There are three main types of diabetes that a person can live with: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. It is important that, if you live with diabetes, you know which type you have, as the type dictates the treatment you receive and the lifestyle changes you must make. If you do not have diabetes, familiarizing yourself with the differences can help you reduce your risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
One of the main differences between all three types of diabetes is cause. Type 1 diabetes develops early in life and is, healthcare professionals believe, the result of an autoimmune reaction. Research also suggests that family history may play a role in type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, develops over the course of many years and is triggered by unhealthy lifestyle factors. Those type include carrying excess weight, being inactive, consuming an unhealthy diet.
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.
Type 1 diabetes develops when the body’s immune system begins to mistake its own healthy cells as foreign invaders and, as a result, attacks them. In the case of diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas. When these beta cells are destroyed, the body loses its ability to produce insulin. Insulin is the chemical that tells your body when it is time to release blood sugar into the blood stream for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar levels rise, leading to a multitude of serious health issues, including but not limited to vision loss, heart disease and kidney disease.
To date, researchers are still unsure of why the immune system turns on the body’s cells. Many believe genetics and environmental factors, such as exposure to certain viruses or illnesses, may also contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes. They are certain, however, that neither lifestyle factors nor diet play a role in type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes develops as the body becomes more resistant to insulin. Though it continues to produce insulin, it becomes less and less capable of using it effectively.
As with why type 1 diabetes develops, researchers are unsure of why some people become resistant to insulin and others don’t, despite similarities in lifestyles and diets. However, they are certain that lifestyle and diet, combined with genetics and environmental factors, do play a significant role. Lifestyle factors that may increase a person’s risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes are as follows:
Some people may have a natural disposition for developing diabetes and certain lifestyle choices may simply trigger its onset.
Gestational diabetes occurs for the same reason that type 1 diabetes occurs — because the body cannot produce enough insulin. However, gestational diabetes only occurs in pregnant women and typically goes away once the mother gives birth. However, gestational diabetes does increase a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
The symptoms of type 1, type 2 and gestational of diabetes are more or less the same, with one key difference: in how and when the disease presents itself. People typically develop type 1 diabetes early in life, at between the ages of two and 15. Most people who go on to develop type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, are over the age of 50. As its name implies, gestational diabetes does not develop if and until a woman becomes pregnant.
In cases of type 1 diabetes, the symptoms typically occur suddenly. For instance, an individual may present with severe dehydration, a sudden fever, ketones in the urine and frequent urination. In more extreme cases, individuals become comatose.
With type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, the symptoms are slow to develop. They are often vague, leading to delayed diagnoses. Some individuals develop prediabetes, which presents in milder symptoms and that, without lifestyle changes or treatment, can later develop into full onset type 2 diabetes.
Despite how they present, the symptoms of all types of diabetes are the same. Common symptoms of the three types of illnesses are as follows:
It is also not uncommon for people with types 1 and 2 diabetes to experience mood changes, irritability and unintentional weight loss.
Currently, there are no cures for either type 1 or type 1 diabetes. However, there are effective ways for managing the conditions and living a long, healthy life.
Because people with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, they must regularly take insulin to keep their blood sugar levels in a healthy range. The most common method for taking insulin is through daily injections into soft tissue, such as the arm, stomach of buttocks. Some people use insulin pumps, which provide the body with a steady stream of insulin throughout the day as needed.
Also for people who live with type 1 diabetes, regular testing of blood sugar levels is critical for managing the condition. This is because, without naturally-produced insulin, blood sugar levels are prone to extreme and quick fluctuations.
In many type 2 diabetes cases, individuals can manage the condition with healthy lifestyle habits that include regular exercise and a well-balanced diet. If lifestyle changes prove ineffective, a doctor may recommend one, two or several medications.
As with individuals who live with type 1 diabetes, it is crucial for people with type 2 diabetes to regularly monitor their blood sugar level numbers. Frequent monitoring can inform patients as to the effectiveness of their efforts.
If you live with type 2 diabetes and your blood sugar levels are dangerously high, your doctor may recommend insulin injections in addition to lifestyle changes and medications.
Gestational diabetes can be dangerous for both mom and her baby. For this reason, if your doctor detects abnormal blood sugar levels during your pregnancy, he or she will develop a course of treatment immediately. Treating gestational diabetes entails special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. Depending on how severe your case, your doctor may also recommend daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections.
Another major difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is prevention. You cannot prevent type 1 diabetes. However, you can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life through healthy lifestyle habits. If you are prediabetic, or if you worry about becoming diabetic, some changes you can make are as follows:
By doing these simple things, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
According to the CDC, approximately one in three of the 96 million adults who live in the U.S. have prediabetes — meaning their blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to qualify for a diabetes diagnosis. Of these millions of individuals, more than eight in 10 are unaware that they are at risk of becoming diabetic.
Regardless of your lifestyle, it is important that you are aware of your blood sugar level numbers. By monitoring your numbers, you can take steps to keep them normal and, in the process, reduce your risk of all the diseases typically associated with diabetes, such as heart disease and stroke.
If you live with diabetes — whether type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes — know that it is manageable. When you partner with your doctor, make serious lifestyle changes and follow through with your doctor’s recommendations, you can keep your blood sugar levels in check and maintain a high quality of life.