What are the Types of Diabetes?
Believe it or not, more than 25.8 million people of all ages across the world suffer from the disease known as diabetes, and 8.3 percent of those are in the United States. Of course not all of them have been diagnosed as of yet, and 7.0 million people remain undiagnosed. Whether or not they will get the help they need is a matter of debate, but if you feel you or someone you know is afflicted with the disease, then you need to know the difference between type 1 and type 2 as this will not only help you to determine the problem, but also what action needs to be taken.
Type 1 Diabetes:
In this condition cells are destroyed through the body’s autoimmune system, particularly cells belonging to the pancreas. It is important to note that while Type 1 diabetes was once considered a child or juvenile disease, it is now known to affect individuals of any age.
Type 2 Diabetes:
What we have here is one of the most common types of diabetes and the body will fail to produce enough insulin. In order for the body to convert glucose to energy, the body needs to produce insulin, and without it, glucose will build up over time, which can lead to diabetic complications.
The Symptoms:
Between the two types, there are some commonalities, and in both there will be too much glucose in the blood. You may experience frequent trips to the bathroom, and you could find yourself experiencing an unquenchable thirst. There will also be weakness and fatigue, some individuals will even experience weight loss. These are all common symptoms, though you should not jump to conclusions simply because these symptoms exist. They could mean nothing, or they could be part of an entirely different problem.
In any case, it is a serious condition, and you cannot know for sure unless you speak with a physician. That being the case, now would be a great time to look at your health condition objectively, and of course ensure that you’re not making up symptoms. Understand that if you are afflicted, then you face serious complications that could lead to a diabetic coma, or even death. As luck would have it there is plenty of information online, and you may gain more information by speaking to friends or family members who are currently afflicted. Note that if the disease does not run in your family, you may not stand a chance of contracting the disease, but it is not something that you will want to completely dismiss. The possibilities are endless, but if the problem should arise in your lifetime, make sure you seek the proper treatment!
