2023-11-14 08:52:00
World Diabetes Day is celebrated annually on November 14, the anniversary of the birth of Sir Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1921.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines diabetes as a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin it produces. The hormone insulin regulates the concentration of glucose in the blood, that is, glycemia. When diabetes is not controlled, hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) occurs, which seriously damages many organs and systems in the body in the long term.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the absence of insulin synthesis. Type 2 diabetes occurs due to the body’s inability to effectively use insulin, which is often a result of excess weight or physical inactivity. Gestational diabetes, which appears during pregnancy, is due to hyperglycemia.
Among the most common symptoms of diabetes are:
- feeling very thirsty;
- need to urinate more frequently than usual;
- blurry vision;
- fatigue;
- lose weight unintentionally.
It is not possible to prevent type 1 diabetes, but type 2 diabetes could be prevented in many cases by leading a healthy lifestyle. To do this, it is recommended:
- achieve and maintain a healthy body weight;
- stay physically active with at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day;
- follow a healthy diet, without sugar or saturated fats;
- do not smoke tobacco.
In our community the “Comprehensive Care Plan for people with Diabetes Mellitus in Aragon”whose last update is from 2021. The general objective of this plan is to improve care for patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Aragon throughout their care process, in order to reduce its incidence and morbidity and mortality and to increase the survival and quality of life of the affected people.
Sources and links of interest:
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