November is dedicated to raising awareness and uniting efforts in the fight against diabetes. In Colombia, the situation is particularly relevant, with diagnosed cases increasing and many people still undiagnosed. This underlines the importance of encouraging access to education on healthy living, along with preventive strategies and early detection for timely treatment.

Diabetes: a challenge for public health

Globally, diabetes remains one of the leading causes of death. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 10.5% of the adult population (aged 20-79) has diabetes, and almost half are unaware that they have it. Furthermore, diabetes no longer only affects adults; the number of adolescents and young people with diabetes has increased due to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.

What is diabetes and what types are there?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it effectively. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells to be used as energy. However, when glucose is not properly absorbed, it builds up in the blood and causes high sugar levels, which can seriously affect various organs and tissues.

The three main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 Diabetes: It is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes depend on insulin for life. Although it is usually diagnosed in childhood, it can also appear in adults.
• Type 2 Diabetes: It is the most common type and is associated with factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, and poor diet. In this case, the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough of it.
• Gestational Diabetes: It affects some women during pregnancy and, although it may disappear after childbirth, it increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in the future.

What are its complications?

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as:

• Cardiovascular diseases: People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
• Kidney damage: Diabetes can affect the kidneys and cause kidney failure.
• Vision problems: Diabetic retinopathy, caused by high glucose levels, can lead to vision loss.
• Nervous complications: Diabetic neuropathy causes pain and can lead to loss of sensation in the extremities.

How can it be prevented?

Although type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, as it is an autoimmune disease (i.e., the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin), there are ways to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes:

• Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Adopting a balanced diet and exercising helps maintain a healthy weight.
• Regular exercise: Physical activity improves insulin sensitivity and helps maintain stable blood glucose levels.
• Balanced diet: A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins is the best choice. It is important to avoid sugars and saturated fats.
• Regular checkups: Especially in people with a family history, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Regular blood glucose testing helps identify early changes.

Learn about our Vital Health Check: Diabetes Monitoring.

In addition to adopting a healthy diet and exercising regularly, the key is to have regular checkups, a series of tests that can identify imbalances and damage that, in many cases, have no symptoms. These include:

• Serum glucose: Assesses blood glucose levels to identify potential imbalances.
• Nephelometric microalbuminuria test: Detects the presence of protein in urine, an indicator of kidney damage.
• Insulin (each sample): Measures insulin levels in the body, which is essential for assessing insulin resistance.
• Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by HPLC column chromatography: It provides an overview of blood sugar levels over the past three months and is a reliable marker for monitoring diabetes control.

All these tests aim to provide you with a complete picture of the effects of diabetes on the body, identify your risk factors, and facilitate early detection, enabling preventive management of associated complications.

Remember that you can access these services without a doctor's order at any of our locations nationwide or at home (subject to coverage).