Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the way the body processes glucose in the blood, leading to high blood sugar and metabolic imbalances.
Full Definition:
Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a condition characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels, caused either by insufficient insulin production or by the inability of cells to respond effectively to it (insulin resistance).
Main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes: autoimmune condition in which the pancreas no longer produces insulin at all. It usually occurs in childhood or adolescence.
- Type 2 diabetes: the most common form, in which the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough of it. It occurs mainly in adults, but more and more often also in young people.
- Gestational diabetes: occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after childbirth, but increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.
Common symptoms:
- excessive thirst,
- frequent urination,
- fatigue,
- unexplained weight loss,
- blurred vision,
- slow wound healing.
Diagnostics:
- Blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL
- Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5%
- Glucose tolerance curve
Long-term complications (if not controlled):
- damage to blood vessels (cardiovascular risk),
- diabetic neuropathy (nerves),
- diabetic retinopathy (vision),
- kidney damage (nephropathy).
Intermittent fasting and diabetes:
Intermittent fasting has been studied as a method of:
- reduction of Blood Glucoseand Insulin,
- improvement of insulin sensitivity,
- weight loss (essential in type 2 diabetes),
- but requires strict medical supervision, especially in people taking medications to lower blood sugar.
Important:
People with diabetes should NOT start intermittent fasting without the recommendation and monitoring of the specialist doctor.
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