What Is Diabetes? - Things You Should Know
If you think you are in danger of getting diabetes, you need to understand what just what is diabetes. According to the experts, diabetes is a chronic disease which develops when people lose the ability to utilize the glucose in their food for energy. When the glucose accumulates in your bloodstream over a long time you get diabetes. The accumulated glucose, over time, can cause damage to your kidneys, eyes, heart and sometimes even your nerves.
There are three major forms of diabetes. They are known as Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational diabetes. Knowing the differences between the various types and which type you have or are likely to develop will help you to manage your condition.
Which Type Do You Have?
Type 1, also called "juvenile diabetes" or "insulin-dependent diabetes", is the least common form of the illness. According to the experts, type 1 is an auto-immune disease which causes your immune system to destroy the cells in you pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is very important in breaking down the food you eat.
When you have type 1 you lose the ability to make insulin, making your body easily damaged by the accumulated glucose in your bloodstream. Since your body needs insulin to work properly, you will need a regular supply of insulin every day. Children and young adults are usually the victims of this type of diabetes but it can occur in any age group.
Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are frequent thirst, frequent urination, and sudden weight loss.
Type 2, also called "non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" and "adult-onset diabetes". With type 2 you still have the ability to make insulin, you just can't make enough for your body to use it efficiently.
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. It usually hits people who are over 40 years old. Most people who get this type of diabetes are overweight or obese and those who are basically "couch potatoes". Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease which can also lead to more severe complications like diseases which affect the heart, the kidney, the eyes through blindness and amputation or loss of limbs. If you have the type of the illness, you are probably thirsty a lot, have to urinate frequently and have sudden weight loss.
Gestational Diabetes. This form of the illness develops during pregnancy. Usually there will be no symptoms, or the symptoms are very mild and not life threatening to the woman who is pregnant. Typically, gestational diabetes will end after giving birth; however, there have been cases where some women develop this form of diabetes as they grow older. If you do have gestational diabetes, you should monitor you condition because there is a good chance it can lead to type 2 diabetes.
There are three major forms of diabetes. They are known as Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational diabetes. Knowing the differences between the various types and which type you have or are likely to develop will help you to manage your condition.
Which Type Do You Have?
Type 1, also called "juvenile diabetes" or "insulin-dependent diabetes", is the least common form of the illness. According to the experts, type 1 is an auto-immune disease which causes your immune system to destroy the cells in you pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin is very important in breaking down the food you eat.
When you have type 1 you lose the ability to make insulin, making your body easily damaged by the accumulated glucose in your bloodstream. Since your body needs insulin to work properly, you will need a regular supply of insulin every day. Children and young adults are usually the victims of this type of diabetes but it can occur in any age group.
Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are frequent thirst, frequent urination, and sudden weight loss.
Type 2, also called "non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" and "adult-onset diabetes". With type 2 you still have the ability to make insulin, you just can't make enough for your body to use it efficiently.
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. It usually hits people who are over 40 years old. Most people who get this type of diabetes are overweight or obese and those who are basically "couch potatoes". Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease which can also lead to more severe complications like diseases which affect the heart, the kidney, the eyes through blindness and amputation or loss of limbs. If you have the type of the illness, you are probably thirsty a lot, have to urinate frequently and have sudden weight loss.
Gestational Diabetes. This form of the illness develops during pregnancy. Usually there will be no symptoms, or the symptoms are very mild and not life threatening to the woman who is pregnant. Typically, gestational diabetes will end after giving birth; however, there have been cases where some women develop this form of diabetes as they grow older. If you do have gestational diabetes, you should monitor you condition because there is a good chance it can lead to type 2 diabetes.
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