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A chronic disease that occurs when blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is higher than usual.
What do you know about diabetes? In Germany, about 15.3% of the population suffers from diabetes, making it a very common illness. It is important to learn more about diabetes as well as the valuable information about all the contributing factors that get can help you be prepared and teach you how to live with it.
Diabetes is a chronic illness defined by high levels of blood glucose caused by the pancreas’ lack of insulin (blood glucose regulating hormone) production or the body’s inability to effectively use the produced insulin. Glucose is a valuable source of energy that builds up muscles and tissue, therefore the body’s irregular use of this source can cause serious health issues. Unregulated elevated blood glucose levels can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. You can find out more about diabetes in the next sections and discover more about each type of diabetes such as type 1, type 2, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes.
The MedWatcher app has a large database of various conditions and valuable expert information that can help you learn more about diabetes. If you wish to learn more, sign up here!
This type of diabetes is usually temporary and occurs during pregnancy which can potentially cause long-term risk for diabetes type 2. The blood glucose level is higher than normal but not as high to be considered diagnosed with diabetes. This can cause complications during pregnancy and delivery, potentially raising the likelihood of your baby having diabetes and developing type 2 diabetes later on in life. Often times after the birth of the baby, gestational diabetes goes away naturally.
Diabetes can have various health complications, as we will cover later on, which is why it is important to keep an eye out for any symptoms to identify them early on. Depending on the levels of blood glucose increase, symptoms may vary. If you have the following symptoms, see a medical professional to get your blood work done.
The MedWatcher app can help with identifying your conditions, providing the right expert advice, and discovering various symptoms to compare yours to. Sign up for the MedWatcher app to get professional feedback as soon as possible.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms are usually severe and come on fast, making it easy to identify this specific type of diabetes. Some of the symptoms you can experience are nausea, vomiting, and others:
Type 2 diabetes symptoms are typically difficult to notice and can take longer to develop. It is important to determine if you fall into the risk category for type 2 diabetes, which we will discuss the diagnosis of in the next sections. The symptoms that can be a bit more unnoticeable and take longer to develop are still similar to the ones of type 1 diabetes:
Prediabetes is hard to identify because of the lack of clear symptoms, therefore, it is important to get your blood glucose levels tested. This type is very common, similar to type 2 diabetes, where about one in five people between the ages of 18 and 79 have prediabetes.Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes if the right preventive measures are not taken.
This specific type of diabetes is not as common as prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, but is still prevalent in the German female population with about 5.9% of women giving birth in hospitals having had gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually does not show any symptoms, so it is important to determine if you fall into the risk category and get tested. However, it can demonstrate mild symptoms such as:
Diabetes-specific causes are unknown but are presumed to be due to genetic or environmental factors.
Type 1 diabetes-specific external causes are unknown but happen due to the pancreas’ inability to produce a sufficient amount of insulin. The underlying causes for what triggers the dysfunction are yet unclear. The treatment methods are also unknown.
On the other hand, diabetes type 2 was found in more than 5.8 million people in 2016and many prediabetes cases were left undiagnosed but are still as common, which are usually caused by bad nutrition, excess body weight, and lack of physical activity. The body’s inability to utilize the production of insulin properly is the reason for this diabetes.
Gestational diabetes causes are due to the overproduction of hormones during pregnancy causing weight gain which results in the body utilizing insulin less efficiently. This has an effect called insulin resistance which increases your body’s need for insulin.
Type 2 and prediabetes symptoms can be hard to identify, which makes the importance of finding out if you have any risk factors for diabetes much higher. If you have any of the risk factors listed below, make sure to contact your healthcare provider to get your blood work done and sign up for the MedWatcher app that can help you identify your conditions and find expert advice immediately.
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Type 1 diabetes-specific causes and risk factors are unknown and not identified, while type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are more common and understood. Some of the more identified risk factors are:
Type 2 diabetes is more common, where about 90% of the diabetes cases globally are of type 2 diabetes, and has clear risk factors as they are more likely to develop over time due to certain circumstances:
Similarly to type 2 diabetes, you fall into the risk category if you fall under one or more risk categories below:
At an early diagnosis of this type of diabetes, it is possible to reverse the effects through effective prevention measures.
Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in terms of risk factors:
If diabetes is managed poorly there is a possibility for severe health complications that can have a detrimental effect on the costs and quality of life. There can be effects on your cardiovascular system and other organs that have various implications depending on the severity of your diabetes.
Exceptionally high levels of blood glucose can trigger conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 and 2, hyperosmolar coma in type 2, and chronic kidney disease. Whereas, unusually low levels of blood glucose can cause loss of consciousness and seizures, which can strongly affect the quality of life of the individual.
With time, if diabetes is not managed correctly, you can face problems with your heart, liver, kidneys, nerves, foot health, eyes, hearing, oral health, and even mental health. Every person’s likelihood of complications is based on their overall health, however, a diabetes patient has a higher chance of developing health-related issues than an average person.
Damage to these organs can cause reduced blood flow and combined with nerve damage can cause serious health implications such as infections which can later result in amputation due to the reduced ability to heal. Nerve damage and vessel damage can also cause vision loss, hearing loss, and other effects.
The most common complication is on the cardiovascular system and people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop serious cardiovascular issuesthan an average person. Due to the effects on the quality of life, mental health is strongly affected and can cause issues later on in life.
For gestational diabetes, there can be detrimental effects on the mother and the child such as fetal loss, stillbirth, birth defects, and other health consequences.
A common treatment method for all types of diabetes is keeping a healthy lifestyle with nourishing habits such as proper nutrition and physical activity, as well as monitoring blood glucose levels regularly.
For type 1 and type 2 diabetes, it is important to follow the right treatment measures requires consistent management:
The best way to prevent diabetes or treat prediabetes is to improve your current lifestyle habits such as having good nutrition and exercising or physical activity to lose weight. One of the major risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes is a high body mass index (BMI), therefore working towards a healthy BMI is vital for preventing diabetes. A recent study has shown that people who reach the recommended levels of physical activity are 30% less likely to develop diabetesthan those who stay inactive. Implementing physical activity can be an effective method for treatment. The World Health Organization recommends at least 2.5 hours of aerobic physical activity per week. As for nutrition, managing your diet by implementing rich grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and legumes can decrease your risk of diabetes. Moderating alcohol intake, as well as lowering the consumption of refined grains, processed meats, and sugary drinks is an additional change that can be implemented for type 2 prevention.
Medications can facilitate some of the severe consequential effects or be used as a treatment method when combined with other health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
Treatment for having a safe pregnancy with gestational diabetes is to follow healthy eating and exercise regularly, similar to prediabetes treatment, but mainly monitor your blood glucose levels heavily. Though active exercise is helpful, it is not necessary, especially during pregnancy and the focus should be shifted more onto nutrition. Managing your diet by implementing rich grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and legumes can help treat gestational diabetes or at least decrease the risks of potential complications. Avoiding alcohol intake, as well as lowering the consumption of refined grains, processed meats, and sugary drinks is an additional nutritional treatment for this diabetes.
It is important to manage your diabetes well after receiving your diabetes diagnosis by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, monitoring your blood glucose, and other measures mentioned above.
Diabetes is usually diagnosed through various tests that take a sample of your blood or saliva.
The HbA1c (a long-term parameter of the glucose-levels in blood) test measures your blood glucose levels over the span of two to three months. The results come in a percentage and the higher the number, the higher the level of blood glucose. Fasting is not required for this test.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
The random plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose levels at any time and does not require fasting. A number of 200mg/dL or above indicates you have diabetes.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
The fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose levels at a certain time after 8 hours of fasting, meaning no eating and drinking only a little bit of water. A value of 126mg/dL and above indicate diabetes and 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
The glucose tolerance test measures blood glucose levels before and after consuming a liquid with glucose. After fasting for 8 hours, your blood will be tested and then tested again 2 hours after you consume the glucose-contained liquid. A result of 200 mg/dL and above indicate diabetes. This testing method is often used for identifying gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
Through genetic testing, a sample of your saliva or blood will be taken to identify a mutation in the gene that causes monogenic diabetes, which develops in the early stages of childhood.
The autoantibodies test can help identify any autoantibodies through a blood sample, a protein that attacks the body, which indicates diabetes. This is typically used to diagnose diabetes type 1, especially if you fall into the risk category through hereditary ways.
The HbA1c (a long-term parameter of the glucose-levels in blood) test measures your blood glucose levels over the span of two to three months. The results come in a percentage and the higher the number, the higher the level of blood glucose. Fasting is not required for this test.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
The random plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose levels at any time and does not require fasting. A number of 200mg/dL or above indicates you have diabetes.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
The fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose levels at a certain time after 8 hours of fasting, meaning no eating and drinking only a little bit of water. A value of 126mg/dL and above indicate diabetes and 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
The glucose tolerance test measures blood glucose levels before and after consuming a liquid with glucose. After fasting for 8 hours, your blood will be tested and then tested again 2 hours after you consume the glucose-contained liquid. A result of 200 mg/dL and above indicate diabetes. This testing method is often used for identifying gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Results for gestational diabetes can vary. Ask your healthcare provider what your results mean. American Diabetes Association
Through genetic testing, a sample of your saliva or blood will be taken to identify a mutation in the gene that causes monogenic diabetes, which develops in the early stages of childhood.
The autoantibodies test can help identify any autoantibodies through a blood sample, a protein that attacks the body, which indicates diabetes. This is typically used to diagnose diabetes type 1, especially if you fall into the risk category through hereditary ways.
A diabetes diagnosis can be very difficult news as it requires active changes in your lifestyle such as implementing a new regime and constantly monitoring your blood glucose levels. This can be rigorous to manage, especially when keeping track of all the treatment measures you have to take, such as the different types of medicine and other arising questions that you may have no answers to. Not only does this take a toll on your mental health, but it also can affect correct treatment measures.
MedWatcher is a digital health companion that allows you to discover insights about your medical conditions. With this app, you can learn more about the medicine that you need to take, explore other users’ stories and experiences and compare your personal information on this condition with other users.
Not only does this allow you to understand what specific measures you need to take, but it also allows you to visualize your condition in comparison to other people making you feel the community around the topic of diabetes.
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