Health Information About Diabetes

1. What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition which affects how your body uses blood glucose (sugar). Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells in your body, including your brain and muscles. It can lead to having too much glucose in your blood, which can damage your health. It is a non-communicable disease (NCD), meaning you can’t catch it from somebody else.

There are two main types of diabetes, called type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually begins in childhood or early adulthood. Type 2 diabetes usually begins at 40+ years old, but can occur at any age. A third type, called gestational diabetes, occurs during pregnancy but may resolve once the baby is delivered.

2. How common is diabetes?

Approximately 5.9%, or 1 in every 17 Cambodians, have diabetes. This makes it one of the most common NCDs in the country. It affects slightly more women (6.1%) than men (5.7%).

It also accounts for 2% of all deaths in the country

3. What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of diabetes can vary depending on the type and severity of the disease. Common symptoms include:

Increased thirst and/or hunger
Increased urination
Weight loss
Fatigue
Blurry vision
Tingling/numbness in the hands or feet
Sores and ulcers which are slow to heal

If you or your child experiences any of these symptoms, see a doctor for a test as soon as possible. The earlier you are diagnosed, the earlier the condition can be treated.

4. What causes diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone your body produces to lower your blood sugar when it gets high. Diabetes occurs when there is a problem with insulin.

In type 1 diabetes, the cells in your body that make insulin are destroyed by your immune system, meaning you cannot make the hormone. The reason this happens is unknown.

In type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to insulin. Being overweight and not getting much exercise are both linked to type 2 diabetes. However, not everybody with type 2 diabetes is overweight or inactive.

5. How can I stop myself from getting type 2 diabetes?

Eat a healthy diet. This means eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods such as brown rice. It also means cutting down on fatty foods, sweet foods, and sugary drinks.
Exercise regularly. Aim to be physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This can be something as simple as a brisk walk, or climbing some stairs. Start slow and gradually build up if you haven’t been active in a while.

6. How is diabetes treated?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes. However, with lifestyle changes, medications, and regular checkups with your doctor, you can still do most of the things people without diabetes can do.

You will likely need to make changes to your diet and exercise to control your blood sugar levels. Your treating team will give you information about how what you eat, your physical activity, medications, illnesses, and stress can influence your blood sugar. For some people, these changes are enough to manage their diabetes.

Depending on the type and severity of your diabetes, your doctor might also prescribe you insulin, oral medications/tablets, or a combination of the two.

Your doctor may ask you to keep a ‘blood sugar diary’ by using a small machine and fingerstick to check your blood sugar levels regularly. This is so your doctor can track the diabetes progression and see how your body is responding to medication.

7. What are the complications of diabetes?

High blood sugar can gradually damage many parts of the body. However, with adequate blood sugar control, you can reduce the risk of these complications developing. These include:

Nerve damage. This usually feels like tingling, numbness, or pain that begins in the fingers/toes and spreads upwards.
Eye damage. This can cause lead to gradual blindness, or other serious eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts.
Kidney damage. The kidneys help to filter waste products from your blood. Damage to the kidneys can cause these to build up in the blood. Severely damaged kidneys may require dialysis or a transplant.
Cardiovascular disease. Damage to the walls of the vessels that carry blood puts you at higher risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
High blood sugar leaves people with diabetes at higher risk of infections, such as thrush, ulcers, and lung infections.
Foot damage. Damage to the vessels that carry blood to your feet reduces your body’s ability to heal itself. This means cuts, bruises, and blisters last longer and are more likely to get infected. Serious infections may need to be amputated.

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