Muhammad Hamid Khan

What is diabetes? What are the symptoms? To begin, let’s start with the basics about diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes that you should know about: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, there are other less common types, too, such as gestational diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common types of diabetes in children, and they’re also some of the most common forms of adultonset diabetes as well. The two conditions have very different causes and different symptoms, but all diabetics will require insulin therapy to stay alive. How your body uses sugar: Our bodies use sugar, or glucose, for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by your pancreas, facilitates the entry of glucose into cells where it's converted to energy. But if you have diabetes (either type 1 or type 2), either your pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin or your body doesn't respond properly to insulin—and so glucose accumulates in your blood instead of going into cells. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage arteries and lead to a variety of serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. Treatment involves controlling both diet and exercise as well as using medications; there's also ongoing research into potential cures that may one day prevent future cases. The good news is that people with diabetes can still live long, healthy lives with proper care. It’s estimated that more than 25 million Americans have diabetes but aren’t aware of it because they don’t experience any symptoms. The earliest warning signs include excessive thirst and hunger along with frequent urination. If left untreated, diabetes can cause nerve damage leading to vision loss and foot amputation, among other complications. Type 1 diabetes mellitus: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, causing high blood sugar. The disease results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that trigger an abnormal immune response that destroys beta cells in the pancreas. T1DM typically begins during childhood or adolescence and can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent urination, and weight loss. A person with T1DM must manage his or her blood sugar level through medication, diet and exercise. There is no known cure for T1DM. However, it can be managed by following a healthy lifestyle. The insulin-dependent type of diabetes mellitus (IDDM): IDDM starts with a lack of insulin in your body, which means that your body can't use glucose (sugar) for energy. Glucose builds up in your blood instead, which forces your pancreas to produce more and more insulin to compensate. Eventually, even that isn't enough, and you need to inject insulin several times a day just to keep blood sugar levels under control. Unfortunately, many people have trouble using insulin effectively due to an autoimmune disease called type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed when someone is younger than age 30 and affects an estimated 3 million Americans. Without treatment, IDDM leads to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), when blood sugar levels rise so high that they cause cell damage and death. The condition requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated. The non-insulin-dependent type of diabetes mellitus (NIDDM): NIDDM usually develops later in life, but it's still possible to develop it at any time during adulthood. It occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough of it on its own. This causes blood sugar levels to build up over time— and without proper treatment, it could lead to DKA as well. There are two types of NIDDM: Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% of all cases; it's typically diagnosed after age 40 and often progresses slowly over time until DKA occurs suddenly without warning. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): Gestational diabetes, a type of type 2 DM, occurs when you’re pregnant. Your body needs insulin to convert sugar into energy for your baby. If your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or if your body can’t use it properly, you have GDM. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure and problems with your circulation and metabolism. Left untreated in pregnancy, GDM increases both your risks for delivering a baby that's too large and having an early delivery. You can avoid these complications by managing GDM with diet changes and exercise before and during pregnancy. It’s also important to monitor your blood glucose levels regularly so you can catch any potential issues early on.