18 million people in the United States have been diagnosed withdiabetes, a serious lifelong condition. In 2007 alone 1.6 million people over the age of 20 were diagnosed with diabetes. Left untreated, all forms of diabetes can cause further medical problems such asheart disease,kidney disease, amputation, blindness and even death. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, also referred to as juvenile diabetes, Type 2 diabetes andgestational diabetes. Now researches are identifying a new class of diabetes calleddouble diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This condition occurs early in life, generally before 30 and often in children. The body's immune system begins attacking and destroying the cells in the pancreas that are needed to produce the hormone insulin. Insulin is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into useable energy. Without insulin the blood sugar (glucose) levels increase. 5-10% of diabetes patients have this form of the disease. Patients with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin therapy to make up for thelack of insulin in their system.
Type 2 Diabates
Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of diabetes. Poor diet, lack of exercise and excessive weight cause the body to becomeresistant to the insulin the pancreas is making. Eventually the insulin production decreases. The result in the body is the same. Glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of this fuel. Basic management for type 2 diabetes is healthy eating, physical activity and blood glucose testing. Most patients require one or more diabetes medicines pills, insulin or other injectable medicine to control their blood glucose levels.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops late in pregnancy. 3-8% of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes usually disappears after the birth of the baby but these women have a 40-60% chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years.
Double Diabetes
Double Diabetes occurs when a person with type 1 diabetes develops resistance to the insulin they are taking. Resistance is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Overweight patients with Type 1 diabetes are at greatest risk of developing this disorder. The disorder generally develops gradually and first manifests itself as an increasing need for more insulin to control the glucose level. It can also be diagnosed in a person with type 2 with blood tests to look for the specific proteins that attack the pancreas cells. A non insulin-producing pancreas is the marker for type 1 diabetes. It is estimated that 15-20% of teens with type 2 diabetes actually have double diabetes.
Treatment for a double diabetes patient is tricky because the two types of diabetes require different treatment methods. Type 1 patients take insulin because they can't produce it. Type 2 patients take medicine to manage the glucose in their bloodstream by either stimulating insulin production or helping cells use the existing insulin more efficiently. Patients try different combinations of medications. Diet, weight loss and exercise are especially important to these patients to help stabilize their conditions. Prevention is the best treatment.
For more information on the symptoms of any type of Diabetes or to find an Endocrinologist near you, download the free iTriage medical application or visitwww.iTriageHealth.com.
