How is diabetes cured? Diabetes cannot be cured, and it can only be controlled with proper diet, exercise, or medications. Diabetes is a disease in which the blood sugar level rises in abnormal amounts, causing the sugar to build up and damage vital organs such as the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Why is this happening? It is not known for sure what causes diabetes. We know certain factors that can predispose a person to have it, for example, family history, overweight, excessive consumption of sugars or fats, and sedentary life.
Diabetes is classified into two types:
Type I. The person is dependent on the administration of insulin because his body does not produce it.
Type II. The person’s body produces some insulin, and therefore it is not required to administer insulin constantly.
The pancreas is responsible for producing a substance called insulin. This substance carries sugar into cells, giving them the energy to carry out their functions. Sometimes this organ cannot produce enough insulin, and if the person consumes and has too much sugar, the insulin cannot transport it. At other times, there is enough insulin, but the cells ignore it and do not allow it to transport the sugar into them.
Why is diabetes called “The Silent Killer”?
Because in many cases, people do not know that they have diabetes since it can take a long time before symptoms appear. For this reason, it is important to have regular preventive exams if you have a family history of this disease or if you have any of these symptoms:
- Excessive thirst
- Urinate frequently
- Increased hunger
- Weight loss
- Suffer frequent infections
Currently, we have very effective medications, and your doctor will know which ones are the most suitable for each case. It is vital to have regular medical supervision and control this disease. Diabetes can damage the organs, cause a heart attack, blindness, kidney failure, and the possibility of very dangerous infections that go from losing limbs to death.
The diagnosis of this disease can be terrifying and worrying. Still, the reality is that if you see your doctor regularly and participate actively in its treatment, you can live a perfectly normal life! Remember, it is crucial to get tested, don’t be just another victim of the silent killer!
By Dr. Patricia Téllez Girón
Professor at the University of Wisconsin. Department of Family Medicine Wingra Clinic
