Who are diabetics according to medical science?

According to medical science, diabetics are individuals who have diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels due to the body's inability to properly produce or use insulin.

Types of Diabetes:

1. Type 1 Diabetes:

   • An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
   • Patients require lifelong insulin therapy.
   • Typically diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood.

2. Type 2 Diabetes:

   • The most common type, occurring when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin.
   • Often linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and genetics.
   • Can be managed with lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes insulin.

3. Gestational Diabetes:

   • Develops during pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet increased demands.
   • Usually resolves after childbirth but increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

4. Other Specific Types:

   • Monogenic diabetes (caused by a single gene mutation, like MODY - Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young).
   • Secondary diabetes (resulting from diseases such as pancreatitis or hormonal disorders).

Common Symptoms of Diabetes:

• Frequent urination (polyuria)
• Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
• Increased hunger (polyphagia)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Slow-healing wounds
• Blurred vision
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet

Diagnosis Criteria (According to WHO & ADA):

A person is diagnosed as diabetic if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG): ≥126 mg/dL (≥7.0 mmol/L) after 8 hours of fasting.
2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): ≥200 mg/dL (≥11.1 mmol/L) after 2 hours of consuming 75g glucose.
3. HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin Test): ≥6.5%.
4. Random Plasma Glucose: ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms of hyperglycemia.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition, but with proper management, diabetics can lead healthy lives and reduce complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage.

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