What Causes Type 1 Diabetes

Both adults and children can be affected by diabetes. Depending on the person and how far the disease has progressed will determine what type they have and how it will effect their body.

Diabetes is a very real disease that many of us will hear about – but never imagine is something that we will ever have to deal with. For some of us we think that it is one of the most minor diseases that someone needs to deal with – but in reality it is a very real and in some cases very dangerous disease.

Stage 2 Diabetes

There are some conditions that can affect us – but with the proper treatment they will disappear, never to be seen again. However, there are some medical conditions that can never go away no matter how much treatment we are given. Diabetes is a medical condition that affects millions of people of all ages. While this condition can be treated with the right medication, once you have been diagnosed it cannot be cured.

There are several diabetes types that have different symptoms and can range in how they affect the body. The most common of these is type 2 diabetes. Patients who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have one of two problems. Their bodies are not able to create enough insulin or the insulin that is created is ignored by the cells in the body.

Insulin plays a major role in our bodies when it is reused and turned into glucose – which in turn gives our bodies energy. As we eat foods our bodies will break down the starches and sugars contained in those foods and turn them into glucose. The insulin will then take the sugar from our bloodstream and give it to the cells.

However, there are times when the cells will reject the insulin and will let it build up into the blood. When this happens two different problems can occur. The cells will be empty of energy immediately. Over certain periods of time the high blood glucose levels will begin to affect your kidneys, heart, eyes, and nerves.

Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can be scary – but it is very treatable. People who use the right medication and treatments that are prescribed by their doctors will have long and healthy lives.

How To Treat Diabetes

Over the years scientists have been able to discover better and more effective diabetes treatments. One of the main things that they encourage is self glucose monitoring and according to the National Institute of Health those who have proper glucose control can greatly reduce any complications from diabetes by more then 50%.

In order to monitor your blood sugar on a regular basis you need to change your lifestyle. Adjusting your medication, diet, and exercise is the first step. Your doctor can provide you with a monitoring protocol. Usually you will need to check your blood before every meal and before you go to bed.

In the past many people have done urine testing – but over the years it has shown that blood testing is much more accurate. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to find out which monitoring equipment is better to use.

Make sure that you take the medication that has been prescribed to you by your doctor. Along with your medication create a meal plan that is healthy for you and that you can stick to. It is great to eat plenty of carbs that can give you the right amount of minerals, fiber, and vitamins.

If you are overweight it is a good thing to lose it. When you lose the weight you can greatly improve your treatment plan. If none of these things help talk to your doctor and ask for more tips.

Testing For Different Types Of Diabetes

Diabetes is brought on when a person’s body does not have the ability to produce the right amount of insulin that our bodies need to survive. Insulin is a hormone that the body uses to convert starches, sugars, and other types of foods into energy that it needs to keep itself going on a daily basis.

Research shows that 23.6 million adults and children in the United States alone have diabetes. 17.9 million of those people have been diagnosed – but 5.7 million have no idea what they have and go untreated.

Researchers have worked hard to determine what causes diabetes – but none have been able to isolate the exact problem. They do know that obesity, genetics, and the lack of exercise are some of the main factors can play a large part – which is why people who have been diagnosed are encouraged to change their lifestyle and exercise.

Symptoms Of Diabetes

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision

How To Detect Diabetes

The best way to determine if one is affected by one of the four types of diabetes ( Type 1, Type 2, Gestational, and Pre-Diabetes) is to have your local healthcare physician conduct an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) or a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPGT). The American Diabetes Association believes that the FPG is the best test to use because it is easier, less expensive, and faster to use.

If the FPG test detects the glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl than it is a sign of pre-diabetes. Someone with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

The OGTT test measures a person’s blood glucose level after fasting and then two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl then the person had pre-diabetes. If the level is at 200 mg/dl or higher then the person has diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes Facts

Before someone is diagnosed with diabetes they might be diagnosed with pre-diabetes. People who have this condition have a blood glucose level that is higher than a normal person. However, it is still not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. This does not mean that you will not be diagnosed with diabetes. In fact you are at a higher risk for being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart attack.

Pre-diabetes is also known as impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Some people will have one or both of these types.

- Impaired glucose tolerance is a condition where the blood glucose level is high (140 to 199 mg/dL) after going through a 2 hour oral glucose test. Again though the levels are not high enough to classify it as diabetes.

- Impaired fasting glucose is a condition where the glucose level is high (100 to 125 mg/dL). This is determined after fasting overnight. It is not high enough to be considered diabetes.

The good thing about having pre-diabetes is that you are able to do all that you can to prevent the condition of diabetes or even to delay the prognosis. It is like a warning that if caught quickly can prevent worse things from happening. Studies show that you are able to lower your risk by losing 5 -7% of the body weight through a healthy diet and a good exercise regimen.