Diabetes Month Day 1

For the month of November, I will be doing informational blog posts for diabetes awareness month on most of the working days. Typically I do a short blurb at my workspace for co-workers, but I thought my friends in cyberspace might want some information too. Most of the information presented here is an expansion of what I want to say at work.

Question

What is diabetes? Are there different kinds?  Is one worse than another?


Answer
Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is the name given to a group of diseases in which a person has high blood glucose (blood sugar).  The blood glucose becomes high either because the body does not make enough of the hormone insulin, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or some combination of the two.   The three types of diabetes that I see the most often in my practice are:

Type 1:  Type 1 diabetes only makes up about 5-10% of the cases of diabetes in the United States.  In this form of diabetes the body does not produce insulin at all.  People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin to survive and follow a carbohydrate controlled diet to “match” the amount of insulin they take. People with Type 1 are usually diagnosed before their 40^th year and usually present with the symptoms of weight loss, frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger.  Type 1 diabetes used to be called “insulin dependent diabetes” or IDDM, “juvenile diabetes,” “or early-onset diabetes.”  These terms were discontinued by the medical community because they are too confusing and not accurate, however, in popular culture it is hard to get rid of this terminology. (Actually, in the medical community it is hard for some of us old farts to get rid of these terms too, come to think of it).

Type 2:   This is the most common form of diabetes (about 90% of cases) in the United States and the form that I deal with the most since I work with an older and elderly adult population.  In Type 2 diabetes the cells in the body do not react to insulin (called “insulin resistance”), or the body does not produce enough insulin, or some combination of both. If caught early enough this form of diabetes can be treated with a carbohydrate controlled diet and exercise alone.  For those who are diagnosed “later” or who are unable to follow a carbohydrate controlled diet plan, they may need to be treated with medications that help sensitize the body to insulin or help the body make more insulin.   Type 2 diabetes is progressive and many people do wind up having to take insulin to control blood glucose levels. (Some people think they have “converted” to Type 1 and this is simply not true).  This form of diabetes used to be called “non-insulin dependent” diabetes (NIDDM) or “Adult Onset Diabetes.” Again, these terms were discontinued because they are too confusing and not accurate; people can be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s and children have been diagnosed with Type 2.

Gestational: This form of diabetes is used to describe elevated blood glucose levels in pregnancy when the woman’s body becomes resistant to insulin.  Some women are able to control this with a carbohydrate controlled diet alone and others may require insulin during that time.  Gestational diabetes usually resolves after giving birth, but some women are more at risk for Type 2 diabetes in the future.

Is Type 1 “worse” than Type 2? No, both forms of diabetes are equally serious and can result in complications, such as blindness or kidney failure, if left uncontrolled.

Want more information. Click on the link! https://www.joslin.org/info/an_overview_of_diabetes.html