DIABETES MELLITUS - SCI & TECH
News: Early
diagnosis, treatment of diabetes in pregnant women benefit infants, finds study
What's in the news?
● Early
diagnosis and treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus results in additional
protection for babies and mothers from pregnancy complications, as per the
results of a multi-centric, randomized controlled trial published recently in
the New England Journal of Medicine.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus:
● Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which a hormone made by the placenta prevents the body from using insulin
effectively.
● Glucose builds up in the
blood instead of being absorbed by the cells.
● Unlike
type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but
by other hormones produced during pregnancy that can make insulin less
effective, a condition referred to as insulin resistance.
● Gestational
diabetic symptoms disappear following
delivery.
Diabetes:
● Diabetes
is a chronic medical condition that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels properly.
● Blood
sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the main source of energy for the body’s
cells.
● Insulin, a hormone
produced by the pancreas, helps the body use and
store glucose from food.
● In
diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the
insulin it produces effectively, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
● Over
time, high blood sugar levels can cause serious health problems, such as damage
to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Types of Diabetes:
There
are two main types of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes:
● It
is an autoimmune disease in which
the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas,
resulting in a lack of insulin.
● This
type of diabetes is typically diagnosed
in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age.
● It
requires insulin injections or pump
therapy for survival.
Type 2 diabetes:
● It
is a metabolic disorder in which the
body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough
insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.
● This
type of diabetes is often associated
with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet.
● It
is typically diagnosed in adults,
but it is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents as well.
● Treatment
for Type 2 diabetes may include lifestyle changes, oral medications, or insulin
therapy.