What are The Different Types of Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic, long-lasting disease. It is a health condition in which the body is not able to process or use insulin from the food that we eat. This leads to different types of diabetes.

It is the work of your body to break down most of the food that you eat in sugar/glucose and release it into the bloodstream. The pancreas releases insulin when the blood sugar goes up. Insulin then lets the blood sugar into the cells so that it can be used as energy.

However, diabetes affects this process as it doesn’t allow the body to make enough insulin or can’t use it as the body should. Too much sugar stays in the bloodstream when there isn’t enough insulin or cells don’t respond to insulin. The buildup of this excessive sugar can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for this disease. However, you can still lead a healthy and happy life by keeping diabetes in control. Maintaining optimum weight, eating a healthy diet and being active can be of great help. Here are some more things that you can do to keep your diabetes in check.

• Regularly taking medications as prescribed by a doctor
• Regular blood sugar checks and health care appointments
• Educating yourself about diabetes, its causes and precautions

Types of Diabetes

There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1
• Type 2, and
• Diabetes while pregnant, also known as gestational diabetes.

Diabetes: Type 1

Believed to be an autoimmune condition (the body attacks itself by mistake), Type 1 diabetes doesn’t let the pancreas produce insulin by destroying its beta cells. The damage done is permanent. However, it is not clear what prompts this attack. The reason behind this can be both genetic and environmental. Lifestyle factors are believed to play a role here. As mentioned earlier, there are different types of diabetes but the symptoms of this type develop fast. Children, teens, and young adults are usually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and there is no knowledge on how to prevent this type of diabetes.

Diabetes: Type 2

When the body doesn’t use insulin well, it results in type 2 diabetes. This inability of using insulin causes the pancreas to produce more amounts of insulin until it can’t cope with the demand. Then, the insulation production starts decreasing, resulting in high blood sugar. People who are suffering from diabetes usually have type 2.

Among the different types of diabetes, type 2 develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults. There are no significant symptoms; this is why it is very important to get your blood sugar levels checked regularly, especially if you believe you might be at risk. You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with a healthy lifestyle. The contributing factors of type 2 diabetes include:

• Genetics
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Higher weight or obesity

Gestational Diabetes

During pregnancy, sometimes insulin-blocking hormones are produced that cause Gestational diabetes. It can happen to women who never had diabetes in their life. However, it is usually seen in people with preexisting prediabetes or those who have a family history of diabetes. It is also important to know that women diagnosed with gestational diabetes have higher chances of developing type 2 diabetes, later in life. Unlike different types of diabetes, this type of diabetes generally goes away after the baby is born.

Diabetes: Symptoms

Now that you have learnt about different types of diabetes, there are some general symptoms of unmanaged diabetes that you must know so that you can keep a better check on your health.

• Frequent urination
• Dry, itchy skin
• Excessive thirst & hunger
• Slow healing wounds
• Blurry vision
• Drowsiness or fatigue

How are Different Types of Diabetes Treated?

Irrespective of your diabetes type, it is essential that you work closely with your doctor to manage it. The goal here is to keep the blood sugar levels in check. The target range varies as per age, type of diabetes and complications.

Type 1

People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin because the damage to the pancreas is permanent. Different types of insulin are available but you must take them as prescribed by the doctor. Insulin gets injected under the skin and a doctor will guide you right. You can also use an insulin pump that administers a specific dose and is worn on the outside.

Type 2

In different types of diabetes, type 2 can be managed or sometimes reversed with diet and exercise. It is also treated using a variety of medications that manage blood sugar levels. However, you will need to continuously monitor your sugar levels.

Conclusion

The three different types of diabetes can be managed well with the right lifestyle changes and regular advice from the doctor. You can visit PSRI Hospital to get your blood sugar levels checked while getting the best medical advice from professionals. With the right guidance, you can live well and healthy.