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The Different Types of Diabetes

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The Different Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health problem that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or there is an impairment in how the body utilizes the insulin it produces. While glucose is the primary energy source for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues, too much of it in the bloodstream can eventually damage the blood vessels and nerves. There is no cure for diabetes, but White Plains Urgent Care can help you manage symptoms and reduce the impact of the disease in your life. Below is more insight on different types of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops when the cells in your body become resistant to insulin, causing sugar build-up in the bloodstream. When the cells become unresponsive to insulin, the pancreas produces more insulin to overcome the resistance until it can’t anymore. It is uncertain why exactly this happens, but specialists believe that environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. Previously, type 2 diabetes was common in adults, but today, the disease is frequently occurring in children due to obesity in the younger population.

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often similar to type 2 diabetes, but they tend to develop slowly. For this reason, the disease may not be diagnosed until several years after its onset, when complications have developed.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes often begins in childhood and adolescent years and is characterized by inadequate insulin production. The disease causes symptoms such as frequent urination, extreme hunger, increased thirst, and unexplained weight loss. Unlike type 2 diabetes which develops gradually, the signs of type 1 diabetes appear suddenly and are severe. The exact cause of this health problem remains unknown, but it is known that it occurs when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, but daily insulin administration helps control the disease.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a common health problem in the United States, affecting more than 1 in three adults. You have prediabetes when your blood sugar levels are accelerated but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes raises your risk for type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart diseases. Fortunately, you can reverse prediabetes may making lifestyle changes such as including physical activity in your daily routine and eating healthy foods.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed for the first time in a pregnant woman who previously did not have diabetes. For this condition, the blood sugar levels are higher than average, but the value is below the diagnostic of diabetes. Gestational diabetes can cause pregnancy and delivery complications. For instance, women can have a preterm birth, and the baby usually has a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Most of the time, providers diagnose gestational diabetes through prenatal screening rather than reported symptoms.

Lifestyle changes like eating healthy foods can help disease management, but sometimes your provider may prescribe medication.

Book a session with your provider at Forme Medical Center and Urgent Care to learn about diabetes management.

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