Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which a person has a chronic (life-long) disease that affects the body's ability to use blood sugar for energy. They have high levels of sugar in the blood, due to the body not producing enough insulin or because the cells aren't responding to the insulin being produced.
Type 1 Diabetes- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to live. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses, and autoimmune problems may play a role. It develops most often in children and young adults, but can appear at any age. It develops over a short period of time and accounts for 5-10% of diabetic cases in the United States. If a type 1 diabetic is not treated with insulin they could lapse into a life threatening diabetic coma (diabetic ketoacidosis.) Symptoms include:
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- constant hunger
- weight loss
- blurred vision
- extreme fatigue
Type 2 Diabetes-This is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of the cases in the United States. It is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking, metabolic syndrome, people with certain dietary patterns and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. The pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for unknown reasons the body cannot use the insulin effectively, (insulin resistance). After several years, insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1 diabetes—glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuel. The symptoms develop gradually and include:
- fatigue
- frequent urination
- excessive thirst and hunger
- weight loss
- blurred vision
- slow healing wounds or sores
- some people develop no symptoms
Gestational Diabetes-This is high blood sugar levels in pregnancy. The condition occurs in approximately 4% of all pregnancies and may improve or disappear after delivery. Women who have gestational diabetes are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. If left untreated it can damage the health of the fetus or the mother. Many women have no symptoms.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, but type 2 can. Some prevention tips are basically to live a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise on a regular basis. If you are found to have impaired glucose tolerance, there are oral medications that one can take in order to help prevent the progression to diabetes. If you are having any of the symptoms associated with diabetes you should see your doctor in order to be tested.
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