Diabetes is a disease that affects more than 30 Million U.S. adults. Diabetes is a relatively common disease and nearly every American knows someone who has diabetes. Even more alarming, according to a CDC report, nearly 85 Million U.S. adults have prediabetes. Prediabetes often leads to type 2 diabetes if it goes untreated. It is important to understand how diabetes works and what your best treatment options are. With proper treatment you can live a full, healthy life with diabetes.
There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes was previously known as juvenile diabetes, as it was most commonly diagnosed in young children, or young adults. Type 1 is not as common as type 2, and only about 5% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Different Types of Diabetes: Type 1 Vs Type 2
Type 1 diabetes occurs because the body cannot produce insulin. Insulin transports glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. Type 1 diabetes requires constant monitoring and multiple daily injections of insulin. There are a variety of devices that help your body get the insulin it needs, such as insulin pens, insulin syringes, or an insulin pump. With type 1 diabetes you are responsible for monitoring your blood glucose levels and making sure you get the required insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is a problem with your body’s ability to regulate its blood glucose levels, resulting in higher rises in blood glucose levels than normal. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes and is also called hyperglycemia. The main issue of type 2 diabetes is that your body is unable to use insulin properly. Referred to as insulin resistance, the body enters a spiral where your pancreas attempts to make more insulin to account for the resistance but cannot keep pace with the demands of your body and ceases to make enough insulin to regulate your blood glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes is usually treated with medication or insulin, accompanied by significant lifestyle changes. Type 2 diabetes tends to get worse with age, so while lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier and staying active may have been enough to keep diabetes at bay initially, you may end up needed medication and insulin down the line.
Risks and Complications
Diabetes raises your risk of serious health problems and can be incredibly dangerous on its own. Diabetes is a major contributor to all manner of other disease, including heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, and strokes. A common complication of diabetes is foot infections, and more serious cases can even lead to the loss of toes the entire foot, or the leg. If you aren’t aware that you may have diabetes you can easily miss early warning signs and suffer serious complications before you have the ability to seek proper treatment.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes both have a significant genetic component as well, so it is important to be aware of your family medical history to be on the lookout for early signs of diabetes. If caught early, it’s possible to avoid type 2 diabetes. Many Americans have prediabetes and are unaware of it. Seeking treatment immediately can help you avoid future struggle and complications.