagnosed by prenatal tests, rather than because the patient reports symptoms.
Fundamental facts about diabetes
WHO offers us these fundamental data on diabetes that account for its enormous worldwide incidence and not optimistic forecasts:
- In the world there are more than 346 million people with diabetes.
- It is estimated that in 2004 3.4 million people died as a result of excess blood sugar.
- More than 80% of deaths from diabetes are recorded in low and middle income countries.
- Almost half of those deaths correspond to people under 70, and 55% to women.
- WHO expects deaths from diabetes to multiply by two between 2005 and 2030.
- Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent type 2 diabetes or delay its onset.
After this review by the main data on this disease, and after World Diabetes Day, we will return with new information about diabetes and how it affects children.
