Types of Diabetes

There are several types of diabetes:

Type 1 was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes.As mentioned above, the pancreas is the organ that makes insulin. In Type 1 diabetes the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. To survive, people with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age. In adults,type 1 diabetes accounts for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Genes, toxins or viruses may cause a person to get type 1 diabetes. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Several clinical trials for preventing type 1 diabetes are currently in progress or are being planned.

Type 2 was previously called non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adultonset diabetes. In adults, type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It usually begins when the pancreas still produces insulin, but a disorder called insulin resistance develops. This happens when the cells do not use glucose properly. When the glucose cannot enter the cells, the glucose level rises in the blood. This increase sends a signal to the pancreas to increase insulin, but the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce it.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

  • older age
  • obesity
  • family history of diabetes
  • history of gestational diabetes
  • impaired glucose metabolism
  • poor diet and nutrition
  • sedentary lifestyle
  • certain race/ethnicities: African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders

Children and adolescents of certain ethnicities such as American Indians, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders are being diagnosed more frequently.

At-Risk Weight Chart:
As you can see below, certain ethnic backgrounds are at higher risks for diabetes at a lower BMI compared to the caucasian population.

 

Pre-Diabetes:
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes". This is blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 57 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. Several studies have shown that before pre-diabetes is even diagnosed some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring

The good news is that by managing your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from ever developing. There is a lot you can do yourself to know if you are at risk for pre-diabetes and to take action to prevent diabetes if you have, or are at risk for, pre-diabetes. The results of a major study showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity.

Although this same study showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Participants in the study reduced their risk of diabetes by 58% by engaging in just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity and eating healthier that also lead to a small amount of weight loss (5-10% of body weight).

Gestational (jes-TAY-shon-al) diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs when women are pregnant. During pregnancy, gestational diabetes requires treatment with diet and/or insulin to keep blood glucose levels within normal range to avoid complications in the infant.

Gestational diabetes occurs more frequently among African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and American Indians. It is also more common among obese women and women with a family history of diabetes. Immediately after pregnancy, 5% to 10% of women with gestational diabetes are found to have diabetes, usually type 2. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 40% to 60% chance of developing diabetes in the next 5 to 10 years.

 

Health Tip #:001

Benefiting From A Daily Dosage of Aspirin??

May 9, 2007 - A study reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the effectiveness of a daily dosage of baby aspirin (81 milligrams) to prevent cardiovascular disease is just as effective as adult aspirin (325 milligrams). Also, a daily dosage of baby aspirin is much less likely to cause the most common adverse side affects - bleeding, primarily gastrointestinal bleeding.

Researchers concluded that to minimize side effects, every effort should be made to minimize long-term dosage of aspirin, and they pointed out that the optimal regimen for reducing cardiovascular risk for each individual patient is yet to be determined. Until that time, they recommended that all adults who take daily aspirin for this purpose take no more than the lower dosage.

Better Living Now is a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:


© 2007 by Vanderbilt University

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

Reference: American Diabetes Association:



There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes.

Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.