Beacon Columnist
Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterized by high levels of sugar in the bloodstream due to the body making little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows sugar to enter cells, which our bodies need for energy.
This extra sugar can damage nerves and blood vessels throughout the body, impacting the eyes, heart, kidneys and nervous system.
About 11% of the American population has diabetes. There are two main types.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body loses its ability to make insulin. The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown; however, having family members with Type 1 diabetes increases one’s risk.
Some viruses may also damage the pancreas, leading to the inability to make insulin. It more often occurs in children and teens, but it can be seen in adults. Only 5% to 10% of diagnosed diabetes is categorized as Type 1.
Signs of Type 1 diabetes often appear suddenly and include:
- Increased thirst and dry mouth
- Increased urination
- Feeling hungry often
- Losing weight without trying
- Having mood changes/feeling irritable
- Being overly tired
- Having blurry vision
These symptoms often appear suddenly, and most people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes end up seeing their doctor or being hospitalized. There is no cure for Type 1 diabetes. It is managed by taking insulin, along with meal plan and physical activity.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs because of insulin resistance, where cells in the muscle, fat and liver don’t respond as they should to insulin. Over time, they may even stop producing insulin.
Type 2 is the more common type of diabetes, affecting 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases. It most often occurs in later adulthood; however, more youth have been diagnosed in the past 20 to 30 years.
Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include:
- Excess body weight. Carrying extra weight, especially around the waist, makes insulin less effective.
- Inactivity. Regular exercise helps insulin work better.
- Unhealthy meal plan. A diet high in processed foods, sugar, sugar beverages and unhealthy fats also makes insulin less effective.
- Tobacco use. Nicotine damages blood vessels and causes the body to be more resistant to insulin.
- Excessive alcohol intake. Chronic heavy drinking makes insulin less effective and can also increase calorie intake, leading to weight gain.
- Family history. Having one parent with Type 2 diabetes increases your risk by 40%, while both parents with Type 2 diabetes increases that risk by 70%. Having a sibling with Type 2 diabetes means you are three times more likely to also develop diabetes.
- Pre-diabetes. This is the stage before diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes where blood sugar is not normal, but not high enough to be clinically diagnosed.
- Gestational diabetes. Having diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes by up to 50%.
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) damages the cells of the pancreas.
- Age. Increased risk is seen with increasing age, starting at age 45.
- Ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans have a higher risk for developing diabetes.
Over 80% of those with Type 2 diabetes show no signs or symptoms of the disease, making it difficult to diagnose. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms reported. If blood sugar is quite high, they may exhibit signs like those with Type 1 diabetes experience or they may have more infections, sores/wounds that are slow to heal or numbness/tingling in your hands or feet. It is managed by lifestyle changes (meal plan and physical activity), yet 85% will require medications and/or insulin to regulate their blood sugar.