There are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes - also known as insulin-dependent or immune-mediated
diabetes - is a disease that that destroys the cells in the pancreas that
produce the hormone insulin.
Insulin is needed to control blood sugar levels. Without insulin death
is inevitable.
Type 1 sufferers, who typically develop the condition as children or
young adults, are usually unable to produce any insulin at all.
They have to receive an insulin injection every day. It cannot be
administered as a pill because it would be destroyed by the digestive
process before it had a chance to work.
Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly. Signs and symptoms are:
The cause of the disease is unknown, although there is evidence that it
might be inherited.
Other environmental factors and illnesses seem to trigger the disease.
People with type 1 diabetes can live happy, healthy
lives provided they follow a diabetes treatment plan.
Blood sugar levels must be kept as close to normal as possible through
insulin injections, regular exercise and control of diet.
Blood and urine tests will show if the disease is under control. The
presence of ketones in the urine indicates that there are problems.
Type 2 Diabetes:
Type 2, or non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common form of
the disease. It usually occurs in people who are over the age of 45 and
overweight.
Type 2 sufferers do not make enough insulin, or are unable to make
proper use of it.
Without enough insulin, the body cannot move blood sugar into the
cells. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes health problems.
What causes Type 2 diabetes?
Again the cause of the disease is unknown, but is probably inherited.
As with type 1 diabetes, other factors appear to trigger the disease such
as obesity.
What are the symptoms?
Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly. Most people who get it have
increased thirst and an increased need to urinate.
Many also feel tired, irritable and nauseous. Some people have an
increased appetite, but they lose weight.
Other signs are:
- Repeated or hard-to-heal infections of the skin, gums, vagina, or
bladder;
- Blurred vision;
- Tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet;
- Dry, itchy skin.
The symptoms can be so mild that they go unnoticed. They may also be
confused with signs of ageing. It is thought that millions of people
worldwide suffer from type 2 diabetes without realising it.
What is the outlook?
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by keeping blood sugar levels as
close as possible to normal.
This can be done by regular exercise and diet control alone.
Losing weight helps some overweight people to bring their blood sugars
into the normal range.
Last Revised at December 4, 2007 by Harutyun Medina, M.D.
