There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps to control blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond properly to insulin. This can cause high blood sugar levels.
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the body produces little or no insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to survive.
Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use the insulin it produces effectively. While people with type 2 can often control their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise alone, some may also need medication or insulin therapy. No matter what type of diabetes you have, it’s important to monitor your blood sugar levels and manage them appropriately.
High blood sugar levels can damage your organs and lead to serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and nerve damage. Diabetes is a serious disease that should not be taken lightly. If you think you may have diabetes, talk to your doctor right away.
Table of Contents
What is Diabetes
What is a Simple Definition of Diabetes?
There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, previously called insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset diabetes, is characterized by loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas leading to insulin deficiency. This form of diabetes usually occurs in children or young adults but can occur at any age.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. Type 2 diabetes, previously called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes, is characterized by insulin resistance in muscle, fat and liver cells. Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues.
As a result, glucose builds up in the blood resulting in high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Over time, if untreated, this can lead to serious damage to different organs such as the heart, kidneys and eyes. Type 2 diabetes develops over many years and usually affects adults over 40; however more recently it has been seen occurring earlier in life particularly in overweight children and adolescents.
What is the Main Cause of Diabetes?
There are a number of different causes of diabetes, but the main one is when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as if you have an autoimmune condition where your body attacks the cells that produce insulin, or if you have a genetic predisposition to it. In some cases, diabetes can also be caused by certain medications or infections.
What are the First Signs of Being Diabetic?
There are a few different types of diabetes, but Type 1 and Type 2 are the most common. With Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body’s cells use sugar for energy.
With Type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or doesn’t use it properly. Sugar then builds up in the blood instead of being used for energy. The first signs of being diabetic can be different for each person and may develop over time.
For example, you may urinate more often than usual, especially at night. You may also be extremely thirsty and drink more fluids than normal. Other early symptoms include feeling tired all the time, sudden weight loss, slow-healing cuts or bruises and itchiness around your genitals or frequent vaginal/yeast infections in women.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away so you can begin treatment and manage your condition.
What are the 3 Main Signs of Diabetes?
There are three main signs of diabetes: increased thirst, increased urination, and fatigue. Other symptoms may include blurry vision, sores that do not heal, and weight loss. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor so that you can be diagnosed and treated for diabetes.
What is Diabetes Type 1
There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin injections for life.
Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes, accounting for about 90% of all cases worldwide. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond properly to insulin (insulin resistance). This form of diabetes can often be controlled through diet and exercise alone, but some people may also need to take oral medication or insulin injections.
No one knows exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. People with a family history of type 1 diabetes are at increased risk for developing the condition themselves. And certain viral infections have been linked to the development of type 1 diabetes in children.
While there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, it can be managed through lifestyle changes and medical treatment. With proper care, people with type 1 diabetes can live long and healthy lives.
What is Diabetes Type 2
type 2 diabetes is a form of diabetes mellitus that affects how your body uses glucose (a type of sugar). With this form of diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from the blood into your cells to be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It usually begins in adulthood, but children as young as 10 years old can get it if they are overweight or have other risk factors. People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at first.
Over time, they may develop any or all of these symptoms: Excessive thirst and/or hunger Frequent urination Weight loss Fatigue Blurry vision Slow-healing wounds/sores Yeast infections in women Dark patches on skin (called acanthosis nigricans) Numbness or tingling in feet or hands Problems getting or maintaining an erection If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
He or she may test your blood sugar level using one of these methods: Fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) A1C test Random plasma glucose test If you have two elevated blood sugar tests in a row, you will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Causes of Diabetes
There are many different causes of diabetes. In some cases, it can be caused by a genetic predisposition. In other cases, it can be caused by an autoimmune reaction.
And in still other cases, it can be caused by a virus or other infection. No matter what the cause, diabetes always results in high levels of sugar in the blood. This can damage the body over time and lead to serious complications like heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
The most common type of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes. This form of the disease is often linked to obesity and lack of exercise. But it can also be caused by certain genetic factors or conditions (like PCOS).
Type 1 diabetes is much less common but tends to run in families. It’s usually diagnosed in childhood and is treated with insulin injections for life. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy but increases the risk for both mother and child to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and typically develops in adulthood. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels will be higher than normal.
This can lead to a variety of health complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.