Diabetes Types, symptoms, complications and management

Last Updated on 02/24/2026 by Helal Medical

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high sugar levels for long periods. Patients experience frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, and weight changes. It is caused by inadequate production of insulin, or insulin resistance. It can be managed by life style changes, medication, and insulin.

Diabetes is recognized as the world’s fastest growing chronic condition. 

What if you learn managing diabetes with less burden? What if you could thrive despite the diagnosis? Discover practical steps for a healthier you. Continue reading if you are you ready to take control of your health?

In this article, we will explore diabetes world, its types, causes, symptoms and complications. Finally, we will discuss diagnosis and management strategies.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body cannot regulate blood sugar. This leads to high glucose levels that Over time, can damage body organs.

How the Body Processes Glucose

Normally, the body breaks down food and creates glucose to use for energy. The pancreas releases insulin that helps glucose enter cells but, in diabetes, this process fails.

Types and Causes of Diabetes

Type 1

• Exact cause of this condition is not known.
  Maybe Caused by autoimmune disorder that leads to destruction of pancreatic islet cells. Failure of pancreas to produce enough insulin or no insulin will cause high blood glucose.
  Other causes include genetic and pancreatic diseases.

Type 2

• The most common type, about 85% of people with diabetes.
• Caused by insufficient insulin production or resistance to insulin, that leads to higher blood sugar above normal levels.
• Cells cannot absorb glucose and convert it into energy as a result of this resistance.
• Causes include Excess abdominal, genetics and unhealthy lifestyle.
• Risk factors: obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Family history (genetic) also plays a role. Aging is a factor as people above the age of 45 years are at higher risk. Additionally, prediabetes is a risk factor.

Gestational Diabetes

• A condition where some pregnant women develop diabetes (high blood sugar).
• Various causes might result in the condition. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to gestational diabetes. Being overweight before pregnancy may also cause gestational diabetes.

Diabetes insipidus

• It results from an water imbalance in the body.
• It is caused by a deficiency of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). ADH regulates the amount of fluid in the body.
• Causes of (ADH) deficiency include several factors. It can be due to a damaged or injured pituitary gland or hypothalamus. A tumor or infection of the pituitary gland is another cause. Also, genetic disorders can lead to this deficiency. Kidney problems such as chronic kidney disease contribute to it as well. Some drugs, like antiviral medications, can also be responsible.

Signs and symptoms

• Frequent urination
• Always thirsty
• Always very hungry
• Lose of weight
• blurry vision
• numb or tingling hands or feet
• Easily getting very tired
• very dry skin
• Wounds don’t heal
• More infections than usual

Symptoms of different types are different, also different between men and women. If not managed properly, the patient may suffer from one or more of diabetes complications. Some complications are serious. Complications include the following:

• Heart disease , Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) which is a serious condition
• Eye damage (Diabetic Retinopathy)
• Nerve damage
• Foot Problems
• Nerve Damage (Peripheral neuropathy)
• Gum and dental Disease
• Erectile dysfunction (in men)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of the condition is done only by testing in a medical laboratory to measure glucose level. To confirm that the patient is diabetic the test must be repeated in another day. (You may visit our laboratory page!)

What are the blood tests for diagnosis?

1. FBS (Fasting Blood Sugar/Fasting Blood Glucose). The patient is diabetic if his fasting blood glucose is 126 mg/dl or higher.
2. A1C test: It measures the average blood glucose levels for the past three months. Diabetes is diagnosed at an A1C is to 6.5% or higher
3. OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test): Diabetes is diagnosed at two-hour blood glucose level is200 mg/dl or higher. Read more details in our article (Diabetes Diagnosis)

You are considered Diabetic if the tests show the following:

When do Tests tell your are normal?

You are considered normal if the tests show the following:

What is prediabetic State?

It is the condition where the tests are higher than normal, but still below the diabetic levels. Before becoming diabetic, patients usually pass through the prediabetic stage where they often display no symptoms. You are considered prediabetic if the tests show the following:

Management and Treatment

Diabetes is not an easy condition to keep under control. Aside from maintaining blood glucose levels within accepted ranges, you should also manage your blood pressure. In addition, control your cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy weight. It’s also important to deal with emotional stress.

Read our article: Healthy Diet Plan for Diabetics: Foods to Eat and Avoid

You need to make combination of two methods to handle the disease effectively, as following:

Lifestyle.

• You have to make changes to your lifestyle that will help control your condition. This is the first step, patient must start with, even before medications.
• Healthy eating is very important for everyone to stay healthy, and even more important for diabetics. You need to learn two things about your food. First, what food types are good for you. Second, how much you have to eat.
• Proper exercise which is as important as healthy food.
• Read more about How to Manage Diabetes During the Holidays!

Medications.

• When diet and exercise alone aren’t enough for managing diabetes, you need to take some drugs. These include insulin and other diabetes medications.
• Insulin is the most common medication used in type 1 diabetes treatment, it is used also for type 2. It is given by injection.
• Type 2 medications:
  Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors include acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset).
  Biguanides are another type of medication, its most common form is metformin.

Stem Cell Therapy: The New Frontier Treatment (2024 Update)

Sources:

• Diabetes | Diabetes | CDC
• What are the complications of diabetes
• diabetes.org (About Diabetes)

At Helal Medical Manila, we encourage all diabetic patients to include annual retinal screening as part of their regular care. Early detection means brighter, clearer vision—and a better quality of life. 📍 Visit us today or message Helal Medical page on Facebook to schedule your diabetic screening.

Read More About Diabetes:

1. Diabetes Types, symptoms, complications and managementdiabetes-types-symptoms-complications-and-management
2. Symptoms You Should Never Ignorediabetes-symptoms-you-should-never-ignore
3. Diagnosis, Which Blood Tests to be done? diabetes-diagnosis-which-blood-tests-to-be-done
4. Diabetic Eye Diseases: Causes, Symptoms, and Preventiondiabetic-eye-diseases-in-the-philippines-causes-symptoms-and
5. HBA1c Test: A Measure of Long-Term Blood Sugar Controlhba1c-test-a-measure-of-long-term-blood-sugar-control