Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough of the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. 

The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself. Gestational diabetes is hyperglycaemia with blood glucose values above normal but below those diagnostic of diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.

Diabetes is one of the four major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and its global prevalence has been steadily increasing in recent years. In 2018, an estimated 131 million people in the Western Pacific were living with diabetes. In 2019, an estimated 262 000 people in the Region died due to diabetes.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include the need to urinate often, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue. These symptoms may occur suddenly.

Symptoms for type 2 diabetes are generally similar to those of type 1 diabetes, but are often less marked. As a result, the disease may be diagnosed several years after onset, after complications have already arisen. For this reason, it is important to be aware of risk factors. 

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed through prenatal screening, rather than through reported symptoms.

The longer a person lives with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, the worse their health outcomes are likely to be. Early diagnosis can be accomplished through relatively inexpensive testing of blood sugar.

Type 1 diabetes cannot currently be prevented. Effective approaches are available to prevent type 2 diabetes and to prevent the complications and premature death that can result from all types of diabetes.

Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. To help prevent and delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and its complications, people should achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, be physically active, eat a healthy diet that limits sugars and saturated fats, and avoid tobacco use.

People with type 1 diabetes require blood glucose control and daily  insulin injections. People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medication, but may also require insulin. Blood pressure control, foot care, and treatment for other complications, including screening and treatment for retinopathy, are also important.