Diabetes - Types 1 & 2 Diagnosis
Written by Jennifer Kirkman
Type 1 Diabetes is what happens when the beta cells in the pancreas die off and there is little or no insulin in the body.
Children and teens are more frequently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes - much more frequently than adults. Symptoms may not show themselves until an emergency occurs when the body can no longer handle the impact of extremely high blood sugar levels. This is when a condition called ketoacidosis occurs.
Ketoacidosis is an medical emergency. The symptoms are extreme thirst/dehydration, fruity breath, vomiting - and if the sugars get really high (over 500) – you can even have trouble breathing. It is important to seek medical attention right away if this happens.
Early signs of Type 1 may show in extreme weight loss even with eating a lot and a ravenous appetite. There is usually extreme thirst and frequent urination, sometimes with bedwetting. A simple blood sugar test by fasting determines whether Type 1 is present or is in the process.
Type 1 is also an autoimmune disease. It results usually from the failure of the body's failure to fight infections naturally, commonly such as strep infections.
Though scientists never have been clear about what causes Type 1 diabetes, there are several known factors about this complex disease.
Diabetes is not infectious! My understanding is that lifestyles - and also family history - play a role in this affliction. You do not ‘catch’ Type 1 or 2 diabetes, as some people think. It’s not infectious and it cannot be passed on from unrelated person to person.
Diabetes does not come from eating candy. It is often said that diabetes has been caused from eating sweets. This is simply not true. The body just fails to produce the hormone insulin from the pancreas – and it’s the pancreas that secretes insulin.
Don’t panic! How is Type 1 diabetes managed? The first thing you should do is not panic - and teach your child with this affliction not to panic.
Diabetes is very serious, but the good news is that it can be controlled with careful monitoring of the blood sugars, diet control, activity, and insulin adjustments.
Type 2 diabetes is often labeled as ‘adult onset’ diabetes. I've also heard it described as ‘non-insulin dependent’ diabetes. It is much more common than Type 1 - especially in adults - though nowadays it is being seen in some children.
The pancreas is slowing down… When you have diabetes, what happens is that the pancreas is slowing down. It is still producing some insulin, but not enough.
Type 2 diabetics are often known as being ‘insulin resistant’, which simply means is that the insulin does not travel correctly within the body and go to where it needs to in order to lower blood sugars properly.
Over time in my own personal case, my pancreas had gradually decreased in it's insulin production to the point where I actually made very little insulin on my own. It was at that time that my doctor prescribed a long-acting insulin ‘Lantus’ for me so that I would have enough in my system to lower my sugar levels.
In all cases of diabetes… What happens in both Types of diabetes, is that we lose our ability to make insulin. Or we do not utilize the insulin we make properly for sugar control.
Sugar is very important in that it is the basic fuel for the cells in our bodies. We need insulin to carry sugar from the blood and into the cells. Without sugar, our body has no fuel…
Both Types of diabetes are serious conditions and can lead to many other - associated - health problems.
Problems that diabetics encounter are:
- kidney disease
- heart disease
- circulatory problems (hence foot problems…)
- a negative effect on the eyes.
It is very important that your blood sugar fluctuations are tightly controlled with good control of blood sugar levels.
What is good blood sugar control? The normal range should be between 70-98 fasting, and not above 130 after meals for anyone. A blood sugar level above 126 or more fasting is indicative of a blood sugar problem, especially when taken fasting on two different occasions.
Diabetic patients should look into multiple sources of information in order to figure out the best methods available to deal with their condition. A good doctor will know how to treat diabetes correctly and give you the nutritional information you need to eat the right foods for control of your sugar levels.
You will also find a wealth of information on my website - http://www.diabetesandrelatedhealthissues.com