Diabetes is a chronic disease (evolving in time for a long time) that does not heal but can be treated and controlled. It can be linked either to an increase in blood sugar (Diabetes Diabetes) or to low water retention by the kidneys (then it will be called tasteless diabetes). Diabetes is the result of a dysfunction in the hormonal signals of our body leading to an increase in blood sugar (blood sugar). This disease mainly involves our liver and our liver.
Diabetes in number
The progression of diabetes in the world is a real public health problem. According to the Federation International Diabetes (IDF), 425 million people were diagnosed with diabetes in 2017 for 108 million in 1980. More than 16 million of these cases were detected in Africa.
In Cameroon, 2 % of people die of diabetes every year. The number of deaths due to diabetes according to the age group varies between 1000 and 1300 people for patients aged 30 to 69 and between 800 and 1300 for the most 70 years old.
How many types are there?
It is important to remember that the regulation of blood sugar (blood sugar levels) is under the major control of the insulin, a hormone produced by certain cells of the pancreatic. This insulin works by promoting the passage of blood from blood to user cells, reducing its blood concentration. Diabetes happens when one of the mechanisms participating in the chain of regulation by this diabetes is compromise. Thus, we distinguish:
- Diabetes Type 1: here, the diabetes is produced in lack of quantity, reducing the storage of the blood out of the blood (so in the tissues)
- Diabetes Type 2: insulin produced in sufficient quantity but target organs (Liver, muscles) remain indifferent
These last 2 are the most common. However, there is also the: - gestational diabetes: which is a form of hyperglycaemia affecting pregnant women
- newborn diabetes, cause of sweet diabetes in newborns
What are at risk of diabetes?
For Type 1 Diabetes, we have a genetic sensitivity but other factors (infection, environmental) are combined.
On the other hand, type 2 Diabetes is heritable. A person has a 40 % chance to do diabetes if one of their parents is diabetic, and 70 % chances if both are. Overweight (excess fat especially in the belly), lack of physical activity (physical inactivity), tobacco and high blood pressure can also promote type 2. Diabetes.