Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens when the pancreas cannot make insulin or if the body is not able to make use of the insulin produced. Diabetes is something that affects approximately 10.5% of the American population. And as of 2018, approximately 7.3 million people have diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed with it. It is something that doesn’t discriminate and impacts people of all backgrounds. Let’s show you the different types of diabetes and the causes that occur with each one.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is believed to be a condition of the autoimmune system. This is where your immune system will mistakenly attack and destroy cells in your pancreas, known as beta cells. These cells are responsible for producing insulin. As a result, the damage is permanent. The cause is not known.
Furthermore, it is believed to result from environmental as well as genetic conditions. Health problems associated with type 1 diabetes arise from damage to the blood vessels in your eyes, nerves, and kidneys. Those that have type 1 diabetes may also have a higher risk of stroke and heart attack. Treatment for type 1 diabetes consists of injecting insulin into the fatty tissue under the skin. This might be done by syringes, insulin pens, jet injectors that use pressurized air, or pumps sending insulin via a catheter.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is where your body cannot use insulin officially. Type 2 diabetes was called non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, but now it has become more common in teenagers and children over the last two decades. For those that have type 2 diabetes, this means the pancreas will create some insulin, but it is not deemed to be enough or is not used by the body as it should. Type 2 diabetes is usually milder than type 1 diabetes but can cause health complications. Predominantly, it arises from obesity. Treatment for type 2 diabetes can involve looking after your health. In fact, this is because type 2 diabetes arises from obesity as one of the main root causes. Eating well, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight can treat type 2 diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes comes during pregnancy. With pregnancy, there is usually some form of insulin resistance, but this may not become diabetes. As a woman’s blood sugars travel to the baby through the placenta, controlling gestational diabetes is essential to protect the baby. Up to 10% of pregnancies can result in gestational diabetes and usually goes away after birth. But almost 10% of women with gestational diabetes can develop type 2 diabetes further down the line. This is more of a risk for the baby than it is for the mother. And treatment for gestational diabetes involves keeping weight gain under control, regular exercise, as well as careful meal planning. If necessary, insulin may also be taken to control blood sugar levels.
In addition, there are other forms of diabetes. For between 1% and 5% of people with diabetes, other conditions may be the root cause. For example, a disease of the pancreas, specific medications, and complications arising from infections can result in fluctuating blood levels.
Final Thoughts
We hope you benefitted from learning about the different types of diabetes. While the pandemic has caused us to have many challenges, San Ramon Urgent Care And Clinic is committed to helping you and your loved ones. If you need help with diabetes, you have come to the right place! We work diligently to ensure you get the best care from individuals with the experience and expertise to treat and assist you! In addition, our practice is located in Sam Ramon, California! To learn more about all the services we provide, give us a call at 925-361-5959.