What is diabetes? Diabetes occurs when your body cannot properly process and utilize the glucose in the food it consumes, resulting in too much glucose in your bloodstream. This can cause serious health problems. It can also affect other vital organs, damaging your heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and many other organs and tissues. Diabetes is one of the most common and fatal diseases in Turkey and the world.

Why does blood sugar level rise?

Carbohydrates we consume from food (such as rice, bread, and pasta) are converted into glucose, which is transported into cells by binding to insulin (a hormone produced in the pancreas) to provide energy. You can think of insulin as the key that allows glucose to enter our cells. This glucose entering the cell provides the energy needed by that organ or tissue and allows the tissue to function properly.

If you have diabetes;

Your pancreas may not be making enough insulin, or it may be making enough insulin but your cells may be less sensitive to insulin or unresponsive.

In this case, sugar can't pass into your cells and begins to accumulate in your blood. Your blood sugar level rises.

Diabetes Symptoms and Methods

• Feeling of thirst with dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Recurrent infections of unexplained cause
• Delayed healing of wounds
• Numbness or loss of sensation in the hands and feet
• Feeling tired
• Drowsiness or sleepiness after meals
• Blurred vision
• Weight loss
• Dry and itchy skin, especially in women, can cause frequent fungal and urinary tract infections.

What are the Complications of Diabetes?

If your blood sugar level is high for a long time, this can cause serious damage to your tissues and organs.

• Kidney failure resulting from kidney damage, dialysis, and kidney transplantation
• It can cause eye damage that can lead to blindness (retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts).
• Erection problems dysfunction
• Depression
• Recurring dental problems
• Dementia
• Neuropathy, which causes numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes due to nerve damage
• Cardiovascular problems include atherosclerosis and high cholesterol, coronary artery disease
• It causes chest pain, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.

You can benefit from our Diabetes check-up center at Private Ankara Magnet Hospital .

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

Diabetes is diagnosed with three tests. These three tests measure your blood sugar level: fasting blood sugar (FBG), HbA1c, and a random blood sugar test.

1-Fasting blood sugar (FBS) requires an 8-hour fast. Blood sugar is measured after an 8-hour fast from evening to morning (nothing should be eaten). Normal blood sugar is less than 100. A reading between 100 and 125 indicates prediabetes, and a reading above 126 indicates diabetes.

2-Random blood sugar testing can be done at any time. Fasting is not required. Normal blood sugar levels are below 140. 140-199 is prediabetic, and above 200 is diabetes.

3. HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin test) shows your average blood sugar level over the last 2-3 months. Normally, it should be less than 5.7%. Higher than 6.5% indicates diabetes. It measures the amount of glucose bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells.

4-Postprandial blood sugar test (oral glucose tolerance test). The first measurement is fasting blood sugar. The patient is then given sugar water, and blood sugar levels are measured at 2 and 3 hours.

• If it is less than 140, it is normal.
• Prediabetes between 140-199
• If it is over 200, it is diabetes.

You can have your diabetes diagnosis tests done in our internal medicine department at Private Ankara Magnet Hospital .

Gestational diabetes tests

Pregnant women undergo two blood sugar tests. A glucose tolerance test involves drinking a sugary liquid and checking blood sugar levels one hour later. If the test result is above 140, an oral glucose tolerance test is performed.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

This type of diabetes occurs in children and adolescents. Also known as juvenile diabetes, it results from autoimmune damage to the beta cells in the pancreas, leading to their inability to produce insulin.

What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

Weight loss, weak muscles, fatigue, constant thirst, frequent urination, poor wound healing, dry itchy skin, vision impairment.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is rare and occurs in children and young people under 30, and is caused by insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes most commonly occurs in people over 45 due to genetics and aging.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

It occurs in adults over the age of 45. The pancreas either cannot produce enough insulin, or if it does produce it, there is a problem with insulin use. This causes blood sugar to rise. It can be insidious.

What are the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

Symptoms include acetone odor in the mouth, frequent hunger pangs, hand-arm tremors when hungry, intolerance to hunger, vision deterioration or blurring, weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.

What is diabetes insipudus?

It's a disease called pseudodiabetes, characterized by excessive water drinking, excessive urination, and excessive thirst. It occurs due to a deficiency of the hormone vasopressin due to damage to the pituitary gland and its posterior aspect. Vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) acts on the kidneys to concentrate urine. This can be due to conditions such as pituitary tumors, infections, head trauma, or congenital hormonal deficiency.

Another reason may be that the kidneys are insensitive to ADH (antidiuretic hormone).

What is diabetes mellitus?

Fasting blood sugar levels are normally between 70 and 100. When this level exceeds 120, sugar begins to appear in the urine. Diabetes mellitus means sugary urine.

What is hidden sugar?

This is also called prediabetes, which affects one in three people. Blood sugar levels are lower than the accepted level for diabetics, but higher than normal. These patients are said to have prediabetes. They are candidates for diabetes, and many are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

Diagnosis of Hidden Diabetes

First, fasting blood sugar is checked, which is normal in most cases.

Secondly, postprandial blood sugar levels are checked, and fluctuations in postprandial blood sugar are observed. Diagnosis is made based on postprandial blood sugar.

With a balanced diet and appropriate exercise plans, latent sugar can be controlled and deterioration can be prevented.

If the necessary precautions are not taken, many complications such as organ damage and heart attack may occur.

What are the symptoms of hidden diabetes?

Intolerance to hunger, frequent food cravings, dry mouth, sleepiness after meals, weakness, fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, weight gain, increased blood pressure, skin color changes, sweet tooth, etc.

How to get rid of hidden sugar?

Hidden sugar can be controlled by losing weight, exercising and a regular diet.

Neurological (Stress-related) diabetes

People who are very anxious and extremely stressed are more likely to develop diabetes.

How is neurological diabetes treated?

The patient is removed from stress and stress factors. Regular exercise and a diet program are implemented, and medical treatment for diabetes is administered.

What are the causes of neurological diabetes?

-Excessive stress and irritability

- Obesity and excess weight gain

-Long-term sedentary lifestyle

-Family history of diabetes

-Senile

Symptoms of diabetes in women

-Decrease in sexual desire

Vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse

-Skin dryness and itching

Frequently repeated genital infections

-Visual impairment, blurred vision

- Frequent hunger and intolerance to hunger

-Sudden weight changes, weight loss, weight gain

-Dry mouth, drinking lots of water

-Frequent urination

– Recurring infections

You can have your examinations and tests related to your illness done in our Private Ankara Magnet Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Men

• Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection.

The most common causes of erectile dysfunction in men are diabetes, high blood pressure, medication, kidney disease, circulatory and nervous system diseases, and smoking.

In male patients with diabetes, the autonomic nervous system may be damaged and sexual problems may occur.

The autonomic nervous system controls the constriction and dilation of blood vessels. Damage to this system can cause erectile dysfunction.

Additionally, reduced blood flow in blood vessels damaged by diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction.

• Retrograde ejaculation may occur in men with diabetes.
• Frequent urological problems may occur due to nerve damage.

-Inability to control urination

-Overactive bladder

-Frequently recurring urinary tract infections

• Dry mouth, feeling of thirst
• Fatigue, weakness
• Blurred vision
• Delayed healing of wounds
• Extreme hunger
• Frequent urination
• Drinking lots of water
• Weight loss

Our male patients with diabetes can have their urological examinations at Private Ankara Magnet Hospital .

Symptoms of High Blood Sugar

• Dry skin, itching
• Fatigue, weakness
• Tendency to sleep
• Dry mouth, feeling of thirst
• blurred vision
• The desire to drink a lot of water and frequent urination
• Delay in healing of wounds
• Frequent infections
• Weight loss
• Headache

How to lower sugar?

Diabetic patients absolutely must control their blood sugar levels. To achieve this, patients must perform regular tasks. They must pay attention to their diet, adhere to an exercise program, take their medications regularly, and have regular checkups.

Disturbances in these areas can cause damage to many organs, including the cardiovascular, vascular, nervous, renal, and eye systems. The sole cause of all these problems is uncontrolled high blood sugar. By preventing hyperglycemia, patients are protected from many symptoms and complications.

Diet is crucial for patients with diabetes. Patients must be educated about its importance. Many people believe that medication only treats the disease and are unaware of the importance of diet.

The most frequently asked questions are what lowers blood sugar, what lowers high blood sugar, how blood sugar is lowered.

However, the patient often doesn't understand the importance of diet. The patient must be made aware of this, as nothing can replace diet.

To lower blood sugar;

Carbohydrate intake is reduced through diet.

Our body's primary energy source is carbohydrates. They are converted directly into glucose and directly raise blood sugar. Foods like sugar, white flour, white bread, potatoes, pasta, starch, and flour, in particular, rapidly raise blood sugar. These foods should be avoided. Diabetics should consume complex carbohydrates, such as brown flour and bulgur, which are high in fiber and don't cause a sudden blood sugar spike.

Exercise Regularly

Light-paced exercises spread throughout the day are very beneficial for diabetic patients.

Lose weight

One of the most important ways to lower blood sugar is to lose weight and maintain weight control. The increased fat tissue that comes with weight gain, along with the accumulation of toxins within this fat tissue, increases insulin resistance and negatively impacts diabetes. Therefore, it's important for patients to reach their ideal weight with the guidance of a dietitian and regular exercise. Reaching the ideal weight balances blood sugar, leading to a more energetic, energetic, and happy feeling.

Getting Away From Stress

Cortisone and glucagon, released during stress, reduce the effectiveness of insulin and cause blood sugar to rise. Therefore, it's important to avoid stress and stressful environments. Other stress-inducing factors, such as insomnia and sleep disorders, are also very important.

Measuring blood sugar regularly

Timely detection of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is crucial for intervention. It is also crucial for measuring treatment effectiveness. It helps monitor treatment outcomes, including diet adherence, medication dosage, and timing.

If your blood sugar levels are high when you measure it at home, you should review your diet. If your blood sugar levels are high despite being careful and moderate in your diet, consult your doctor. Your medication dose may need to be adjusted or your medication may need to be changed.

What should diabetics eat?

You need to consume foods that lower blood sugar, such as cinnamon, fish containing Omega 3, high-fiber vegetables, green leafy vegetables, yogurt, blueberries.

They can eat whole grains, low-fat dairy products, legumes (chickpeas, peas, lentils, beans), and limited fruit.

You can get detailed information about your diabetes diet in our diet department at Private Ankara Magnet Hospital .

Can Diabetes Be Cured?

Diabetes is a chronic, lifelong disease with complications. The goal of treatment is to keep blood sugar levels within normal limits, minimizing and preventing damage to tissues and organs at the cellular level. It's crucial to incorporate exercise and diet into your lifestyle and implement them consistently.

Can Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes Be Prevented?

You can control your risk factors for diabetes with a healthy lifestyle and habits and prevent, delay, or prevent complications from developing diabetes.

These:

-The Mediterranean diet is healthy. (Eat green leafy vegetables)

Don't stay inactive; increase your physical activity. A 30-minute daily walk, as part of a program, is very effective.

-Lose weight and get rid of extra kilos. If you are pregnant, do not try to lose weight but to avoid gaining too much weight and maintain a moderate weight control.

-If you drink alcohol, please limit it.

-Maintain your sleep routine

-Quit smoking

-Reduce your stress by doing meditation, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and yoga.

Which organs are damaged by diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease and if blood sugar is not controlled, it causes damage to many organs and tissues.

Blindness: Uncontrolled diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina of the eye and can cause blindness.

Hearing Loss: Hearing loss in diabetic patients is twice as high as in healthy people.

Amputations : Injuries and wounds can result from inadequate circulation and inadequate oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, leading to delayed or even untimely healing and subsequent infection. Amputations of body parts such as toes, feet, and legs may be necessary to prevent the spread of disease from the infected area to other parts of the body.

Kidney Failure: Kidney failure may develop in kidneys that are not nourished adequately by filtering high-sugar blood, producing high-sugar urine, and frequently recurring infections.

-Neuropathy: Neuropathies may occur as a result of damaged blood vessels and nerve cells that cannot be nourished.

-Your heart is in danger: Damaged coronary arteries can cause heart attack, undernourished heart muscle, and heart failure.

-Diabetic Ketoacidosis (Coma): It occurs when the amount of acid in the blood increases.

-Risk of Stroke in Diabetes: The risk of stroke and paralysis increases twofold in diabetic patients. The risk of stroke is increased even at an early age.

Ankara Private Magnet Hospital has a check-up program specifically designed for diabetes. This check-up includes a wide range of examinations and tests to assess complications and organ damage.