Three Types of Diabetes
Besides the popular types of diabetes, there is also a stage before diabetes called pre-diabetes and it is also called impaired glucose tolerance. It is a condition where the blood sugar level rises to a point higher than the normal level for most people, but still low enough to be considered diabetes.
The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life is higher in people who have pre-diabetes especially if they do not carefully monitor their condition.
By exercising, eating the right foods and watching their weight, those diagnosed with pre-diabetes can keep the condition from progressing to a full blown diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
One of the three types of diabetes is Type 1 diabetes was formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent. It is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the pancreas is producing insufficient insulin needed, due to the fact that the cells responsible for producing the insulin has been destroyed by the immune system of the body. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, it is usually diagnosed in teen, young adult and childhood years
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes
Below is the list of sudden onset of symptoms that people with type 1 diabetes usually have:
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Going to the toilet frequently to pass urine
• Abdominal pain
• Excessive thirst and drinking a lot of fluids
• Unexplained weight loss
• Weakness
• Skin infections
• Mood changes
• Excess hunger
• Irritability
• Oral or vaginal thrush
Type 1 diabetes is NOT:
• Curable – you have the disease for life once it is diagnosed
• Contagious – it is not contagious that is you can’t catch it from another person
• Caused by having a bad diet or by eating too much sugar
• Your fault – this disease is not preventable
What is type 2 diabetes?
Another type of the three types of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes can also be called insulin resistance, it occurs when the insulin that is produced is not working properly or when the insulin-producing cells in the body are incapable of producing enough insulin in the body. It is either the insulin isn’t working properly or there is not enough insulin but in any case the body is still producing insulin. There is a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream because the cells are only partially unlocked.
Not sure how serious it is?
High level of glucose in the bloodstream can lead to damage to the body systems especially the blood vessels and nerves thereby leading to life-threatening complications like heart attack, amputations and stroke. However, these complications can be avoided and it can be managed with the proper care. Other health problems like high levels of blood fats like cholesterol and high blood pressure has been linked to Type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes in the family
If you are worried because one of your family members got type 2 diabetes, think again.
In a study carried out by Diabetes NSW, it indicated that only 22% of people in Australia knew the risk associated with family history. In another study carried out by American studies, it revealed that only one third of parents with this disease were worried their children would also develop type 2 diabetes and only 38% of siblings of people with the disease were worried that their risk would increase.
Studies conclude that parents with this disease increase the chances of their children developing the condition. Most times the cause of this disease is closely linked to genetic inheritance and lifestyle factors. It has also been found that the higher the risk depends on the closeness of the relative, What the statistics show:
• Where neither parent has diabetes, the average age for diagnosis is 48 years old
• Having a sister or brother with type 2 diabetes increases the risk by more than four times
• A twin have about 90% of developing type 2 diabetes if one identical twin have this condition.
• If both parents have type 2 diabetes, the children are six times more likely to develop the condition and the average age of diagnosis is 39 years old
• If one parent has type 2 diabetes, the children have double the risk of developing the condition
• The more relatives with type 2 diabetes the higher the risk for other family members – for example, three relatives with the condition can increase the risk by almost 15 times
• Mothers present a greater risk to children than fathers. A study conducted at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital found that diabetes is twice as common when the mother had diabetes
• The more cases of diabetes found in a family, the younger the age of onset of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes in children
It is increasingly common in adults aged 40 or older, however it is now becoming more seen in young people adolescents, children of all ethnicities.
With a lifestyle change that supports regular physical activity, getting the healthy weigh and healthy eating, The risk of type 2 diabetes can be reduced in young people.
Type 2 diabetes and lifestyle factors
Negative lifestyle can cause people to develop type 2 diabetes aside from it being hereditary.
According to statistics:
• Overweight adults are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes
• Obese adults are four times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes
• Obese and overweight adults have higher chances of having a family history of diabetes, according to a study conducted in the United Kingdom and United States. This study indicates the role lifestyle plays in developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 3 Diabetes
The third main type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which is a condition that women can get when they are in the second trimester of pregnancy. About 4 percent of all pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes. Unlike Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes will disappear after the baby is born.
When a woman has an occurrence of gestational diabetes during pregnancy, she is more likely to have it again in the next pregnancy and puts the woman at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. The older a woman is when she is pregnant, the higher the risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy
What you can do
By adopting simple lifestyle changes you can manage the three types of diabetes, you can reduce your family’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%. which is the good news. People diagnosed with pre-diabetes can reduce their chances of developing the condition. Research indicates that two thirds of people are aware that they have type 2 diabetes in their family and only a third collect health information.
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