It used to be clear that Juvenile, or Type-I diabetes, occurred only with children, and Type-II (”Adult Onset”) diabetes occurred solely among adults. While Type-I diabetes remains a problem of the young, and has a different etiology than Type-II diabetes, both are climbing in incidence. Each has a different cause, and can be treated in different ways.
The classic definition of Type-I diabetes was a reduction in the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin. The insulin-producing parts of the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans (a good trivia question on your college biology exam), would somehow lose their ability to produce insulin. As a result, children of otherwise normal weight and constitution would need to move relatively quickly to treat their affliction, or die in a diabetic coma.
Recently, we’ve learned that much of Type-I diabetes occurs because children develop a form of auto-immune reaction to their own pancreatic cells. This hyperreaction to the body’s own cells results in a destruction of the Islets of Langerhans, and results in a lifelong need to replace insulin production with injections.
Type-I diabetes is a serious pathology, which can lead to much-increased levels of blindness, heart disease and neuropathies. If not treated properly, Type-I diabetics can contract diabetic ulcers of their feet and legs, leading to amputation.
We’ve seen a revolution in diabetes treatment with long-term insulin, better diagnosis, and, more recently, insulin pumps. The longer-lasting insulin gives the body a chance to respond in a more normal way to spikes in glucose levels. Diagnosis has been improved through the institution of glycosylated hemoglobin tests, which are more reliable in predicting longer-term glucose levels. Finally, insulin pumps have allowed Type-I diabetics to better match their insulin production with their food intake, thus reducing the deleterious effects of too high glucose in the bloodstream.
Type-II diabetes has been called “adult onset,” as it is closely linked to obesity caused by consumption of high-sugar, high-fat diets and a lack of exercise. Once exclusively a preserve of adults, Type-II diabetes has become an increasingly-common fixture amongst teens. It’s estimated that 13% of teens today have Type-II diabetes in the US.
This syndrome of early stage obesity and resulting Type-II diabetes was almost unknown 20 years ago. The proliferation of junk foods and a sedentary lifestyle have caused the obesity epidemic, which in turn has resulted in an epidemic of Type-II diabetes throughout the population.
Type-II diabetes affects the body in much the same way as Type-I diabetes over the long term. While some people with Type-II diabetes can become insulin dependent, some drugs (such as glucophages) can diminish the deleterious effects of excess insulin and glucose circulation. People with Type-II diabetes nevertheless encounter higher incidences of heart disease, estimates are three to seven times as high as non-diabetics’ and related diseases, such as strokes, neuropathy and kidney disease.
It is clear that more exercise and weight loss can reverse the diabetic effects of insulin resistance. Since few obese patients are willing or able to increase exercise or reduce caloric intake, many are condemned to suffer the lifelong consequences of diabetes.
Type-I diabetes will be treated in the future by drugs and devices which reduce the body’s tendency in some people to attack its own cells. Anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressants and, in the future, more targeted drugs will improve the outlook for such people. Better and earlier diagnosis, coupled with this better therapy, will reduce the overall rate of Type-I diabetes.
Type-II diabetes, on the other hand, will continue to climb dramatically, along with the rate of obesity in this country. Without a clear strategy to reduce obesity, we must resign ourselves to the fact that more and more people will suffer from Type-II diabetes, and the resulting co-morbidities.
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What is the Difference Between Juvenile and Adult-Onset Diabetes, and What Can We Do about It?
December 6th, 2009Myths About Diabetes–6 Most Popular Myths you Should Know
December 3rd, 2009Human tendency is always to have doubts and suspicion about one thing or the other. Regarding diabetes people have lots of doubts and suspicion, and these doubts generate different myths. It is necessary to understand what are those myths and why one should not believe in them. This article is all about those myths and how incorrect and irrelevant are they. Read it to believe it.
Diabetes simply can be defined as a diesease in which a body is unable to produce or utilize insulin to convert sugar, starch, etc. , into energy. Diabetes Myth no. 1:
A person suffering from diabetes should never exercise
This is not a sin but a crime to spread such rumors. In fact, it is always advised to a diabetic patient to do mild exercise regularly, this will help them to recover completely and even fast. The complications caused to different Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is controlled through doing proper exercises. However, patient should also remember that this has to be started slowly. That is to say patient should do brisk walk, simple exercise, etc. , and gradually start some other exercises, but that too should not be dangerous or risky. It is also found that patient who complains of kidney problems or any kind of eye infection should restrict from exercise, but starts once again when these problems are over. Diabetes Myth no. 2:
Diabetes is contagious.
This again is a crime, as this not only creates problem to the patient but also to the people around him. In fact this rumor makes many diabetic patients unwilling to socialize with normal people, as they feel inferior. Hence, one should know it very clearly that diabetes is not at all contagious and does not spread from one person to another by sleeping, eating, sitting together, etc. Diabetes is a hereditary disaese as there are some genetic causes for it. Daibetes is also very commom among fat people and people who ignores exercise like anything. But whatever may be the cause of diabetes, it is still not communicable or contagious. Diabetes Myth no. 3:
Daibetes causes cough and cold
This is completely incorrect. Diabetes neither is communicable nor spread cough and cold. Diabetes Myth no 4:
Diabetes may cause brain hemorrhage
Now this is also a very wrong thought, as it creates nothing but much more stress and confusion among the patients. When a diabetic patient keeps fasts, he may complain of a severe headache and extreme weakness. All these symptoms let people to assume that it is due and diabetes which gradually will result in brain hemorrhage. However, it is not at all correct and should not be believed. It is also found that children suffering from diabetes may suffer severe headache when they fast, and thus may effect their brain slightly, still it will never cause a brain hemorrhage. Diabetes Myth no 5:
Say no to fruits
It is not correct. People suffering from disease, in fact should take various fruits, which are healthy. However, all fruits may not sound healthy, so patient should consult the doctor and dietician to know what all is suitable for a diabetic patient. Diabetes Myth no 6:
Diabetic patient should never touch sweet and sugar content-food
It is a very common and wrong notion that a diabetic patient should strictly avoid sweets and other sugar containing foods. It is true that they should not take excess sweets, sugar, etc. However, a balanced diet including a sweet dessert or sweets is always acceptable. It is also said that if a diabetic patient do exercise, take balanced diet food, they can take one sugar candy every night. Here one should also remember that it is not his excess eating of sugar candies that caused diabetes, but because of his unhealthy practices, also lack of exercises and genetic reasons that cause diabetes.
American Diabetes Diet – What Every Diabetic Sufferer Should Know About Diet
December 1st, 2009American diabetes diet. In March of 2005 the American Diabetes Association published the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program. This study was conducted nationwide at 25 medical centres and tracked thousands of potential diabetics. They were given a diabetic diet and exercise plan. Everyone in the group was pre-diabetic, in other words they all suffered from high blood sugar levels that were higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range. Half of all people diagnosed with pre-diabetes will eventually become type 2 diabetics if left untreated. There were two groups in the study, half of the participants were given only dietary recommendations to follow and the other half were given the same diet but were also asked to exercise 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes a day. Researchers found that exercising and losing weight had the direct effect of lowering blood sugar levels to normal. It was found that losing 5% to 7% of your body weight can make a difference. The key to the American diabetes diet is eating healthy foods that not only help the pre-diabetic person to lose weight but also keep the weight off. The American Diabetes Association recommends a daily diet that consists of the following. Grain – 6-11 servings per day (bread, cereal, rice, pasta) Vegetables – 3-5 servings a day Fruits – 2-4 servings per day Milk – 2. -3 servings per day Meant – 4-6 servings per day Fats , sweets, alcohol – occasional treats This points out how important it is to eat healthily and follow a fat loss diabetic diet and exercise program, such as the American diabetes diet plan. Sue Roberts More American Diabetes Diet Plan Information
