Diabetes: Type 1 And Type 2
December 18, 2009
Diabetes mellitus, in general, is referred to as diabetes. It is further divided into type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Read more to understand the difference between these two types.
The hormone insulin is secreted by the pancreas and is responsible to allow blood sugar (glucose) to enter into the cells. Normally, when glucose is present in the blood stream, the pancreas automatically releases this hormone from its Islets of Langerhans cells.
Absence of this hormone, non-functioning of the hormone or resistance of the cells towards insulin all lead to an increase in the blood sugar level. This is how the imbalance is created.
In case of type 1 diabetes, the patient is not able to produce insulin. This occurs because the patient loses the beta cells which are responsible for insulin production. Type 1 diabetes is neither preventive nor reversible. Interestingly, the risk of this type of diabetes can not be reduced due to exercises or changes in lifestyle.
Since it mainly occurs in younger population (before 40) it is also called as childhood diabetes. Type 1 patients need daily dose of insulin to survive.
There are no precise causes as such which lead to type 1. The fact that the body starts to destroy its own beta cells in the pancreas throws some light on the genetic factors. Most of the cases studied involve ones which have had a family history of type 1. For the same reason, type 1 has been categorized into auto-immune diseases.
On the other hand, type 2 diabetes develops due to unhealthy lifestyle. Lack of exercise, excess body weight, especially around the waist and alcoholism are common factors that cause type 2 diabetes.
The problem with type 2 diabetes is that either the insulin present is not sufficient or it is not working properly. When insulin is not able to perform its function because the cells resist it, the condition is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is more common and it can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.
Complications
There are several complication involved with diabetes. These include eye related diseases like cataract and glaucoma, kidney related diseases like kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes is a slow killer. One must keep vigilant check on the blood sugar levels on daily basis.
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