What's your type? That age-old dating question takes on a whole new meaning when you have diabetes. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes. Type 1 is more often genetic. Being overweight is the main risk factor for type 2, However, both types involve problems with the hormone insulin.
Insulin helps your body use glucose for energy. Because people with diabetes have problems making or using insulin, high levels of glucose can build up in the blood. This can damage your nerves, eyes, heart and other organs. Healthy eating, exercise and checking your blood glucose are the cornerstones of treatment, no matter what your type.
Type 1: The Body Turns Against Itself
About 5 percent of people with diabetes have type 1. You can be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at any age. However, most new cases develop in children, teens or young adults.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when beta cells in the pancreas fail to do their job — produce insulin. Doctors believe the body's immune system attacks the beta cells, though they're not sure why. A virus or other infection may trigger the condition in people whose genes place them at risk.
Once beta cells are gone, they don't grow back. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin to survive. Eating healthy, balanced meals at regular intervals also keeps blood glucose steady. Regular blood tests and doctor's appointments make sure you're on the right track.
Type 2: A Growing Threat
It was once called adult-onset diabetes. Now type 2 is increasingly diagnosed at a younger age, notes the journal Health Affairs. Today about 95 percent of the estimated 25.8 million Americans with diabetes have type 2.
Type 2 diabetes develops slowly, unlike type 1 diabetes, which progresses quickly. Another difference between the types involves insulin production. Unlike those with type 1. people with type 2 still produce some insulin. However, they may not make enough. In addition, their bodies usually have trouble using the insulin they do have.
Most people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. An inactive lifestyle, family history of diabetes and genes also play a role. Changing your diet and exercising more often can control type 2 diabetes. In some cases you'll also need medicine, including insulin, to keep your blood glucose in check.
Good Neighbor Pharmacy, November 2012
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