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Diabetes: An increasingly common condition

In this article Dr. Luis Hidalgo, Medical Director at HC Marbella International Hospital, answers the most commonly raised questions relating to diabetes.

 
 

What is diabetes? What does it involve?

Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a disorder in which the body is unable to regulate glucose (sugar) in the blood.

 

The cells of the body need sugar to function normally. Sugar is introduced into cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is insufficient insulin or if cells do not respond well to insulin, blood sugar levels increase. This is what happens in people with diabetes.

 
 

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

On many occasions diabetes does not produce any symptoms. If they do occur they can include: need to urinate frequently, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision…

 
 

Why should we worry about it?

Because although it might not cause any symptoms and the patient may not feel unwell, over time diabetes can cause serious problems. If not treated correctly it can lead to:
 

• Heart attacks,
• Stroke (cerebral infarct),
• Kidney disease,
• Sight problems including blindness,
• Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet,
• Need for amputation of the fingers or toes.

 
 

How can I find out if I have diabetes?

To do this you will need to have a blood test to measure the concentration of glucose (sugar) in your blood.

 
 

What are the risk factors?

Some factors which increase the risk of diabetes have been identified. They are as follows:
 

• Being overweight,
• Being over 45 years of age,
• Family history of diabetes mellitus,
• Sedentary lifestyle,
• Having given birth to a baby weighing more than 4.1 Kg or diabetes in pregnancy,
• High blood pressure,
• Increased blood cholesterol (“hypercholesterolaemia”),
• Polycystic ovary syndrome.

 

At HC Marbella we recommend a blood test to rule out diabetes in individuals who are overweight and have one of the other risk factors. Patients without the above mentioned risk factors should be tested from the age of 45.

 
 

How is diabetes treated?

There are many drugs that can be used to control blood glucose levels. Some people need to take tablets which help the body produce more insulin or which help the insulin to be more effective. Others need medication which cannot be taken orally but needs to be given via a small injection. This includes insulin and a new group of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.

 

Prevention of the problems which can be caused by diabetes is important and can be achieved by keeping blood glucose within normal limits. However this is only one aspect that requires attention. High blood pressure and high cholesterol frequently cause more serious problems than those caused by high blood sugar. Compared to the non-diabetic population, diabetics are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer a heart attach or stroke. For this reason, people with diabetes often require medication to control blood pressure or cholesterol levels to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke.

 

It is not only medication that is an important tool in the management of diabetes. The recommended diet is a Mediterranean Diet. This includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain cereals with a limited amount of meat, fried foods or foods rich in saturated fat (“bad” fats). It is also important to do regular physical exercise and avoid being overweight. Not smoking is essential to help people with diabetes to remain healthy.

 
 

Can diabetes be prevented?

It is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes. The most important thing that you can do is to control your weight and avoid obesity. If you are already diabetic losing weight can also improve your health and help to control your blood sugar levels. Physical exercise also aids in prevention and control of the disease.

 

 

September 22, 2016

 

 

 

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