Health
What You Should Know About Diabetes: Understanding the Different Types
Diabetes is becoming an increasingly significant health concern in the U.S. and around the world. In the U.S. alone, more than 30.3 million live with type 2 diabetes.
This number doesn’t factor in other types of diabetes or the 7.2 million Americans living with undiagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Symptoms can be mild, but when left untreated, they can become severe and even life-threatening.
That is why it is important to understand the different classifications of diabetes, what causes Type 2 diabetes, and what research is being done to treat it.
For older individuals, there is much research being done to understand why diabetes develops in people of all different ages.
Part of that research is focused specifically on figuring out how older individuals can be affected by new treatments like klotho therapy when they are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and experience things like kidney neuropathy as a part of the disease. There is much to learn, but knowing the basics about diabetes can go a long way.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which your body has an issue with insulin production. Your body may be unable to make enough insulin entirely or make too much. Either way, people with diabetes are unable to properly draw sugar out of the bloodstream and distribute it where needed.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is generally considered an autoimmune disorder that people are born with. It is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults but can reveal itself at any age. With type 1, your immune system routinely attacks certain pancreatic cells that are responsible for producing insulin.
This leads to a glucose buildup due to insufficient quantities of insulin, which then causes high blood sugar. Researchers are still unsure of what prompts this response, but it is often associated with genetic or environmental factors.
Unlike Type 2 diabetes, there is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. The most effective treatment involves regular glucose monitoring and insulin injections.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the type of diabetes that most people are familiar with. With this form of diabetes, the body is unable to use the insulin that is naturally produced. Type 2 is often seen in individuals over the age of 45 but can happen at any time.
This form of diabetes comes from excessive blood sugar levels, but unlike type 1, many people can still produce insulin. However, the body’s cells aren’t able to use insulin effectively. Several factors can contribute to type 2 diabetes, including obesity, living an inactive lifestyle, medical history, age, and ethnicity.
Gestational Diabetes
This form of diabetes occurs during pregnancy due to high blood sugar levels. It is commonly experienced during the 24th and 28th-week mark and often goes away once the baby is born. It is important to note that this form of diabetes may lead to a greater risk of developing Type 2 at some point in your lifetime.
Diabetes Insipidus Versus Diabetes Mellitus
The term Diabetes Mellitus refers to commonly known forms of diabetes such as Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetes Insipidus differs because it is a rare disease where the kidneys produce large volumes of dilute urine.
With this condition, the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) causes difficulty regulating urine output, which can lead to excessive urination. Unlike Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Insipidus does not involve any increases in blood glucose levels.
Since this is also a symptom of Diabetes Mellitus, it is important to work with a doctor to discover what these symptoms mean. When left untreated, it can lead to kidney damage and chronic kidney disease.
Diabetes Treatment
In order to treat diabetes, doctors can help develop a treatment plan that best meets the needs of the patient. With Type 2 Diabetes, making lifestyle changes could be all that is needed to achieve success.
With other types of diabetes, some form of insulin injection will be needed. A doctor can help develop plans for diet, exercise, and routine monitoring to ensure that conditions do not worsen.
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is becoming increasingly prevalent around the world. It’s important to understand the similarities and differences of each type, especially when monitoring early signs and symptoms.
There is much research being done to understand the different types of treatments that can be developed for diabetes but early detection leads to the best approach to successful management of the condition.
Sources:
