Study Shows Pre-diagnosis And Prevention Can Slow Diabetes Growth
Brazil has about 16.8 million people with diabetes, the fifth country with the most cases in the world, according to the Ministry of Health. The forecast is that the number of cases will increase, according to a report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which indicates that 62 million people live with diabetes in the Americas. This number should reach 109 million by 2040. Another piece of data that calls the attention of PAHO is that, of the 62 million people with diabetes, 40% do not know they have the disease and 284,000 died as a result of it in 2019. expressive increase, according to the report, are linked to the growth of risk factors such as overweight, obesity and lack of physical exercise by the population.
According to Professor Luiz Osório Silveira Leiria, from the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (FMRP) at USP, one of the ways to combat the advance of diabetes is early diagnosis and prevention, not only for the adoption of medication, but for the promotion of healthier habits. Diabetes is divided into type 1 and type 2, and each has distinct characteristics and signs. The professor explains that “type 1 diabetes is characterized by increased urine flow, frequency of urination and thirst, and type 2 diabetes can be observed by changes in glucose tolerance, diagnosed through periodic monitoring of blood glucose”.
In addition, Leiria clarifies that obesity and an unbalanced diet are factors linked to the progression of diabetes, and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, with regular physical exercise and a balanced diet, are essential for the prevention and control of the disease.
Differences between types
Type 1 diabetes, according to Leiria, is an autoimmune disease, in which the body develops antibodies against components of the body itself, such as insulin, linked to the beginning of life, usually developed between childhood and adolescence. The lack of insulin leads to increased blood glucose in the body. The disease usually presents itself in childhood or adolescence and, among the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, are tingling in the legs and feet, wounds that are slow to heal and nail fungus. Constant thirst, dry mouth, urge to urinate all the time and weight loss are also considered symptoms.
Already in type 2, the body even produces insulin, but the substance cannot act in the body due to resistance caused by excess abdominal fat. “Type 2 diabetes is a slowly progressive disease, which usually occurs at older ages, being the result of a combination of genetic factors and a less healthy lifestyle”, concludes the professor.
Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent because it is directly linked to lifestyle, especially in people with excess weight, sedentary behavior, unhealthy eating habits and a family history of diabetes. In most cases, manifestations occur after 40 years of age and with the possibility of late complications, including kidney, ophthalmological and neuropathic problems. Type 2 diabetes is responsible for 90% of cases and is usually asymptomatic, but it may show some signs that the disease may be establishing itself, such as excessive hunger, urge to urinate more frequently than usual, constant thirst, loss of heaviness, fatigue and weakness, and even changes in mood.