November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Differences between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. The causes and management of these two types of diabetes are very different.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes, formerly referred to as juvenile diabetes, is a disease in which an individual’s insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas get destroyed, causing an absolute lack of insulin.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes, formerly referred to as adult onset diabetes mellitus, is a disease that increases in frequency with advancing age. Individuals can still produce insulin (unlike in type 1 diabetes), but do not produce enough insulin to meet their body’s needs.
What causes diabetes?
Even though diabetes may be caused by many of the same factors as other chronic conditions, people with diabetes often face stigma because there are misconcept i ons around what causes the disease. For example, some think that diabetes is always caused by diet or lifestyle choices. Some believe all obese people will eventually develop the disease or pass on diabetes to their children. The truth is, depending on the type, diabetes can be caused by a myriad of factors that researchers are still trying to figure out. Source: diabetescarecommunity.ca
Type 1 Diabetes Causes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your immune system starts attacking and destroying the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Without enough insulin, the body can’t regulate the blood sugar needed to create energy. Although the disease usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, it can also develop in adults. And while it’s definitive cause is still unknown, Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by genetics and exposure to environmental factors that may trigger the disease. These include viruses such as German measles or mumps. If you have a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes, your chances are slightly increased for developing the condition yourself. Researchers have also discovered that the disease can develop in people who have a variance of genes in their HLA (human leukocyte antigen) complex, which is used to help the immune system function properly. Type 2 Diabetes Causes More common in adults, type 2 diabetes occurs when your body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Specifically why this happens is still unknown, although genetics and lifestyle factors (such as excess weight and inactivity) can be contributing factors. Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes but not everyone with the condition is overweight.
Diabetes Canada is proud to join more than 1 billion people in over 160 countries in commemorating World Diabetes Day, the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign. Marked every year on the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin in Canada in 1921 with Charles Best, World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to recognize one of our nation’s greatest achievements. But, this year, Diabetes Canada is asking Canadians to also recognize that we are facing a diabetes epidemic and immediate action is needed to confront the many challenges that still lie ahead for the 11 million Canadians affected by diabetes. “Canada has made an extraordinary contribution to the way in which we live with diabetes, but the need to win the fight to end it is greater than ever,” says Dr. Jan Hux, President and CEO of Diabetes Canada. “The number of Canadians living with diabetes has doubled since 2000, and the cost of this epidemic to Canada’s health-care system is expected to be more than $27 billion this year alone. We simply cannot afford to be complacent, and we need the support of Canadians and their government to turn the tide.” Diabetes Canada is calling on the Government of Canada to support Diabetes 360˚, a national strategy and evidence-based action plan to prevent and manage the diabetes epidemic. Developed in rigorous collaboration with more than 100 expert aca- demic, health-care, government, private industry and patient advocate stakeholders, the evidence-based action plan will enhance the prevention, screening and management of diabetes to achieve better health for Canadians. Diabetes Canada is calling for an investment of $150 million over seven years, which can save the health-care system more than $9 billion while preventing the development of nearly one million diabetes cases. Diabetes Canada is also calling on the public to join a day of action, using an online advocacy tool available at diabetes.ca/strategy to send a message urging the government to fund the strategic action plan in Budget 2019. “The theme of World Diabetes Day 2018 is ‘ The Family and Diabetes’,” says Hux. “A recent poll we conducted with Ipsos shows that about half (49%) of Canadians have a family member living with diabetes. We all have a stake in the future of Canada’s healthcare system, and we all have a role to play in asserting Canada’s role as a global leader in ending the diabetes epidemic.” The burden on families of those affected by diabetes is large. A third, or 32 per cent of those living with or caring for someone with diabetes, have missed work due to the disease, including 15 per cent of those that have left the workforce because of it. For Canadians who understand the severity of diabetes, 8 in 10 (82%) rank diabetes as one of the top three diseases that should be prioritized by the Government of Canada, on par with cancer (85%).