Three Types of Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder or disease
where blood glucose levels are above normal. This happens due to the incapability
of the body to make use of glucose to be transformed to energy as required by
body cells.
Those are the latest terminology to describe the onset of
two main types of diabetes, regardless to how it is treated related to insulin
and the age of onset as it named in the past. As recommended by the American
Diabetes Association expert committee, the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) agrees the following terminology
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder or disease
where blood glucose levels are above normal. This happens due to the incapability
of the body to make use of glucose to be transformed to energy as required by
body cells.
Food that enters our body, carbohydrates in particular, is
digested and then absorbed by the circulation system in the form of glucose.
Glucose circulates in the blood stream to be distributed to all cells
throughout the body that need it for energy and growth. To make this happen,
glucose enters the cell and transforms it to energy with the help of insulin, a
hormone produced by the pancreas.
In diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or
also because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat are not able to use
insulin properly, or both. This increases the amount of glucose in the blood
while the cells are starving for energy. A prolonged condition of high blood
glucose, also called hyperglycemia, can damage nerves and blood vessels, which
may lead to serious complications such as heart disease and stroke, kidney
disease, blindness, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputation.
The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and
gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is usually first diagnosed in children,
teenagers, or young adults. In this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the
pancreas no longer make insulin because the body's immune system has attacked
and destroyed them.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form. People can
develop it at any age, even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually
begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which muscle, liver, and fat
cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the
added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability
to secrete enough insulin in response to meals.
Gestational diabetes develops in some women during the
late stages of pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually goes away
after the baby is born, a woman who has had it is more likely to develop type 2
diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormonal
imbalance during pregnancy or by an inadequate amount of insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, as a more preferred name for the former
Type 1, juvenile diabetes, Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
Type 2 diabetes, to replace the former name of Type 2, adult
onset diabetes, Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
Pre-diabetes
In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but still below
the measures that characterizes diabetes . However, there is great chance for
many people with pre-diabetes to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years.
Pre-diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. With modest
weight loss and moderate physical activity, people with pre-diabetes can delay
or prevent type 2 diabetes. There are about 54 million people in the United States
suffering from pre-diabetes
