Understanding Type 1 Diabetes
In order to understand diabetes, you have to understand that there are two different kinds: type 1 and type 2.
Understanding the difference could mean saving a life.
Let me help you understand: I suffer from what is commonly known as type 1 diabetes, or juvenile onset diabetes.
Type 1 almost always is onset in juveniles (or people under 18).
People that suffer from type 1 require insulin to survive.
Without going into too much detail about the pancreas, I will just share that insulin is produced by the beta cells in the pancreas.
For a still unknown reason, in people that have type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys these cells.
Insulin, by the way, delivers glucose to the cells that need it.
When the beta cells are destroyed, there is no insulin and therefore way too much glucose in the bloodstream.
Type 2 diabetes is a little different.
In type 2, the immune system does not destroy the beta cells in the pancreas.
In type 2 diabetes, the body just does not respond properly to the insulin that is already there (known as insulin resistant) or there is just not enough insulin to go around.
The pancreas is working overtime and eventually just runs out of energy, so to speak.
Genetics plays a large role in the development of type 2 diabetes, as does obesity.
The biggest and most important difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is that type 1 is incurable.
So far, although research has made some great advancements, there is not a known cure for type 1 diabetes.
It is difficult to cure a disease in which the body is in essence attacking itself.
Type 2 diabetes is preventable and curable with a proper diet plan and weight management.
If glucose levels are managed properly, then type 2 can be cured.
Now, I cannot tell you how many times that I been seen eating sweets by someone that knows that I have diabetes who then freaks out and tells me that I should not have sugar.
I want to clarify something for those folks: People with type 1 diabetes HAVE to have glucose or they will die.
End of story.
Not only does type 1 cause high blood glucose levels that require insulin to be lowered, it also causes low blood glucose levels that require glucose to be raised.
Crazy, isn't it? I have to have insulin and I have to have glucose, end of story.
That is the crazy part about type 1 diabetes: BALANCE.
I must try to balance insulin and glucose with injections and my diet - while factoring in my activity level - to try and stay normal.
If that doesn't blow your mind, I do not know what will.
HIgh sugar foods should be avoided by those with type 2 diabetes, not those with type 1.
Make sense? Although one short article barely begins to cover the depth of diabetes, I hope that you have gained some understanding of the difference between type 1 and type 2.
The next time you see a known diabetic having a donut - be sure and clarify if they are "type 1" or "type 2" before you let 'em have it! Read my newly released book Once I Was Blind to learn more about my nearly forty year struggle with type 1 diabetes.
It is available at www.
lulu.
com/content/6196156.
Understanding the difference could mean saving a life.
Let me help you understand: I suffer from what is commonly known as type 1 diabetes, or juvenile onset diabetes.
Type 1 almost always is onset in juveniles (or people under 18).
People that suffer from type 1 require insulin to survive.
Without going into too much detail about the pancreas, I will just share that insulin is produced by the beta cells in the pancreas.
For a still unknown reason, in people that have type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys these cells.
Insulin, by the way, delivers glucose to the cells that need it.
When the beta cells are destroyed, there is no insulin and therefore way too much glucose in the bloodstream.
Type 2 diabetes is a little different.
In type 2, the immune system does not destroy the beta cells in the pancreas.
In type 2 diabetes, the body just does not respond properly to the insulin that is already there (known as insulin resistant) or there is just not enough insulin to go around.
The pancreas is working overtime and eventually just runs out of energy, so to speak.
Genetics plays a large role in the development of type 2 diabetes, as does obesity.
The biggest and most important difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is that type 1 is incurable.
So far, although research has made some great advancements, there is not a known cure for type 1 diabetes.
It is difficult to cure a disease in which the body is in essence attacking itself.
Type 2 diabetes is preventable and curable with a proper diet plan and weight management.
If glucose levels are managed properly, then type 2 can be cured.
Now, I cannot tell you how many times that I been seen eating sweets by someone that knows that I have diabetes who then freaks out and tells me that I should not have sugar.
I want to clarify something for those folks: People with type 1 diabetes HAVE to have glucose or they will die.
End of story.
Not only does type 1 cause high blood glucose levels that require insulin to be lowered, it also causes low blood glucose levels that require glucose to be raised.
Crazy, isn't it? I have to have insulin and I have to have glucose, end of story.
That is the crazy part about type 1 diabetes: BALANCE.
I must try to balance insulin and glucose with injections and my diet - while factoring in my activity level - to try and stay normal.
If that doesn't blow your mind, I do not know what will.
HIgh sugar foods should be avoided by those with type 2 diabetes, not those with type 1.
Make sense? Although one short article barely begins to cover the depth of diabetes, I hope that you have gained some understanding of the difference between type 1 and type 2.
The next time you see a known diabetic having a donut - be sure and clarify if they are "type 1" or "type 2" before you let 'em have it! Read my newly released book Once I Was Blind to learn more about my nearly forty year struggle with type 1 diabetes.
It is available at www.
lulu.
com/content/6196156.
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