Dr Kwasi Koranteng, a medical officer and public health advocate stationed at Medland Hospital, Tema, has disclosed that Type 1 diabetes once known as juvenile diabetes, is frequently diagnosed in children and young people.
According to Dr. Koranteng, Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s, Health show, Apomuden Fie, Dr Koranteng stressed that different factors, including genetics and uncontrolled diabetes in pregnancy may contribute to Type 1 diabetes.
He added that although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it could develop in adults.
The medical practitioner pointed out that even though the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, what is known is that your immune system which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses attacks and destroys your insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
He added that this leaves you with little or no insulin, Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.
“Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar, or glucose, into your body’s tissue. Your cells use it as fuel”, he added.
Torching on how to prevent type 1 diabetes, Mr. Koranteng disclosed that Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, and there is no real way to predict who will get it.
However, the same healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes such as eating healthy foods, getting more physical activities and loss excess of weight can also help prevent them.
Dr Koranteng continued that a person could have diabetes without knowing it because the symptoms are not always obvious and they can take a long time to develop.
Concluding, he revealed that over time, type 1 diabetes complications can affect major organs in your body, including heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys.
Dr Koranteng urged that maintaining a normal blood sugar level could dramatically reduce the risk of many of the above complications.
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