Helpful Diabetes Information

If you have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, there is a good chance that you have already dealt with this chronic disease for years. The reason that this type of diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes is because in many cases, the illness is diagnosed in the childhood years. However, it is possible to develop this type of diabetes at any point during your life. This is not a situation that arises due to obesity or poor diet choices. In fact, there is little that you can do to prevent the onset of this kind of diabetes.

It is often associated with family heredity, and is also thought to be brought on through a variety of viruses. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your immune system turns on the insulin producing cells within the pancreas. This organ produces insulin, which acts as a sort of key to open the way for sugar to be absorbed into the cells of your body. Sugar in the form of glucose is necessary for your body’s energy supply. When insulin is not present to help sugar get absorbed into the cells of your body, this sugar can build up in your bloodstream. The result can be a whole host of physical issues that you might experience with diabetes.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

There are many symptoms of type 1 diabetes, but none of them may seem particularly serious on the surface. However, diabetes that is left unchecked and untreated can cause severe and even life-threatening problems. This is why it is important to recognize the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, so that if you suspect you might have this disease, you can seek your doctor’s advice and assistance as soon as possible. Symptoms of diabetes might include an increased thirst and need to urinate.

Extreme hunger is also a sign of diabetes, particularly when it is accompanied by a sudden weight loss. Fatigue and irritability can also be symptoms of diabetes, because they may be a sign that your body is being depleted of much needed energy. Finally, some people with type 1 diabetes might experience blurred vision, since the tissue of your eyes can also be affected by this disease. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it would be wise to make an appointment with your doctor to determine if type 1 diabetes really is the reason behind your symptoms.

Tests and Treatment

Your doctor can run tests to determine if you do indeed have type 1 diabetes. If it is found that you are suffering from this disease, there are a number of options that you can utilize to effectively control your illness. Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes at this point in time. However, there have been great strides made in the area of disease management, and many who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can now live long and healthy lives. The first step is in getting a prompt diagnosis so that you can begin to manage your illness as soon as possible.

Diabetes is a dreaded disease because there are numerous complications to this disease. Basically, this disease is caused by the malfunction of the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans. These Islets of Langerhans are found in the pancreas and they are responsible for the production of insulin in our body.

Insulin is a hormone in our body that helps our body realize that it is well fed. This in turn will cause the muscles on our body and the liver to store glycogen from the basic glucose. The presence of insulin also causes the fat cells to receive blood lipids which are converted into triglycerides. Other than the functions mentioned above, insulin also has other anabolic functions in our body.

Types Of Diabetes

There are three basic types of diabetes and these are Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Among these three types of diabetes, gestational is the only one specific for women and for pregnancy. Type1 is formerly known as insulin dependent or juvenile onset diabetes and is the type where our own auto immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. It is common for individuals under the age of forty years old and is often triggered by the individual’s diet, viruses and other chemicals that the person is genetically predisposed to.

Type 2 is the more common form of diabetes which affects almost everybody who has it. It is often triggered in people who have a family history of diabetes by poor diet, obesity, inactivity and high blood pressure. It is characterized by insulin resistance and deficiency of insulin in the body. This form of diabetes can be treated by proper diet and exercise along with lifestyle changes.

Gestational diabetes is triggered by the various hormonal imbalances that occur when a woman is pregnant. Of course, the pregnant woman would need to be genetically predisposed to it before it can affect her. Other factors that may trigger this form of the disease are advanced age and obesity. In most cases this condition is cleared up when the mother gives birth.

These three are the basic types or forms of diabetes. Other forms may occur when complications plague the individual with the disease. One thing that should be remembered about this condition is that it is triggered by many factors, almost all of which can be controlled by the individual. Once there is a history of this disease in your family take care to control your diet, weight and exposure to triggers.