UNDERSTANDING DIABETES AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES

Diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century and according to the International Diabetes Federation by 2040, more than 640 million of us may be living with diabetes.

Whether you have been newly diagnosed, have been fighting against type 1 or type 2 diabetes for a while or are helping a loved one, gaining a deeper understanding of this disease can help you to live a healthier life. Diabetes diagnosis is NOT a death sentence. Terrible outcomes, like blindness, amputations and kidney problems, are largely preventable. Thanks to modern medicine, people developing diabetes today have an excellent chance of living long, healthy lives, free from serious complications.

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. It is also broken down into two types. Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well.

Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. You can also have pre-diabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes - known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, chronic condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. It is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can develop at any age. Persons with type 1 diabetes need insulin to help keep their blood sugar levels in a normal range. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.

Different factors, including genetics and some viruses, may contribute to type 1 diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in adults. Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has no cure. Treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels with insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications.

Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms can appear relatively suddenly and may includes:

•Increased thirst •Frequent urination •Bed-wetting in children who previously didn’t wet the bed during the night •Extreme hunger •Unintended weight loss •Irritability and other mood changes •Fatigue and weakness •Blurred vision •When to see a doctor •Consult your doctor if you notice any of the above signs and symptoms in you or your child.

Treatment

There is no cure for Diabetes. However, there are things you can do to care for Type 1 Diabetes. The things you do to care for your Diabetes help you bring blood glucose levels within your range.

•Take Insulin. Insulin injections or an insulin pump replace the insulin you no longer make. Insulin lets your cells take in glucose. Follow a healthy meal plan (see a Nutritionist).

•Stay physically active. Being active helps your cells take in glucose. Check your blood glucose and urine. self-checks help you keep track of how well your diabetes care plan is working.

•Get regular checkups. Your health care team can help you make any needed changes in your Diabetes care plan which keep track of how well it is working.

For Parents - If your child has type 1 diabetes, you’ll be involved in diabetes care on a day-to-day basis, from serving and monitoring healthy foods to giving insulin injections to watching for and treating hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). You’ll also need to stay in close contact with your child’s doctor.

Understanding Type 11 Diabetes

Type ll Diabetes or otherwise known as adult on set diabetes, is the most common form of Diabetes and is characterized by disorders of insulin action and insulin secretion, either of which may be the predominant feature. Both are usually present at the time that this form of Diabetes is clinically manifest.

In Type ll Diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin, or has trouble using the insulin, or both. A person with Type ll Diabetes might inject insulin but does not depend on it to live. If there is not enough insulin or if it is not working right, your cells cannot use the glucose in your blood to make energy. Instead, glucose stays in the blood. This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. Most people who get Type ll Diabetes are over 40 years old. But it may occur in younger people. Often, there are no signs of the disease.

Signs of Type ll Diabetes

•Includes Frequent Urination

•Tingling or numb hands or feet

•Constant thirst

•Fatigue

•Constant Hunger

•Weight Loss

•Dry, itchy skin

•Blurred vision

•Weakness

•Infections of the skin, gums, bladder, or vagina that keep coming back or heal slowly

Causes of Type ll Diabetes

Experts do not know for sure what causes Type ll Diabetes. They do know that you cannot catch it from someone else, like the flu. They know it is not caused by eating too much sugar. It is hereditary. If other members of your family have Type ll Diabetes, you are more likely to get it. However, it usually takes something else to bring on the disease.

For many people with Diabetes, being overweight brings it on. When you are over weight, your body has a harder time using the insulin that it makes. This is called insulin resistance. In insulin resistance, your pancreas keeps making insulin to lower blood glucose, but your body does not respond to the insulin as it should. After years of this, your pancreas may just burn out.

Treatment of Type ll

Diabetes

There is no cure for diabetes. However, there are things you can do to treat it yourself. At first, eating healthier foods and doing more exercise or activity may help you lose weight. Losing weight may help you get your blood glucose levels into a more normal range and help your body use the insulin it has. If this does not bring your blood glucose levels down to where you want them, you may need to take diabetes pills.

Diabetes pills are drugs that lower blood glucose levels. They are not insulin. If eating healthier foods, increasing activity, and taking diabetes pills do not lower your blood glucose enough, you may need to add insulin, or you may need to use insulin instead of diabetes pills.

To find out how your treatments are working, there are two things you can do:

•Check your blood glucose levels

•Have regular medical checkups.