Diabetes is a disease that is characterized by high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The increased amount sugar in the blood is a result of either defects in the production of insulin or the way in which insulin is used by the body.
Complications from diabetes can lead to dozens of other medical conditions, such as kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, blindness, neuropathy, gum disease, or heart disease.
Type 1 diabetesis the result of a lack of insulin production because of the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin that regulates blood glucose. Researchers have found that there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors that increase a person's risk for developing Type 1 diabetes.
There is limited knowledge of the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes but researchers do know that the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas because of a mistake made by the immune system.
It is theorized that Type 1 diabetes is caused when an environmental toxin or pathogen triggers the immune system to attack itself. Also, you may be at risk for Type 1 diabetes if you suffer from other hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's or Addison's disease.
Type 1 diabetes can happen at any age but most often happens in children and young adults. This type of diabetes requires artificial insulin injections. This is why Type 1 diabetes is often called insulin-dependent diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adult onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body still produces enough insulin but the body has become resistant to the effects of the hormone. This type of diabetes usually develops in middle age and in overweight/obese individuals. It is most common in people who are older, obese, have a family history of diabetes or have had gestational diabetes.
There are specific risk factors that place people in a higher risk category for developing Type 2 diabetes. These risk factors include sedentary lifestyle, stress, infection, hereditary or inherited traits, age, poor diet high in carbohydrates and processed foods, obesity, hypertension and high triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
The main causes contributing to developing Type 2 diabetes are high carbohydrate diets and the sedentary "coach potato" lifestyle, which often leads to inflammation and obesity. Inflammation and obesity which are linked to increased insulin resistance in the body and a poor functioning immune system.
The third type of diabetes which affects the glucose system is gestational diabetes. This is a diabetic situation that occurs in an individual who is pregnant and is believed to be caused by hormonal changes in weight gain.
When found early on in the pregnancy it is easily treated so that it does not affect the growth and development of the infant. Most women who develop gestational diabetes find that the condition disappears after the delivery of the baby. However, having gestational diabetes puts a woman at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Women that develop gestational diabetes can often have larger than normal babies. We're talking 10 pounders here! Also, babies born to women with gestational diabetes tend to have low blood sugar levels after birth (hypoglycemia).
Researchers and scientists continue to search for the exact causing factors of diabetes. The only reasonable treatment options available for individuals at this time are diet, exercise and medications.
Controlling your blood sugar levels is the most important aspect of diabetes management and care. The better controlled your blood sugar levels are the lower your chances of developing diabetic complications are.
Complications from diabetes can lead to dozens of other medical conditions, such as kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, blindness, neuropathy, gum disease, or heart disease.
Type 1 diabetesis the result of a lack of insulin production because of the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin that regulates blood glucose. Researchers have found that there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors that increase a person's risk for developing Type 1 diabetes.
There is limited knowledge of the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes but researchers do know that the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas because of a mistake made by the immune system.
It is theorized that Type 1 diabetes is caused when an environmental toxin or pathogen triggers the immune system to attack itself. Also, you may be at risk for Type 1 diabetes if you suffer from other hormonal problems such as hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's or Addison's disease.
Type 1 diabetes can happen at any age but most often happens in children and young adults. This type of diabetes requires artificial insulin injections. This is why Type 1 diabetes is often called insulin-dependent diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adult onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body still produces enough insulin but the body has become resistant to the effects of the hormone. This type of diabetes usually develops in middle age and in overweight/obese individuals. It is most common in people who are older, obese, have a family history of diabetes or have had gestational diabetes.
There are specific risk factors that place people in a higher risk category for developing Type 2 diabetes. These risk factors include sedentary lifestyle, stress, infection, hereditary or inherited traits, age, poor diet high in carbohydrates and processed foods, obesity, hypertension and high triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
The main causes contributing to developing Type 2 diabetes are high carbohydrate diets and the sedentary "coach potato" lifestyle, which often leads to inflammation and obesity. Inflammation and obesity which are linked to increased insulin resistance in the body and a poor functioning immune system.
The third type of diabetes which affects the glucose system is gestational diabetes. This is a diabetic situation that occurs in an individual who is pregnant and is believed to be caused by hormonal changes in weight gain.
When found early on in the pregnancy it is easily treated so that it does not affect the growth and development of the infant. Most women who develop gestational diabetes find that the condition disappears after the delivery of the baby. However, having gestational diabetes puts a woman at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Women that develop gestational diabetes can often have larger than normal babies. We're talking 10 pounders here! Also, babies born to women with gestational diabetes tend to have low blood sugar levels after birth (hypoglycemia).
Researchers and scientists continue to search for the exact causing factors of diabetes. The only reasonable treatment options available for individuals at this time are diet, exercise and medications.
Controlling your blood sugar levels is the most important aspect of diabetes management and care. The better controlled your blood sugar levels are the lower your chances of developing diabetic complications are.
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