Caring for Diabetes Part I: The Two Major Types of Diabetes

There are 2 major types of diabetes:

Type I Diabetes which is also known as juvenile diabetesType II Diabetes which is also known as adult onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes.

Some characteristics of Type I diabetes:

• occurs in about 5-10% of the population
• is an autoimmune disease that affects the cells that release insulin
• typically occurs in adolescents
• the beta cells of the pancreas do not produce insulin, or they produce it in quantities so small that it cannot be utilized by the body as glucose for energy
• insulin injections are required due to the body’s inability to be able to produce it’s own
• typically occurs in people 20 years of age or younger; the onset is typically between the ages of 10-12 years in girls, and 12-14 in boys
• if left untreated the body breaks down fat stores for energy and excessive breakdown of fats leads to a buildup of ketone bodies which can be used as energy for the body for a short time, but can eventually lead to coma or death (a.k.a diabetic ketaacidosis)
• if left untreated patients are characteristically underweight to normal body weight, have frequent urination, frequent hunger, frequent thirst, hyperglycemia (high levels of blood glucose) and ketotic breath (sweet smelling breath)



Some characteristics of Type II diabetes:

• occurs in 90 – 95% of the diabetic population
• results from the inability of the insulin receptors to recognize insulin produced by the body
• occurs in individuals who have become obese
• the pancreas does produce insulin, but the number of insulin receptors may be downregulated, which in turn results in decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin
• onset typically occurs in those over the age of 45, however, due to increased obesity today has been showing up across all ages including children
• disease typically can be managed by healthy weight loss and nutrition
• sometimes oral insulin medication is required to help control their glucose levels or injections
• signs can include frequent urination, frequent hunger, repeated infections or skin sores that heal slowly, or not at all, overall fatique, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• symptoms develop more slowly than in type I
• primary cause is obesity and most are significantly overweight