What Is Diabetes? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments Explained

Diabetes is a common but serious condition that affects how your body handles sugar. In USA alone, over 29.1 million people live with diabetes. This condition is marked by too much sugar in the blood — also known as chronic hyperglycemia. While there are different types of diabetes, the most common are diabete type (1) and diabete type (2), and both require proper medical care.

what are diabeties causes symtoms and treatments

In this article, we’ll explore the types of diabetes, their symptoms, causes, risk factors, and available treatments.

Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects how your body processes sugar from food. 

When everything is working normally, your blood sugar (glucose) stays within a healthy range — typically between 0.70 and 1.10 g/L when fasting.

After meals, your blood sugar rises, and your pancreas releases insulin, a hormone that helps move glucose into your cells for energy. 

If your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it properly, glucose builds up in the blood — leading to hyperglycemia.

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

A simple blood test done in a lab can confirm if you have diabetes. It’s usually diagnosed if:

- Fasting blood sugar is ≥ 1.26 g/L on two separate tests, or  

- Blood sugar is ≥ 2 g/L at any time during the day.

For gestational diabetes (during pregnancy), doctors use an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). 

This involves drinking a glucose solution and measuring your blood sugar at different intervals. 

If any value exceeds the recommended limit, gestational diabetes is diagnosed.

The Main Types of Diabetes

1) Type 1 Diabetes

1.8 million US individuals had type 1 diabetes in 2021 and often begins in childhood or adolescence, although it can occur at any age. 

It’s an autoimmune disease, meaning the body attacks the insulin-producing cells (beta cells) in the pancreas.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

• - Intense thirst
• - Frequent urination (including bedwetting in children)
• - Sudden weight loss, even with normal or increased appetite
• - Fatigue
• - Dehydration
• - Nausea, vomiting, and fruity-smelling breath (due to ketones from a lack of insulin)

If you notice these signs, it’s important to see a doctor right away.

Diabeties Causes

The exact cause isn’t known, but genetic risk plays a role. The risk is:

• - 8% if the father has diabetes
• - 4% if the mother has it
• - Up to 30% if both parents are affected

Environmental triggers such as certain viruses (like Coxsackievirus B), gut microbiome changes, or early nutrition may also be involved.

Treatment 

Since the body can’t make insulin, people with type 1 diabetes need daily insulin:

• - Through injections, or  
• - Using an insulin pump for continuous delivery.

2) Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90% of diabetes cases. It usually appears after age 40 but is increasingly seen in teens and young adults due to poor lifestyle habits.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Genetics (family history)
• Overweight or obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor diet
• Smoking

How It Works? 

In type 2 diabetes, the body either:

• Doesn’t use insulin properly (insulin resistance), or  
• Doesn’t produce enough insulin (insulin deficiency).

In both cases, glucose can’t enter the cells and stays in the bloodstream.

Symptoms often develop slowly and can go unnoticed for years. 

On average, it takes 5–10 years from the start of high blood sugar levels to get a diagnosis.

Treatment

• First, lifestyle changes: healthy eating and regular physical activity.
• If blood sugar remains high, oral medications are prescribed.
• Over time, some people may need insulin injections or stronger treatments.

Complications of Diabetes

Without proper treatment, diabetes can cause long-term damage to the body. Repeated high blood sugar levels can harm:

• Nerves (neuropathy)
• Eyes (retinopathy and vision loss)
• Kidneys (nephropathy)
• Blood vessels, increasing the risk of:
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Amputations
• Infections
• Sexual dysfunction

These complications develop slowly and often without clear symptoms at first. 

That’s why regular checkups and blood tests are essential for early detection and management.

Conclusion

Diabetes is more than just high blood sugar — it’s a chronic condition that needs proper attention and care. 

Whether it’s type (1) or type (2), early diagnosis and proper treatment can help prevent serious health issues. 

If you experience symptoms or have risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting tested.

Related Medical Sources

- [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]

- [World Health Organization (WHO) – Diabetes]

- [Mayo Clinic – Diabetes Overview]

- [American Diabetes Association – Learn About Diabetes]