Types of Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects the way that the body handles and absorbs sugar.
It is becoming increasingly common in individuals throughout the world and the United States.
In 2008 it is estimated the eight percent of Americans, or twenty-four million people, have diabetes.
This number represents an increase of about 3 million over the last three years.
While treatable, diabetes does necessitate the need for some significant life changes.
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
The cause of these types of diabetes is different, but the underlying problem is the same.
The bodies of those that suffer from diabetes are not able to properly handle, absorb, or produce insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that controls the body's metabolism and effects several systems in the body.
It causes the cells in the body to absorb glucose, or sugar, from the blood and store the sugar.
It helps to prevent the use of fat as an energy source, and when insulin is low, or absent, the body uses fat as an energy source as opposed to glucose.
Type 1 Diabetes involves the loss of insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
This results in insufficient amounts of insulin in the body.
It can affect children or adults, and is found in people of all body types, but it is most frequently found in children.
Usually it is treated by using insulin and it requires very careful monitoring of the bloods glucose level.
Type 2 Diabetes involves a resistance or reduced sensitivity to insulin, which is compounded by a reduced production of insulin.
The tissues in the body are not as receptive to insulin, which results in a higher concentration of insulin in the bloodstream.
Many attribute this type of diabetes to obesity, because in some cases fat around the waste helps to reduce the effect of insulin.
Aging and family history are also thought to play a part.
Typically it is first treated by improving diet and reducing weight.
Sometimes these actions alone are enough to control Type 2 diabetes, but constant attention must be paid to diet and exercise.
Oral drugs are also used that help to improve insulin production.
Gestational diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes because it involves insufficient insulin production and poor absorption of insulin by the tissues.
It occurs in pregnant women and often improves or even disappears after birth.
Two to five percent of pregnant women will develop this type of diabetes, and those twenty to fifty percent of these women will later develop Type 2 Diabetes.
It must be closely monitored and treated, because it can have negative effects on the child.
There are a few known cases that do not fit nicely into the 3 categories of diabetes that have been described thus far, but these cases are rare and remain highly controversial subjects in the medical industry.
Many people are affected by diabetes every year, but through proper monitoring and through use of medicine, it is largely treatable.
It is becoming increasingly common in individuals throughout the world and the United States.
In 2008 it is estimated the eight percent of Americans, or twenty-four million people, have diabetes.
This number represents an increase of about 3 million over the last three years.
While treatable, diabetes does necessitate the need for some significant life changes.
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.
The cause of these types of diabetes is different, but the underlying problem is the same.
The bodies of those that suffer from diabetes are not able to properly handle, absorb, or produce insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that controls the body's metabolism and effects several systems in the body.
It causes the cells in the body to absorb glucose, or sugar, from the blood and store the sugar.
It helps to prevent the use of fat as an energy source, and when insulin is low, or absent, the body uses fat as an energy source as opposed to glucose.
Type 1 Diabetes involves the loss of insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
This results in insufficient amounts of insulin in the body.
It can affect children or adults, and is found in people of all body types, but it is most frequently found in children.
Usually it is treated by using insulin and it requires very careful monitoring of the bloods glucose level.
Type 2 Diabetes involves a resistance or reduced sensitivity to insulin, which is compounded by a reduced production of insulin.
The tissues in the body are not as receptive to insulin, which results in a higher concentration of insulin in the bloodstream.
Many attribute this type of diabetes to obesity, because in some cases fat around the waste helps to reduce the effect of insulin.
Aging and family history are also thought to play a part.
Typically it is first treated by improving diet and reducing weight.
Sometimes these actions alone are enough to control Type 2 diabetes, but constant attention must be paid to diet and exercise.
Oral drugs are also used that help to improve insulin production.
Gestational diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes because it involves insufficient insulin production and poor absorption of insulin by the tissues.
It occurs in pregnant women and often improves or even disappears after birth.
Two to five percent of pregnant women will develop this type of diabetes, and those twenty to fifty percent of these women will later develop Type 2 Diabetes.
It must be closely monitored and treated, because it can have negative effects on the child.
There are a few known cases that do not fit nicely into the 3 categories of diabetes that have been described thus far, but these cases are rare and remain highly controversial subjects in the medical industry.
Many people are affected by diabetes every year, but through proper monitoring and through use of medicine, it is largely treatable.
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