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Diabetes

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The Disease in Numbers

  • 1 in 10 people live with diabetes worldwide

  • Diabetes causes 1 death every 5 seconds

  • There are 19.47 million diabetics in Indonesia

  • Regular check-ups, effective lifestyle management, and suitable treatment can help individuals with type 2 diabetes to live a healthy and optimal life

The term “diabetes" is not an unfamiliar one to the Indonesian population. However, it is also clear that there is widespread lack of understanding of this health issue

We need to recognize that diabetes is a potentially fatal disease that can affect both minors and adults. It is crucial for all of us to educate ourselves about diabetes and its health dangers
 

Understanding Diabetes and Its Causes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a chronic disease characterized by an elevated blood sugar (glucose) level above normal. Glucose is a type of carbohydrate that serves as an energy source for cells to form muscles and tissues.
 

When someone has diabetes, their pancreas either cannot produce insulin or their body cannot effectively respond to the effects of insulin. The result is an accumulation of sugar in the bloodstream.
 

If left untreated, it can cause a range of serious health problems, such as heart disorders, kidney disease, blindness, and other complications.

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Types of Diabetes 

In general, diabetes is divided into several types, namely:

Type 1: occurs when the pancreas can only produce a small amount of insulin or fails to produce it at all. Type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas where insulin is produced.

Type 2 generally caused by an unhealthy lifestyle that renders the body resistant to insulin, resulting in an accumulation of sugar in the blood.

Prediabetes: a condition where blood sugar levels have exceeded the normal limit but are not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: occurs due to hormonal changes that cause an increase in blood sugar production during pregnancy. This type of diabetes can be treated successfully after the birth. 

Symptoms 

Symptoms of diabetes can appear gradually and greatly depend on the level of blood sugar in the body.

In some cases, especially in prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes, individuals may not express any complaints. In type 1 diabetes, however, symptoms tend to appear and subsequently worsen relatively quickly. 

Common symptoms include :

  1. Increased thirst

  2. Frequent urination. On average, people urinate between four and seven times in 24 hours, but diabetes patients may urinate more often than that.

  3. Significant weight loss without any effort

  4. Presence of ketones in the urine. Ketones are byproducts of muscle and fat breakdown that occur when there is insufficient insulin available.

  5. Easily fatigued and weak

  6. Increased irritability

  7. Extreme mood swings

  8. Blurred vision due to dehydration, causing the lenses in the eyes to swell.

  9. Slow-healing wounds

  10.  Increased susceptibility to infections, such as in the gums, skin, and vagina.

  11.  Rough skin due to dehydration

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Prevalence of diabetes cases in Indonesia

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates there are around 537 million people aged from 20 to 79 worldwide living with diabetes. This number is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030.

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In Indonesia, the incidence of diabetes is alarmingly high, with 19.45 million diabetes patients in 2021. Consequently, Indonesia ranks fifth globally with the highest number of people with diabetes.

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From an adult population of 179.72 million, the prevalence of diabetes in Indonesia is 10.6%. This represents a staggering 167% increase compared to the number of people with diabetes in 2011 of 7.29 million. The figure is projected to soar to 21.3 million people by 2030.

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Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes can be managed with several types of medications, either taken orally or injected.

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Generally, treatment for type 1 diabetes will involve insulin injections or use of an insulin pump, regular blood sugar monitoring, and carbohydrate counting. In some cases, individuals with type 1 diabetes may also require a pancreas transplant. 

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Treatment of type 2 diabetes largely involves lifestyle changes, blood sugar monitoring, and administration of oral anti-diabetic drugs (OAD), insulin, or both.

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These medications serve various purposes, such as assisting the pancreas in producing more insulin, preventing the production and release of glucose from the liver, and making body tissues more sensitive to insulin. 

Referensi

  1. [1] Jumlah Penderita Diabetes Indonesia Terbesar Kelima di Dunia - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  2. [2] Infodatin 2020 Diabetes Melitus - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  3. [3] Diabetes - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  4. [4] Everything You Need to Know About Diabetes - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  5. [5] Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  6. [6] Diabetes - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  7. [7] Diabetes facts & figures - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  8. [8] Tahun 2030 Prevalensi Diabetes Melitus di Indonesia Mencapai 21,3 Juta Orang - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  9. [9] Diagnosis - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

  10. [10] Diabetes - terakhir diakses pada 6 Maret 2023

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