Se Sewon "Had Diabetes Usually"... Diabetes Causing Complications

Late Seo Sewon, who suffered from diabetes due to a chronic illness
High risk of complications if diabetes is severe...

Comedian Seo Se-won (67), who died at a Korean hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, was known to have been suffering from diabetes as a chronic illness, sparking increased interest in diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease caused by a lack of insulin in the body, resulting in high blood sugar levels, which can lead to various complications if it worsens.

Comedian Seo Se-won passed away on the 20th (Korean time) in Cambodia.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to multiple media reports on the 21st, Oh Chang-soo, president of the Korean Missionary Society in Cambodia, said about Seo Se-won, "He was known to have been suffering from diabetes as a chronic illness."

Seo, who was indicted without detention in 2014 on charges of assaulting his wife Seo Jeong-hee, was once taken into police custody but was released after claiming, "I have diabetes as a chronic illness."

Diabetes, the 6th Leading Cause of Death Among Koreans... Suspect It If You Feel Thirsty or Fatigued

The diabetes Seo suffered from is named because glucose levels in the blood are high and glucose is excreted in the urine.

Glucose, the basic component of carbohydrates, is absorbed into the blood, and insulin is needed for cells to use it. However, if insulin is insufficient or its function is impaired, glucose cannot be utilized and accumulates in the blood, eventually being excreted in the urine. This persistent high blood sugar condition is diabetes.

Diabetes can occur due to genetic factors but can also develop later due to obesity, overeating, excessive carbohydrate intake, lack of exercise, stress, and other factors. Additionally, diabetes can lead to complications such as myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular diseases.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 8,456 people died from diabetes in 2020, making it the 6th leading cause of death among Koreans that year.

The Ministry explained that when glucose is excreted in the urine due to diabetes, it pulls water out of the body, causing dehydration and thirst.

Feeling easily fatigued and losing weight despite eating well are also symptoms that can appear with diabetes. Other symptoms include blurred vision and numbness in the hands and feet, but if blood sugar is not very high, special symptoms may not be noticeable.

According to the Korean Diabetes Association, diabetic patients should correct metabolic abnormalities such as hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through proper eating habits and lifestyle to prevent complications and maintain good nutritional status. They should also continuously burn calories and lower blood sugar through exercise that causes slight shortness of breath.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended in the '2022 Diabetes Care Guidelines' that everyone start screening for diabetes and prediabetes from age 35, regardless of obesity or other risk factors.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.