What Kind of Disease is Diabetes?

Question

What Kind of Disease is Diabetes?

Answer

Definition of Diabetes: Diabetes is a polygenic metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, accompanied by metabolic disturbances of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins due to insulin secretion defects or insulin action defects. The first layer of meaning is that diabetes belongs to the category of “metabolic diseases,” and its essence is the abnormal metabolism of the three major nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. When carbohydrate metabolism is impaired, blood sugar levels rise; when protein metabolism is affected, the body’s ability to synthesize proteins is impaired, making it difficult for wounds to heal, lowering immunity, and limiting the growth and development of children—processes that require sufficient protein; when fat metabolism is impaired, fat decomposition increases and synthesis is restricted, leading to weight loss and even diabetic ketoacidosis. The second layer of meaning is that the hallmark of diabetes is abnormally high blood sugar levels. Although diabetes can affect the body in various ways, the most prominent feature is the abnormal elevation of blood sugar levels, which can also be said to be the characteristic of diabetes. The third layer of meaning is that the root cause of diabetes lies in insulin—either insufficient secretion (i.e., less secretion) or impaired insulin action (i.e., it cannot exert its normal effect), or both secretion defects and action defects. The fourth layer of meaning is that diabetes has many causes. Different causes can lead to different types of diabetes, with varying clinical manifestations and treatment approaches. Currently, diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled through medication and lifestyle changes.