Diabetes is a medical condition that occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin or it cannot use the insulin it produces. There are 3 major types of diabetes and they all start at different stages of a lifetime. Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide and has become one of the most cited causes of death and illness in most countries, mostly due to the complications related to the disease. People with diabetes have twice the risk of developing heart disease or stroke than people without.
Type 1 diabetes accounts for a small percentage of the diabetes population, approximately 5-10%. Patients with type 1 diabetes do not produce the hormone insulin, required to process blood sugar into the glucose the body’s cells use for growth and energy. This form of diabetes is usually diagnosed early in life, prior to puberty and requires insulin injections.
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnancy, most often later in pregnancy so that birth defects due to the disease are not a concern, but other health concerns are present. The overproduction of insulin on both mother and child can result in a macrosomic, or overweight baby.
Overweight babies can have a hard time during the birthing process and after. They have been overproducing insulin in utero and as a result, have low blood sugar at birth. They also may experience breathing difficulties. As they grow older, these children are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and are also at risk for obesity.
Treatment for gestational diabetes is imperative and is usually a combination of diet, exercise and even insulin injections. This treatment is monitored carefully to protect mother and child.
Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form of diabetes. This form is also called adult onset as it occurs later in life. One of the risk factors for this disease is age. Other factors are genetics, body weight and the amount of exercise one gets. With type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or it doesn’t use the insulin it does produce due to a condition called insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes can be managed in many cases with lifestyle changes, simply making healthy food choices and adding a daily exercise routine can keep the disease under control. It is important for a person with type 2 diabetes to keep regular medical appointments and to learn about diabetes. There are serious complications that need to be recognized and avoided.
