Meaning of Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is blood sugara collective term for various conditions where this state remains persistently high. While glucose is a necessary energy source for the body, if it remains at a high concentration in the blood for a long time, it can place a burden on the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the cardiovascular system.

It is not defined solely by the name 'sugar coming out in the urine.' Current diagnosis focuses on blood tests, and the cause is not explained by a single meal or a preference for sweet tastes alone.

How are Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes different?

Type 1 diabetes is a condition where insulincells that produce insulin are damaged due to an immune response, leading to a severe deficiency of insulin. Type 2 involves insulin resistancechanges in both insulin resistance and insulin secretion capacity. Gestational diabetes refers to blood sugar abnormalities first identified during pregnancy.

Although the names are similar, the development process, required medications, and monitoring methods differ. The type is not determined by age and body type alone, and there are also types of diabetes caused by other factors.

Are blood sugar and diabetes the same thing?

Blood sugar is a measured value of the glucose concentration in the blood at a specific point in time, whereas diabetes is a disease diagnosed according to standard criteria. The blood sugar of a healthy person also rises after meals, and the blood sugar of a person with diabetes may fall within the target range at a specific point in time.

Therefore, 'blood sugar has risen' and 'developed diabetes' are not used with the same meaning. The time of measurement, the type of test, and repeated results are all considered together.

How is it different from prediabetes?

prediabetesis a state where blood sugar is higher than the normal range but has not reached the range for a diabetes diagnosis. It is a signal that the risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease may increase, but not everyone progresses to diabetes.

It is inaccurate to refer to prediabetes as 'mild diabetes' or, conversely, to ignore it because it is not yet a full-fledged disease. Current levels, risk factors, and the timing of the next test are checked.

Which test names should I be aware of?

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) is a blood value measured after a period of no caloric intake, while the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) monitors the body's reaction over time after drinking a specified amount of glucose. Random blood glucose is measured regardless of meal timing and is primarily interpreted alongside distinct symptoms.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) estimates the average blood glucose exposure over the recent 3 months. Since each test reflects a different time frame, if results differ, the testing conditions and influencing factors are reviewed.

Can I be diagnosed using a home glucose monitor?

Finger-stick glucose meters and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are useful for observing daily trends, but they do not replace the laboratory standard tests used to confirm diabetes. Contamination of the hands, the condition of test strips and sensors, the measurement site, and time delays can affect the results.

If you get a number different from what you expected, record your symptoms and the measurement conditions. If you have severe symptoms, do not delay action by assuming it is merely a device error.

Can it be identified by symptoms alone?

Symptoms such as thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and unexplained weight loss may occur. However, Type 2 diabetes may have no distinct symptoms for a considerable period, and these symptoms can also be caused by other factors.

Do not rule out the need for testing simply because there are no symptoms, nor should you self-diagnose diabetes based solely on fatigue and post-meal drowsiness. Risk factors and standard tests are the center of diagnosis.

What is the relationship with body weight?

Overweight and abdominal fat are related to the risk of Type 2 diabetes, but they are not the only factors. Genetics, age, sleep, activity, history of gestational diabetes, and certain diseases or medications also play a role, and it can occur even in lean body types.

In Type 1 diabetes or uncontrolled hyperglycemia, unintended weight loss may actually occur. Do not estimate blood glucose status based solely on the direction of the scale.

What can change if I lose weight?

In Type 2 diabetes with overweight, sustainable weight loss helps blood glucose blood pressureand lipids, and may affect the amount of medication required. Depending on the person, some may maintain blood glucose within the remission range after significant weight loss, but this is not an expression that guarantees a complete cure.

Even if your numbers improve during weight loss, do not reduce or stop medication on your own. The prescribing medical provider will adjust the treatment after reviewing the changes in food intake, activity levels, and blood glucose records.

What are the criteria for meals?

We do not look only at the sugars in a single food Glycemic Indexbut consider the quantity and quality of carbohydrates, dietary fiberthe composition of proteins and fats, meal timing, and total intake. Plans vary depending on an individual's medication, activity, kidney function, and dietary culture.

Completely cutting out carbohydrates or skipping meals is difficult to sustain and can cause hypoglycemia in people using certain medications. Establish a feasible meal structure with your medical provider.

What should I check when starting exercise?

Walking and aerobic activities strength trainingcan be helpful for blood glucose and cardiovascular health. However, if you use insulin or medications that can cause hypoglycemia, blood glucose may drop too low depending on the timing of exercise and the combination of meals and medication.

Prepare records for before and after exercise and a personalized hypoglycemia response plan. If you have foot wounds, cardiovascular disease, or neurological or ocular complications, consult on the type and intensity of exercise first.

How are medication and weight connected?

Diabetes medications work in various ways and do not have the same effect on weight. Some are associated with weight loss, while others may be accompanied by weight gain or a risk of hypoglycemia. Effectiveness and safety are not determined solely by whether the medication is an injection or an oral pill.

Do not change your medication based only on online comparison tables; instead, review your current blood glucose goals, kidney and cardiovascular status, side effects, and costs with your prescribing medical provider.

What are the signs that prompt medical evaluation is needed?

Decreased consciousness, seizures, fainting, or severe confusion may indicate severe hypoglycemia and require immediate help. Severe thirst, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, dehydration, and changes in consciousness may overlap with emergency conditions such as severe hyperglycemia or ketoacidosis.

In these cases, do not wait for a general diet consultation. Use 119 or the nearest emergency medical system and provide information on your medications, your last meal, and your measured values.

What should I disclose during a Baekrok Gambi-jeong consultation?

Please inform the Baekrokdam medical staff of your diabetes type, the names, dosages, and timing of medications you are taking, your recent fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, HbA1c, and any experiences with hypoglycemia. As diet and activity change due to weight loss, the balance with existing medications may also change.

If you experience tremors, cold sweats, severe hunger, or unusual hyperglycemia while taking the medication, do not adjust Baekrok Gambi-jeong or your diabetes medication on your own; contact Baekrokdam before your next dose.

How is this document different from the detailed disease guide?

This page is a glossary intended to help you understand the term 'diabetes' and related test terms within the context of weight management. Confirming an individual's diabetes type, testing for complications, selecting medication, and determining target values are clinical areas based on medical history and standard tests.

Use these glossary definitions as a starting point, but please show your actual test results and medication list to your attending medical provider. Understanding terminology and establishing a personal treatment plan are different tasks.