What Are The Two Types Of Diabetes

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Our body needs energy to move about and function well in the course of our daily living. We get our energy from the food we eat. Our body will break down what we eat especially those that fall into the carbohydrates group - into sugar. This sugar or glucose will be carried by the blood into the many cells in the body. But here is the catch it needs insulin so that the cells will allow glucose to enter into them.

For those who may already have learned something about diabetes, the word insulin is already familiar to them. Insulin plays a vital role for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. It is the pancreas that produces this insulin. Yet, while your pancreas may be functioning well, there is still a chance that your glucose levels remain high a condition termed as insulin resistance.

One may also have already heard of the types of diabetes. There is Type 1 Diabetes and there is Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system of the body attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. This will result to a lesser insulin production or at worse, no insulin at all. This is why you must have known a diabetes patient who takes insulin shots. This is necessary for one with type 1 diabetes and this insulin shots will be taken as often as required. This type of diabetes needs special attention, as there are cases wherein the patient will experience a life-threatening diabetic coma. It is critical that the patient takes insulin as prescribed by his or her physician.

Type 2 diabetes is probably the most common than type of diabetes. Most with this type are overweight, in his later years, with a family history of such health condition and are physically inactive. This is where the insulin resistance condition fits in. The pancreas is able to produce enough insulin yet the body is not able to effectively and efficiently use it. Because of this, the blood will have high glucose levels.

One with diabetes will experience increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision and slow healing of wounds. This is why having diabetes is feared by many and what is more, is that diabetes is known to complicate your other health conditions as high blood; many diabetes patients have had a stroke. Diabetes may also lead to blindness, nerve damage and kidney failure. This health condition really deserves your attention and should alert you to address this well.

A person with diabetes should closely monitor his blood sugar levels making sure it neither drops too low nor shoots up way too high. When the blood sugar levels are too low, one is said to be in a condition referred to as hypoglycemia. If the blood sugar levels are very high, the condition is termed as hyperglycemia.

It is important that a person with diabetes should not only be concerned with blood sugar levels but in his overall health as well. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels should be monitored as well. One must be disciplined enough to make some lifestyle changes along with the medications prescribed by the doctor.

Eating healthy should be a main priority avoiding too much carbohydrates in the diet. Carbohydrates in the diet should come mainly from fruits and vegetables. Junk foods and sweets should be avoided. A balanced and nutritious diet is important.

Also, one must subscribe to an active lifestyle. This improves blood circulation and your general state of health. It will stabilize your mood and will leave you with a feeling of more energy throughout the day. It will also keep you fit and will allow you to use those excess calories.

Deal with your diabetes effectively and work with your doctor towards your optimum health given your condition. More than the medication you take, should be the discipline to take on a healthier lifestyle to improve your condition.

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Three Types of Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 & Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes comes in different types namely Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not sufficiently produce or fails to properly use insulin. The body normally gets its main source of energy from glucose, which is a simple sugar derived from foods rich in simple carbohydrates such as table sugar and other sweeteners like honey, jams, jellies, molasses, cookies and soft drinks. It also includes the breakdown of complex carbohydrates like starch with sources such as as bread, pasta and potatoes. Sugars and starch are then converted into glucose and enter the bloodstream.

Glucose is needed by the body for its everyday activities. However, the body needs a carrier that would get glucose to reach the muscles and other parts of the body from the bloodstream. This is where the hormone insulin comes into play. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, a gland found behind the stomach. If there is no insulin, glucose cannot enter into the cells of the body. Instead, it builds up in the blood at high levels and is excreted into the urine.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of health related deaths in the world. In fact, it ranks the seventh among the deadly diseases in the United States. Diabetes can pose serious complications that may lead to blindness, heart disease, kidney failure and amputations in the lower extremity.

Type 1
Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin dependent diabetes, in which the person having this type of disease is unable to produce insulin and thus have to take insulin in order to survive. Blood glucose levels are also sensitive to slight changes in insulin dose, diet and exercise. It is characterized by quick thirstiness, frequent urination and drastic weight loss. Type 1 diabetes is usually most common in children and young adults and can occur suddenly, often following an illness. There is still no cure for Type 1 diabetes, although it can be controlled through insulin shots and proper self-care.


Type 2
Type 2 diabetes differs from type 1 diabetes such that the body produces insulin, but is not enough for the body to efficiently use. Considered as adult-onset diabetes, it considered as the most common type of diabetes that usually occurs in people over forty years old. Type 2 diabetes may also be caused by genetics, obesity and lack of exercise.

Treatment of Type 2 diabetes can vary at different phases of the condition. In its early stages, blood glucose levels can be controlled through exercise and a proper diet. Subsequently, you may need oral medication such as Metformin and insulin shots. If left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart and kidney disease, lower extremity amputation and blindness.


Gestational Diabetes
On the other hand, pregnant women can be affected with gestational diabetes. This usually occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin and blocks the hormone's action due to hormones. Usually, this type of diabetes ends after childbirth, although some women having gestational diabetes continue to carry the disease as they get older.


Usually, gestational diabetes does not cause birth defects, but a mother who is affected by this disease may give birth to a child that is unusually larger than normal. Also, there is the risk that the baby may have low blood sugar count after its birth. Studies have shown that about forty percent of women with gestational diabetes can develop type 2 diabetes. It is important for women who may have had this kind of diabetes to see a doctor and be checked for type 2 diabetes. This condition can be controlled with proper diet, although insulin shots may be required in some women. This condition cannot be treated with pills as it may harm the baby.

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