Diabetes Type 1 and 2, Explained

The most common forms of diabetes are type 1 and type 2, and both types affect the way our body regulates glucose or blood sugar. The pancreas secrets insulin into the bloodstream to facilitate the movement of glucose into cells for the production of energy. People with type 1 diabetes do not produce any insulin at all, while those with type 2 don’t respond to insulin as efficiently as they should. Even though both type 1 and 2 diabetes have something to do with insulin, and have similar sounding names, they are different in many ways:

TYPE 1

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leaving a person incapable of producing any insulin. No one knows exactly why this happens, but it probably has something to do with genetics or exposure to environmental factors, such as toxins or viruses.

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes develop very quickly over the course of a few weeks. There is no cure for type 1 and since these people do not produce insulin, it must be administered into the body. Since it often develops in childhood or adolescence, type 1 was once called juvenile diabetes, but it has become evident that it is also possible to develop type 1 later in life.

TYPE 2

People with type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant; their pancreas produces insulin but their body is unable to use it efficiently. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1; one in ten adults has type 2 although along with the increase in childhood obesity, many children are also being diagnosed with it as well. Researchers aren’t certain why some people become resistant to insulin but it is thought that overweight and inactivity play an important role.

Men and women develop type 2 at a similar rate; they are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if they have slightly elevated blood sugar, are overweight or obese, have a preponderance of belly fat, are physically inactive, are over the age of 45, have ever had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, are Black, Hispanic, Native American or Alaskan, have an immediate family member with type 2, or have polycystic ovary syndrome.

DIAGNOSIS

The test that is used to confirm diabetes is called an A1C, or glycated hemoglobin test which measures average blood sugar levels over the previous two or three months. The higher our blood sugars are, the higher our A1C score will be. A normal A1C score is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7%-6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% indicates full-blown diabetes. Within the 5.7%-6.4% range, the higher the A1C, the greater the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of types 1 and 2 are similar; they can include excessive thirst and urination, hunger, fatigue, blurry vision, cuts or sores that are slow to heal, unintentional weight loss, and irritability. Although both types share some of the same symptoms, they occur in different ways. Type 1 diabetes develops quickly, but type 2 symptoms usually appear slowly over the course of several years. Some people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all and don’t find out they are diabetic until complications occur.

TREATMENT

There is no cure for type 1 diabetes. Since type 1 diabetics do not produce insulin, it must be added back into the body through injection or a pump. Closely monitoring glucose levels is all-important for type 1 diabetics in order to avoid complications in the future. Monitors are often worn on the belly or back of the arm; they continuously measure glucose in the fluids under the skin and relieve a diabetic of having to prick their fingers to draw blood to measure their glucose.

Monitoring blood sugar or glucose levels is also important for type 2 diabetics. This type of diabetes can often be managed with a careful diet and exercise although some diabetics require the addition of medication to help them utilize insulin more effectively. If blood sugar levels remain high, type 2 diabetics may also need to administer insulin via injection or pump.

Nutrition is an important part of life for controlling both types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetics must learn how to adjust their insulin depending upon the types of foods they consume while people with type 2 need to focus on lifestyle, nutrition, and weight management. It is also clear that overly-processed and/or junk foods are unhealthy for diabetics to consume.

COMPLICATIONS

With correct treatment and lifestyle changes, many people with diabetes are able to prevent or delay the onset of serious complications such as nerve damage, skin infections, eye problems, foot complications, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, and stroke. Learning how to manage diabetes is not easy, but it is certainly doable … even for the very young.