What is Type 1 Diabetes

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•     Type 1 diabetes is a disorder of sugar metabolism in which the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin.
•     This is due to destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas by an autoimmune process.
•     Type 1 diabetes commonly develops before the age of 40, with a peak incidence around 14. Those with a strong family history of diabetes are at risk of developing the disease.
•     The symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst and urination and weight loss, which can occur abruptly over a few days. Type 1 diabetes can also present as diabetic ketoacidotic coma.
•     Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin and careful attention to diet and lifestyle.
•     The long-term complications of type 1 diabetes can be well controlled by using a “tight-control” regime in which blood glucose is measured several times each day and the insulin dose adjusted accordingly.

What is Type 2 Diabetes

 

• Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the person initially develops insulin resistance resulting in high glucose levels in the blood. This is also called impaired glucose tolerance. Initially individuals experience high blood glucose levels after eating and eventually this may lead to constant hyperglycaemia.
•     The metabolic derangement is called insulin resistance because patients require higher levels of insulin to move glucose in the blood to the inside of cells such as muscles, the heart, the liver and the brain where it is needed for functioning of the cells.
•     Insulin resistance is the main metabolic event leading to Type 2 diabetes and the reduction of it should therefore also be the major aim of affected individuals and the treating physician or advising dietician.
•     It is the most common form of diabetes and its incidence is rising in all population groups around the world.
•     It is strongly associated with obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and abnormal lipid levels.
•     Those with a family history of the disease are more at risk than the general population.
•     Symptoms are more those of a high glucose level than those of starving cells and include excessive thirst and urination, whereas weight loss is a late feature suggesting serious deficiency of insulin.
•     It is treated, and can often be prevented, with a combination of lifestyle changes, diet and drugs – increased levels of exercise and a decrease in the intake of calories and especially lipids being the most important steps to improved health and longevity.
•     There are many potential complications of Type 2 diabetes if it is not correctly controlled (such as heart disease), since most organ systems in the body are affected by the disease.