COMPARATIVE PREVALENCE INDEX OF MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ: EAST AND WEST MACRO-REGIONS

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition characterized by persistently elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), resulting from defects in the secretion or action of the hormone insulin, which is produced by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin's primary function is to facilitate the entry of glucose into the body's cells so that it can be utilized for cellular activities. Consequently, a lack or deficiency of this hormone leads to an accumulation of glucose in the blood—that is, hyperglycemia. While various conditions can lead to diabetes, the vast majority of cases fall into two categories: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). The first group stems from an immunological process and is more common in younger patients, whereas the second results from insulin resistance—without the formation of antibodies against pancreatic cells—and is more prevalent in individuals over the age of 550. This age-related distinction is largely explained by the association of T2DM with weight gain and obesity, as the condition is linked to the patients' metabolic profiles.