Diabetes Mellitus: Types, Symptoms and Control
In Viamedwe understand that a diagnosis of diabetes can raise many doubts. Our priority is to offer you a clear and human vision, supported by the most advanced technology, so that you understand what is happening in your body and how to maintain your well-being.
This article and the clinical approach of our center would not be possible without the direction, supervision and scientific rigor of the Dr. Iris de Luna Boquerahead of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service at ViaCare Medical Center.
What is Diabetes Mellitus exactly?
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease defined by high levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) due to defects in insulin secretion, its action in tissues, or both. This sustained elevation of glucose can compromise the integrity of vital organs such as eyes, kidneys, cardiovascular system and nervous system, in addition to the risk of acute complications if untreated (diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma).
The role of insulin: The “key” to cellular energy
To understand diabetes, it is helpful to imagine insulin as a “key” produced by the pancreas. This hormone is responsible for opening the “doors” of cells so that sugar (glucose) from food enters and is transformed into the energy that your body needs to function. When this key is missing or not working properly, sugar builds up in your bloodstream instead of feeding your cells.
Types of Diabetes: How are they different?
It is essential to distinguish between the different types of diabetes, since their biological mechanisms and treatments vary significantly.
Type 1 Diabetes (DM1)
It occurs when the immune system selectively destroys the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. This causes an absolute deficiency of the hormone, so people with DM1 require daily injections or the use of an insulin pump.
Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)
It is the most common form, representing between 90% and 95% of global cases. In this type, the body presents insulin resistance (it does not use it properly) and, over time, the pancreas loses the ability to produce enough.
Gestational Diabetes (GDM):
It is a type of glucose intolerance that is identified for the first time during pregnancy in women who did not previously have a diagnosis of diabetes. Although it usually disappears after childbirth, it increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future for both mother and child.
Other specific types
This group includes less frequent, but equally important forms:
- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes (LADA): A slowly progressive autoimmune process that usually manifests in adulthood and is often initially confused with type 2. Its management is equivalent to that of DM1.
- Monogenic Diabetes (like MODY): Caused by specific genetic defects in beta cell function.
Diagnosis: How do we measure your metabolic health?
In Viamedwe use international precision criteria to identify not only diabetes, but also previous states where we still have time to act.
Criteria for clinical diagnosis
To confirm the presence of the disease, we rely on the following values obtained through highly reliable analyses:
| Proof | Diabetes Result |
|---|---|
| fasting glucose |
≥ 126 mg/dl (after 8 hours without eating) |
| Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) |
≥ 6.5% (average of the last 3 months) |
| Tolerance test (2h) |
≥ 200 mg/dl (after glucose overload) |
| Random glucose |
≥ 200 mg/dl (with classic symptoms present) |
The prediabetes spectrum: Your window of opportunity
Prediabetes is considered when levels are higher than normal, but do not yet reach the threshold of the disease (fasting between 100-125 mg/dl or HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4%). Detecting this phase in our preventive checkups allows us to reverse or delay the progression of the pathology in more than one 50% through targeted lifestyle changes.
Treatment and Technology at Viamed: Your control in real time
Modern management has gone from being “curative” to being “preventive” and personalized. In Viamedwe integrate molecular biology with innovative technology.
The 3 pillars of comprehensive management:
- Smart Power: Low glycemic index diets and heart-healthy patterns such as the Mediterranean style.
- Physical Activity: Exercise acts as a “medicine” that improves cellular sensitivity to insulin.
- Personalized Pharmacology: From traditional oral drugs to new GLP-1 agonists that protect your cardiovascular health.
Innovation that changes lives
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): Sensors that measure glucose every 1-5 minutes. They allow you to see the impact of exercise and food in real time, eliminating most daily finger sticks.
- Automatic Insulin Systems (AID): Known as an “artificial pancreas,” these devices connect the sensor to the insulin pump using an intelligent algorithm. They adjust doses automatically to always keep you in your target range (70-180 mg/dl).
Long-term complications: The importance of prevention
Poorly controlled diabetes is not just a matter of high blood sugar; It is a disease that, over time, can trigger a cascade of multi-organ damage due to systemic inflammation and deterioration of blood vessels. In Viamedour preventive approach seeks to prevent these complications from developing.
Multi-organ damage and systemic health
Sustained hyperglycemia compromises the functional integrity of various vital systems:
- Heart and blood vessels: Diabetes doubles the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Kidneys (Nephropathy): High sugar damages kidney filters, being one of the main causes of kidney failure.
- Eyes (Retinopathy): Damage to retinal vessels can cause vision loss and is a major cause of blindness.
The Nervous System and the Diabetic Foot
One of the most serious complications is damage to the peripheral nerves, known as neuropathy. This condition can cause loss of sensation in the feet, allowing small wounds to go unnoticed and evolve into serious ulcers.
- Amputation risk: The combination of poor circulation and infections can lead to limb loss if not treated in time.
- Active prevention: In Viamedwe carry out annual sensitivity screenings to detect risk before the first lesion appears.
Diabetes is a complex condition, but with early diagnosis and use of current technological frontiers, it does not have to limit your life. Success is not measured only in numbers, but in preserving your long-term physical and social health.
In Viamedwe are prepared to accompany you. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. We invite you to undergo a preventive check-up with our multidisciplinary team to regain control of your well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Diabetes
Can diabetes be reversed?
Although there is no definitive “cure,” type 2 diabetes can go into remission. This means achieving normal blood sugar levels without the need for medication, something many patients achieve through significant weight loss and profound, sustained lifestyle changes.
Is it necessary to always use insulin?
It depends on the type of diabetes. In type 1, insulin is vital and mandatory from diagnosis. In type 2, many patients initially control it with diet, exercise and oral drugs, although they may need insulin in advanced phases or moments of metabolic lack of control.
How does stress influence my sugar levels?
Physical or emotional stress activates hormones that naturally raise blood glucose. In people with diabetes, this increase can be difficult to compensate for, which is why managing emotional well-being is an integral part of our treatment plans at Viamed.
What is the difference between prediabetes and type 2 diabetes?
Prediabetes is a gray area where fasting glucose levels are between 100 and 125 mg/dl. It is a critical warning sign, since sugar is higher than normal but has not yet reached the diagnostic threshold for the disease. Most importantly, at this stage, lifestyle intervention can reduce the risk of progression by more than 50%.
Can I eat fruit regularly if I am diabetic?
Yes, people with diabetes can and should eat fruit, but the key is how. It is recommended to consume it whole and with skin instead of in juices, since the fiber helps the sugar to be absorbed more slowly. At Viamed, our nutritionists will teach you how to choose those with a lower glycemic index and adjust the portions according to your level of physical activity.
Is diabetes 100% hereditary?
Having a first-degree family history significantly increases the risk, especially in type 2 diabetes. However, genetics is not the only destiny; Factors such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are usually the “switches” that activate this predisposition. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is the most powerful tool to counteract genetic load.
