By: Emily B
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.6 million Americans, with the inclusion of 187,000 adolescents, have Type 1 diabetes. With so many individuals being affected by various kinds of diabetes in the U.S. and around the world, it’s crucial that society gains a proficient understanding of the common disease in order to properly combat it as a malady.
Discussing Common Types of Diabetes
Diabetes, scientifically referred to as diabetes mellitus, is a group of disease(s) that heighten one’s blood glucose (sugar) levels. Although most people assume that severe diabetes stems from consuming high contents of sugar, acute diabetes is heavily dependent on insulation production and usage. The most common forms of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2. Although there are minor differences between the two types, both conditions can be managed by living a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Type 1 diabetes can be contracted by a patient of any age, race, shape, or size. The major problem found in diabetics with Type 1 diabetes is their body’s inability to produce insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas which regulates the amount of glucose in one’s bloodstream. Additionally, insulin also extracts energy from the body’s carbohydrates in order to distribute nutrients to the cells. In order to revitalize insulin in the body, patients with Type 1 diabetes can use insulin therapy, take dietary supplements, and regularly practice healthy eating and exercise habits.
Likewise, Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, occurs when a patient’s body doesn’t properly use insulin. When the body resists insulin usage, excess glucose in the blood fails to reach the cells which use the glucose for energy. Insulin resistance significantly increases the risk of prediabetes and serves as a gateway to Type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, there are numerous ways that patients with Type 2 diabetes can regulate their glucose levels and insulin usage. For instance, many with Type 2 diabetes consistently check their blood pressure, utilize nutrition counseling, and take prescribed medications (Aspirin, Atorvastatin). Although these forms of treatment can be effective, doctors often encourage diabetics to maintain a healthy diet by eating foods like fatty fish and leafy greens that sustain energy in the body. Also, doctors motivate those with Type 2 diabetes to keep a manageable fitness regimen in order to increase one’s sensitivity to insulin and counter insulin resistance.
Discussing Uncommon Types of Diabetes
Even though Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are the most common, it’s vital to acknowledge the other less usual forms of the disease to remove the stigma around the disease. Some uncommon types of diabetes are:
Gestational Diabetes: A manageable form of diabetes that can occur definitively after a woman gives birth. As a baby develops, the placenta’s hormones may block the mother’s insulin flow and develop insulin resistance.
Monogenic diabetes syndromes (neonatal diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes of the young)
Disease of the exocrine pancreas which can appear as cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis
Drug or chemical induced diabetes: Develops after a chemical build-up in the body from HIV/AIDS treatments
Conclusion
Conclusively, diabetes is a disease that impacts one’s ability to properly produce or use insulin. A key factor in comprehending the effects of diabetes is understanding the vast range of people in which it affects; seniors, middle-aged folks, adolescents, new mothers, newborns, etc. Although diabetes may look different depending on one’s specific case, the symptoms can often be aided by a healthy diet and dependency on physical activity.
References:
1. "Diabetes." American Diabetes Association, ADA, www.diabetes.org/diabetes. Accessed 17 Aug. 2020.
2. "Diabetes Basics." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/index.html. Accessed 17 Aug. 2020.
3. "Diabetes: Low Calorie but High Risk?" Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, www.health.harvard.edu/topics/diabetes. Accessed 17 Aug. 2020.
4. "National Diabetes Prevention Program." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.html. Accessed 17 Aug. 2020.
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