Many
of the signs of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar. In both, there
is too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of your
body. High glucose levels in Type I are due to a lack of insulin because
the insulin producing cells have been destroyed. Type 2 diabetes occurs
when the body's cells become resistant to insulin that is being
produced. Either way, your cells aren't getting the glucose that they
need, and your body lets you know by giving you these signs and
symptoms.
Are you
visiting the bathroom much more lately? Does it seem like you urinate
all day long? Urination becomes more frequent when there is too much
glucose in the blood. If insulin is nonexistent or ineffective, the
kidneys can't filter glucose back to the blood. They become overwhelmed
and try to draw extra water out of the blood to dilute the glucose. This
keeps your bladder full and it keeps you running to the bathroom.
If it feels like you
can't get enough water and you're drinking much more than usual, it
could be a sign of diabetes, especially if it seems to go hand in hand
with frequent urination. If your body is pulling extra water out of your
blood and you're running to the bathroom more, you will become
dehydrated and feel the need to drink more to replace the water that you
are losing.
This
symptom is more noticeable with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1, the pancreas
stops making insulin, possibly due to a viral attack on pancreas cells
or because an autoimmune response makes the body attack the insulin
producing cells. The body desperately looks for an energy source because
the cells aren't getting glucose. It starts to break down muscle tissue
and fat for energy. Type 2 happens gradually with increasing insulin
resistance so weight loss is not as noticeable.
It's that bad boy
glucose again. Glucose from the food we eat travels into the bloodstream
where insulin is supposed to help it transition into the cells of our
body. The cells use it to produce the energy we need to live. When the
insulin isn't there or if the cells don't react to it anymore, then the
glucose stays outside the cells in the bloodstream. The cells become
energy starved and you feel tired and run down.
This
symptom is called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as
consistently high glucose in the blood damages the nervous system,
particularly in the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is a gradual onset, and
people are often not aware that they have it. Therefore, blood sugar
might have been high for more than a few years before a diagnosis is
made. Nerve damage can creep up without our knowledge. Neuropathy can
very often improve when tighter blood glucose control is achieved.
Blurred
vision, skin that is dry or itchy, frequent infections or cuts and
bruises that take a long time to heal are also signs that something is
amiss. Again, when these signs are associated with diabetes, they are
the result of high glucose levels in the body. If you notice any of the
above signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be
able to tell you if you have reason to be concerned about a diagnosis
of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a
completely different disease than Type 2. Type 1 is an autoimmune
disease of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists
believe that it may be a virus that triggers the immune system to attack
the cells and permanently destroy them. The pancreas can no longer make
the insulin necessary to transport sugar from the blood into the other
cells of the body for energy. Sugar builds up in the blood and over time
can damage internal organs and blood vessels.
What does this
mean to the person who is diagnosed? Someone who has Type 1 diabetes
must take insulin everyday to survive. It becomes a delicate balance of
finding the right amount of insulin necessary to keep the blood sugar
level as close to normal as possible. The person with diabetes has to
check their blood sugar levels often and then inject themselves with the
correct amount of insulin to counteract the amount of sugar. This
mimics the action of the pancreas.
This can be an
overwhelming process for the newly diagnosed person, especially since
Type 1 diabetes typically strikes children and young adults, although
adults age 40 and older, can get Type 1. The onset of the disease
happens quickly. As the insulin stops being produced and the blood sugar
rises, this causes hyperglycemia. Several warning signs appear.
Increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, weight loss and blurred
vision are a few of the most noticeable signs of Type 1 diabetes.
Frequently testing
blood sugar levels helps to let you know how much insulin you will need
to keep your levels as near to normal as possible. The usual times to
test are: before meals, before bedtime and maybe one to two hours after
meals or a big snack. Also test before you exercise because exercise
will lower blood sugar also, and you don't want your blood sugar to drop
too low either. This is called hypoglycemia.
For diabetes, when you eat is as important as what you eat. Eating meals that are approximately the same size and combination of carbohydrates and fats at the same time everyday helps to keep blood sugar regular and predictable. The best diet is one that is low in fat, low in salt and low in added sugars. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables are preferable over simple carbohydrates like sugary soft drinks and candy.
Until the 1920's, when insulin was first discovered, people usually died from Type 1 diabetes. Today with all the advances of medicine that are available, a person diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes can live a very normal, long life. There are many adjustments that need to made and skills that need to be learned, but these can be incorporated into a daily routine, and can become just as automatic as brushing your teeth. Working with your doctors and a nutritionist will give you the tools you need.
Diabetes affects
nearly 21 million Americans. Up to 95% of all people diagnosed with the
disease have type 2 diabetes. Although type 2 diabetes is not always
caused by obesity, being overweight is a risk factor for developing the
disease.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes:
Food is broken down into glucose during digestion. The glucose is released into the blood and the digestion process activates the pancreas to release insulin, which helps the glucose enter the cells of the body where it's used for energy. When someone is resistant to the effects of insulin, the glucose keeps circulating in the blood and doesn't reach the body's cells. This causes the body to try to get rid of the glucose in other ways.
Type 2 diabetes often does not have any noticeable symptoms, and you may not know that you have it. Regular check-ups with your physician and some basic blood tests will help you find out early in the disease if you have it. Early detection helps you to get control of your blood sugars. If your blood sugar is controlled, then your risk for complications is reduced. Diagnosis includes a fasting blood glucose test and an oral glucose tolerance test.