Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body uses glucose.
There are many types of diabetes, but the most common types are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Other, less common types of diabetes include mature onset diabetes in young (Mody) and potential autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
Let’s take a look at each of these.
The basics of diabetes
Glucose is the main source of energy in the body, and it comes from the food you eat. When you eat, the carbohydrates in your food are broken down into glucose and enter the bloodstream. When glucose levels in the blood increase, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin transfers blood from the blood to cells and releases hormones used for energy.
If you have diabetes, your body isn’t making enough (or any) insulin. Your body may also not be able to use insulin it makes properly.
Without sufficient insulin, blood sugar levels will be too high. Over time, high glucose levels can cause serious complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, neurological damage (neurological damage), and eye problems.
Diabetes statistics
As of 2021, 38.4 million Americans, 11.6% of the population, had diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of these, 2 million Americans suffer from type 1 diabetes. This includes around 304,000 children and adolescents. Also, as of 2021, 97.6 million Americans over the age of 18 had prediabetics, predecessors of type 2 diabetes.
In 2021, 1.2 million cases of diabetes were diagnosed. What is concerning is that out of the 38.4 million adults with diabetes, 8.7 million have not been diagnosed.
Types of diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that develops when the immune system accidentally attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas (these are the cells that make insulin).
As a result, the body produces little or no insulin and dangerously high blood sugar levels. Approximately 5-10% of diabetic patients are type 1.
Until recently, the idea was that type 1 diabetes occurred primarily in children and adolescents, but epidemiological data show that more than half of all new cases of type 1 diabetes occur in adults.
Causes of type 1 diabetes
The cause of type 1 diabetes is not completely known. However, scientists believe that genes and environmental factors such as viruses can cause this condition.
An international network called TrialNet conducts clinical research and screening of relatives of type 1 diabetes patients around the world to determine the cause of the condition and how to prevent or delay it.
Risk factors for type 1 diabetes
Risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:
- year: People of all ages can get type 1, but children between the ages of 10 and 14 have the highest incidence of diagnosis.
- Family History: Having a family with Type 1 diabetes is the biggest risk factor for developing this condition, but the Type 1 nonprofit JDRF says “nearly 85% of diagnoses occur in people who do not have a family with the disease.”
Dietary factors such as eating too much carbohydrates and being sedentary do not cause type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, there is no conclusive evidence that it is caused by antibiotics, milk, gluten, or other environmental factors. Ongoing research continues to explore the potential role of various environmental triggers.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually begin quickly within a few weeks. These include:
- I increased my thirst
- Increased hunger
- Often, urinating frequently
- Fatigue
- Weight loss for unknown reasons
- Blurred vision
- Dry the mouth
- Dry and itchy skin
- Slow healing cuts and pain
- Numbness and tingling in the feet and hands
Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, and sweet-scented breath are other symptoms that can occur. These symptoms indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.
Type 1 diabetes diagnosis
There are several blood tests that can be used to diagnose both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The following results show a positive diagnosis of diabetes.
- A1C test: 6.5% or more
- Fasting blood glucose: 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher
- Glucose Tolerance Test: 2 hours of blood glucose level above 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L)
- Random Blood Glucose: 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) or more
It can also be tested for autoantibodies (type 1 diabetes only), C-peptides (indicating whether the body produces insulin), and ketones. Notably, the presence of DKA is often the first sign of type 1 diabetes in people who have not yet been diagnosed.
Treatment of type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin as an injection or via infusion from an insulin pump. Additionally, monitoring blood sugar levels, counting carbohydrate intakes, and staying physically active is also an important part of your treatment plan.
Type 2 diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, cells in the body do not use insulin properly. The pancreas may also not produce enough insulin to keep glucose levels in a safe range. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, accounting for 90-95% of diagnosed cases.
Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people over the age of 45, but more and more children, teens and young adults develop this condition.
Causes of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is primarily due to insulin resistance. This occurs when muscles, fat and liver cells do not respond well to insulin and take glucose out of the blood.
The pancreas produces more insulin and helps to migrate from blood to cells. However, over time, the pancreas may not be able to keep up with the increasing demand.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes
If you have any of the following, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes:
- Pre-sugar
- Overweight or obese
- Family history
- Over 35 years old
- Have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
- Have had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
- African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaskan native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
Type 2 diabetes symptoms
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are the same as those of type 1 diabetes. However, symptoms usually develop much later in type 2 diabetes, with some people not having mild or noticeable symptoms. A lack of symptoms can delay the acquisition of appropriate treatment.
Type 2 diabetes diagnosis
The blood tests used to diagnose type 2 diabetes are the same as type 1 diabetes. However, healthcare providers usually do not order autoantibodies or C-peptide tests from people who are thought to have type 2 diabetes.
Treatment of type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes benefit from a combination of weight loss, healthy eating habits, and regular physical activity.
Diabetes Management Guidelines often encourage healthcare providers to start diabetic medications at the time of diagnosis. This may include various types of diabetes medications and/or non-insulin injections. Over time, it is not uncommon for people with type 2 diabetes to need insulin to manage their blood sugar.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Usually diagnosed at 24th On 28th The week of pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 5 and 9% of U.S. pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes.
Causes of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs when it causes insulin resistance, along with hormones produced by the placenta and weight gain in the mother. Insulin resistance makes it difficult for the mother’s body to use insulin.
All pregnant women develop insulin resistance during pregnancy, but some women do not produce enough insulin to overcome their resistance. This causes gestational diabetes. In most women with gestational diabetes, the condition disappears shortly after giving birth.
However, women with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women who have never had gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes Risk factors
Risk factors for gestational diabetes include:
- Overweight or obese
- Physical inactivity
- I have prediabetics
- Family history of type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes during previous pregnancy
- I’ve given birth to a big baby before
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Being a specific race or ethnicity
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Many women do not have symptoms of gestational diabetes. If so, symptoms can be mild, such as thirsting more than normal or having to urinate more frequently. Some women may notice an increase in yeast or urinary tract infections.
Gestational diabetes diagnosis
Gestational diabetes is diagnosed as a blood test. These include:
- Glucose Screening Test: After taking the glucose drink, blood is collected 1 hour later to check blood glucose levels. According to US Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines, glucose tolerance tests are required if glucose readings range from 130 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) to 140 mg/dL (7.2 mmol/L).
- Glucose Tolerance Test: This test measures blood glucose levels before and after drinking glucose drinks. Blood glucose levels will be checked 1, 2 or 3 hours later.
Your healthcare provider will explain the meaning of your results, depending on the type of test you have.
Gestational diabetes treatment
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you should follow a healthy diet plan, undergo regular physical activity, and monitor your blood sugar several times daily.
Blood glucose targets are generally strict during pregnancy. If lifestyle measures alone don’t help you achieve your blood sugar goals, your health care provider may start you with insulin, as other types of diabetes medications don’t have long-term safety data.
Other forms of diabetes
Two common types of diabetes are Mody and Lada.
Maturation-onset diabetes in young people (mody)
Mody is a type of diabetes that develops in adolescence or young adults, accounting for up to 2% of all diabetes cases in the United States for people under the age of 20.
Genetic mutations are thought to cause mody and affect the pancreatic ability to produce insulin. This can lead to hyperglycemia and ultimately lead to complications of diabetes.
Treatment may initially include a low-carb feeding scheme. But ultimately, as glucose levels increase, diabetes medications containing insulin are required. Studies have shown that sulfonylurea, a class of diabetic drugs, may actually be more effective than insulin in the treatment of Mody.
It is important to note that approaches to managing mody should be tailored to specific genetic variation and its effects on insulin production and blood glucose regulation. Genetic testing can help you determine the most appropriate treatment strategy.
read more: Mody Diabetes: Everything you need to know.
Potential Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)
Radha is an autoimmune type of diabetes beginning in adulthood. It accounts for 2-12% of all cases of diabetes in adults. The criteria for diagnosing this form of diabetes are as follows:
- Over 35 years old
- Positive autoantibodies against pancreatic beta cells
- Insulin independence for at least the first 6 months after diagnosis
Unlike type 1 diabetes, the pancreas slowly stops making insulin in the ladder. Although LADA is sometimes called “type 1.5 diabetes,” some scientists have argued that Lada is in fact a form of type 1 diabetes.
Those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but with a normal (healthy) weight and physically active may have LADA and should talk to their healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis.
For more information: Ladha Diabetes (Potential Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults).
Final thoughts
Diabetes affects millions of people around the world, making it more common in US type 2 diabetes, accounting for more than 90% of diabetes cases, and is largely preventable and manageable due to lifestyle changes.
Other forms of diabetes also affect people. Be familiar with risk factors and symptoms of diabetes and let your health care provider know if you have classic symptoms such as extreme thirst and frequent urination.
Not treating diabetes properly can lead to serious complications. But the good news is that there are more effective ways to monitor and manage diabetes than ever before.
