You finally agreed to go for your annual all inclusive physical. A few days later your doctor calls with those bone chilling words “your blood sugar is elevated, you have diabetes”. And there is always this dreaded scenario…your child has lost a lot of weight, is experiencing extreme thirst and is always tired. One morning she is unable to wake up for school and you rush her to the emergency room. After a blood test the doctor emerges and announces ”your child has diabetes”. Diabetes is a scary word. So I thought I’d go back to basics and discuss the difference between Type 1, Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious problem which will require medical attention and lifestyle adjustment. As a Certified Diabetes Educator, I want to increase awareness about the different types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenille diabetes, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or sometimes childhood diabetes) accounts for about 5- 10% of the diabetes in the United States. Although it is usually diagnosed in childhood, it can develop in adults as well. At this point in time there is no cure for Type 1 diabetes and it CAN NOT be prevented. It is an autoimmune disorder that occurs because the beta cells in the pancreas do not produce ANY insulin. Insulin is a hormone (chemical messenger) that helps the body’s cells use glucose for energy. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood and over time can cause excessive high blood sugar levels. If diabetes is uncontrolled it will cause major problems in every organ of the body. Serious complications of diabetes can include blindness, heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. All people with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin. Some people use injectable insulin and others use insulin pumps.
Type 2 diabetes also known sometimes as adult onset diabetes is more common than Type 1. Since many obese children have developed Type 2 diabetes, it should no longer be referred to as adult onset diabetes! Having a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight and having a family history of Type 2 diabetes are all factors that will increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Certain ethnic groups such as African Americans and American Indians also have a higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Most people with Type 2 diabetes can still produce some insulin. Unfortunately there is a problem with the insulin receptors and therefore glucose continues to build up in the blood. The pancreas will continue to produce insulin in order to keep up with the high blood sugar levels, but due to the problem with insulin receptors, blood glucose remains high and continues to cause problems. So although people with Type 2 may start out with insulin resistance, eventually they will develop insulin deficiency. In order to control Type 2 diabetes, it is important to modify carbohydrate and calorie intake while increasing physical activity in order to promote weight loss. Weight reduction can help reduce the excess “belly fat” which increases the risk of insulin resistance. You must eat right, reduce your carbohydrate consumption and for goodness sake start moving! In addition to proper diet and exercise, many people with Type 2 also take oral medications. It is also important to realize that many people with Type 2 diabetes also eventually require insulin. Insulin may therefore be a necessary part of your treatment plan if you have Type 2 diabetes.
1 in 4 Americans over the age of 20 (about 57 million people) have Pre-Diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are elevated, but you are not yet diagnosed with diabetes. The important point to remember is that Pre-Diabetes is Pre-Type 2 diabetes. If you lose weight, control your belly fat and increase your physical activity you can control your blood sugars and prevent Pre-Diabetes from turning into Type 2 diabetes!
Diabetes is a serious and complex metabolic disorder. As a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, I truly want to educate as many people as possible on the ways to treat the disease. If you have a child with Type 1 diabetes (or suffer from the disease yourself), please know that I support research in finding a cure. If you have Pre-Diabetes or Type 2 diabetes start to modify your lifestyle today! Many of my future articles/blogs will be about ways to improve living with diabetes!