Glucose is a type of sugar. It comes from food and also is created in the liver. Glucose travels through the body in the blood. It moves from the blood to cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. Once glucose is in those cells, it can be used for energy. Diabetes mellitus is a condition that causes a buildup of glucose in the blood and makes it difficult for the body’s cells to get enough energy. There are two primary kinds of diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2. In short, both types result in high levels of blood glucose. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, caused by genetic and environmental factors, that results in too little insulin being produced by the body. Type 2 is influenced by lifestyle choices and results in the body not being able to use its insulin efficiently. According the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, and type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5%.” Overview of Type 1 and Type 2 DiabetesType 1—An autoimmune disease occurs when there is an abnormal immune response to a normal part of the body. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder caused by destruction of the cells that secrete insulin from the pancreas. This results in too little insulin being produced to support the body’s needs. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Without insulin, glucose from the carbohydrate foods you eat cannot enter cells. This causes glucose to build up in the blood, leaving your body’s cells and tissues starved for energy. While a variety of tissue transplantation and genetically-based treatments are being studied, at this point the only widely-available treatments for type 1 diabetes are the injection of insulin and inhaled insulin. Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. Image text:
Type 2—Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes and can be caused by a combination of factors. One factor is that your body begins to make less insulin. A second is that your body becomes resistant to insulin. This means there is insulin in your body, but your body cannot use it effectively. Insulin resistance is often related to excess body fat. Medication, lifestyle changes, and monitoring can help control blood glucose levels in those with type 2 diabetes. SymptomsType 1—Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are caused by the buildup of glucose in the blood and the lack of glucose in body cells, known as hyperglycemia. Symptoms include:
Type 2—You may have type 2 diabetes for years before you have symptoms:
Risk FactorsType 1—Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes include:
Type 2—Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include:
TreatmentType 1—Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure, but it can be managed with proper treatment and care. The goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain blood glucose levels before and after meals within a healthy range. By doing so, you will feel better on a daily basis and will help prevent or delay complications of diabetes. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy blood glucose range is for you. The main components of treatment are:
Type 2—Treatment aims to maintain blood sugar at levels close to normal, prevent or delay complications, and control other conditions that you may have, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Treatments include:
More information can be found on the American Diabetes Association website- www.diabetes.org. For individual diagnosis and treatment recommendations for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, please consult your physician. Joyce Vivian, MSN, NP, is available to screening, treatment options, and lifestyle tips. To schedule an appointment, call the office at (540) 772-3490 or schedule an appointment online. |