Introduction: Diabetes has become a major problem in the field of global health, and its spread is shocking and widespread. According to statistics, the number of diabetic patients on the mainland accounts for about a quarter of the world, which is a shocking number.
However, diabetes itself is not terrible, it is just a chronic disease, what is really terrible is the consequences it brings, those seemingly tiny cells, under the long-term lack of nutrition, will die in batches, this cell death accumulates to a certain extent, it will cause a variety of serious complications, seriously threatening the life and health of patients.
One of the distinguishing features of diabetes is that blood sugar is constantly elevated, when the blood sugar is outside the normal range, the body will appear a series of warning signs, these symptoms may be mild, but not to ignore, if you have the following four symptoms, then diabetes may be quietly approaching you.
01
The high incidence of diabetes in China has led to the culprit being identified
The data revealed in the 2021 IDF Global Diabetes Map (10th Edition) ruthlessly points out that from 2011 to 2021, the number of diabetic patients in the mainland has shown a rapid growth trend, with an increase of 56%.
From the original 90 million, the current surge of 140 million, behind this number, is the struggle of countless individuals and families with diseases.
The medical definition of diabetes mellitus is: "a metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose caused by defective insulin secretion and/or action".
Clinically, in order to diagnose diabetes, the value of blood sugar has become a key indicator, for normal people, the venous blood glucose 2 hours after the glucose tolerance test should be lower than 7.8mmol/L, and the venous blood glucose in the fasting state (at least 8 hours without caloric intake) should be between 3.9~6.1mmol/L.
Further subdivided, the value of fasting blood glucose can be divided into three stages:
- Initial normal stage (fasting blood glucose < 6.1 mmol/L);
- impaired fasting blood glucose (6.1< fasting blood glucose < 7.0 mmol/L);
- Diabetes stage (fasting blood glucose ≥ 7.0mmol/L).
The four main factors of the high incidence of diabetes in mainland China were analyzed in depth. First of all, with the improvement of economic conditions, people's diets are becoming more and more refined, and excessive intake of high-calorie and high-fat foods is undoubtedly an important reason for the increase in diabetes.
Secondly, the population is seriously aging, and with age, the function of pancreatic islets gradually declines, resulting in a decrease in the body's ability to regulate blood sugar. In addition, the rising obesity rate has also become a booster for diabetes. Finally, genetic problems cannot be ignored, and Chinese are naturally susceptible to diabetes.
In view of these high-risk factors, the following groups of people should be more vigilant about the invasion of diabetes:
- People over the age of 40;
- People with diabetes in the first degree of kinship;
- People who have a pre-existing history of prediabetes;
- People who have been lacking in exercise for a long time, lack of physical activity;
- People with a BMI of more than 24.0kg/m2, or who meet the criteria for central obesity.
For these high-risk groups, early screening, prevention and control of diabetes are particularly important.
02
What are the dangers of long-term high blood sugar?
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Hyperglycemia can damage the vascular endothelium, accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis, and then increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, etc.
Damage to the nervous system
Long-term hyperglycemia can cause damage to the nervous system, leading to peripheral neuropathy, which is manifested by symptoms such as numbness and pain in the limbs, and in severe cases, it may also lead to complications such as diabetic foot and diabetic encephalopathy.
Impaired kidney function
High blood sugar damages the glomeruli and tubules, leading to the development of diabetic nephropathy, which gradually declines as the disease progresses, eventually leading to kidney failure.
Retinopathy
Long-term hyperglycemia can also cause damage to the retina, leading to retinopathy, affecting vision, and in severe cases, even leading to blindness.
Increased risk of infection
High blood sugar can lower the body's immunity and make the body more susceptible to infections, such as urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, etc.
Metabolic disorders
Long-term hyperglycemia can lead to metabolic disorders in the body, affecting the metabolism of nutrients such as fats and proteins, and further increasing the burden on the body.
03
If these 4 symptoms appear, or the blood sugar is too high
The skin is susceptible to infections
When blood sugar gets out of control, skin problems can emerge and the risk of infection increases significantly, as a hyperglycemic state weakens the immune system and makes the skin less resistant to external pathogens.
Under normal circumstances, the skin acts as the body's first line of defense, effectively defending against harmful microorganisms from the outside world. However, when blood sugar levels are outside the normal range, the skin's normal defense mechanisms are disrupted and it is susceptible to pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, etc.
In addition, hyperglycemia can also affect the blood circulation and nerve conduction of the skin, leading to skin dystrophy and nerve dysfunction, which can make the skin dry, brittle, prone to tears and breakages, thereby increasing the risk of infection, and when the skin is damaged, pathogens are more likely to invade and trigger infections such as cellulitis, carbuncles, boils, etc.
Weight lowering
When blood sugar is out of control, the human body will have a series of complex physiological reactions, one of which is a significant weight loss, which is not only caused by a simple increase in energy expenditure, but is closely related to the imbalance of blood sugar metabolism.
Uncontrolled blood sugar is often accompanied by abnormal secretion of insulin, a key hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels and promoting cellular absorption and utilization of glucose.
However, when insulin secretion is insufficient or weakened, cells are unable to use glucose efficiently, resulting in a low energy supply, and to make up for this energy gap, the body turns to breaking down fat and muscle for energy, resulting in weight loss.
Blurred vision, decreased vision
When blood sugar is out of control, the signs of blurred vision and vision loss are often bothersome, because high blood sugar can cause damage to the microvasculature of the eye, leading to retinopathy, which can affect vision. However, in addition to these immediate effects, blood sugar loss can also trigger other vision-related problems.
Uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to eye strain, high blood sugar can affect the body's energy metabolism, and the eyes as a part of the body will also be affected, which may lead to eye fatigue after prolonged use, manifested as blurred vision, eye strain and other symptoms.
Secondly, blood sugar loss can also lead to cataracts. Cataract is a common eye disease that causes the lens of the eye to become cloudy, which affects vision, and high blood sugar can cause changes in the lens of the eye, increasing the risk of developing cataracts.
Limb hemp
The numbness of the limbs after the loss of blood glucose control is indeed a symptom that cannot be ignored, and this numbness is usually due to hyperglycemia damaging the nervous system, resulting in nerve conduction obstruction, which makes the patient feel numbness, tingling, or burning at the ends of the limbs (e.g., fingers, toes).
As the condition progresses, numbness can spread upwards and affect the arms, legs and even the entire body.
In addition, persistent hyperglycemia may also affect kidney function, leading to symptoms such as proteinuria and edema. Therefore, once you find that you have signs of blood sugar runaway, you should seek medical attention in time for early intervention and treatment.
04
These 4 foods are "hidden" glycemic consumers, try to eat as little as possible
White bread
White bread is a staple food for many people's breakfast, and it is loved for its soft texture and easy accessibility.
However, the high starch content in white bread is quickly converted into glucose in the body, causing blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. Therefore, for people who need to control their blood sugar, the intake of white bread should be carefully controlled.
fruit juice
In particular, fruit juices that have been concentrated and added with added sugars are also big contributors, and although they are rich in vitamins and minerals, the high sugar content makes them provide nutrients while also carrying a risk of blood sugar elevation. Therefore, when choosing beverages, we should try to choose low-sugar or sugar-free options.
Refined white rice
As one of the staple foods, refined white rice is also a frequent guest on many people's tables. However, refined white rice removes a lot of dietary fiber and nutrients during processing, making it have a high glycemic index, so in order to reduce the risk of glycemic rise, we can choose to eat staple foods rich in dietary fiber such as brown rice and grains.
chocolate
High-sugar foods such as chocolate are also hidden big glycemic consumers, these foods are extremely high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar to rise rapidly after consumption, and should be avoided as much as possible for people who need to control their blood sugar.
05
High blood sugar and don't know what to eat? Don't panic, you might as well eat more of these 4 things
spinach
Spinach is rich in iron, calcium, vitamins and other nutrients, especially worth mentioning that spinach contains a substance called lutein, which can help regulate blood sugar levels, making it a good choice for people with high blood sugar.
Momordica charantia
Although the taste of bitter gourd is somewhat bitter, its hypoglycemic effect is very significant, bitter gourd contains an ingredient called bitter gourd saponin, which has a significant hypoglycemic effect and is helpful for improving the symptoms of diabetic patients.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are well-watered, low in calories, and contain a substance called propanolic acid, which can inhibit the conversion of sugars into fat, which is effective in controlling blood sugar and losing weight.
Serina
Celery is rich in dietary fiber, which can help delay the rise in blood sugar after a meal, and some substances in celery also help lower blood pressure, making celery a very good choice for people with high blood sugar.
06
Extension: Why can't my blood sugar go down after taking metformin?
The first thing to understand is how metformin works, which is a commonly used oral hypoglycemic drug that lowers blood sugar mainly by reducing the production of glucose in the liver and increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.
However, even after taking metformin, blood sugar levels may not drop immediately or significantly, which may be due to several reasons:
Inadequate drug doses
The dose of metformin needs to be adjusted according to the patient's specific situation, if the dose is too low, it may not achieve the desired hypoglycemic effect, so the doctor may gradually increase the dose according to the patient's blood sugar level and physical condition.
Drug resistance
Some patients may develop resistance to metformin, i.e., the drug does not work in them, which may be due to individual physiological differences or genetic factors, in which case the doctor may consider switching to other types of glucose-lowering drugs.
Lifestyle factors
Diet and exercise have an important impact on blood sugar control, and blood sugar levels may be difficult to control if patients are taking metformin without changing their unhealthy eating habits or exercising.
In conclusion, the blood sugar does not go down after taking metformin may be caused by a variety of factors, and in the face of this situation, patients should maintain communication with their doctors, adjust their treatment regimen, and actively improve their lifestyle in order to achieve better blood sugar control.