An Explanation Of The Diabetes Types

When it comes to diabetes types there are essentially three types of diabetes and they are diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2, and gestational diabetes.  Of the diabetes types the most well known is diabetes type 2 but let us take a look at all three of these different types of the condition and see what separates them and what links them together.

Diabetes Type 1

This type of diabetes is categorized by the complete inability for the digestive system to produce insulin.  It is a degenerative disease that eventually destroys the body's ability to create insulin at any time and can become fatal if not treated with external injections of insulin directly to the blood.  This disease is commonly considered to be more abundant in children and sometimes this misconception can cause an adult that has this diabetes to be incorrectly diagnosed as having type 2.  As we will see later it is critical that this diagnosis be correct because the difference between type 1 and type 2 is significant and treating a type 1 patient with type 2 methods can cause permanent damage and even death if the treatment is not altered in time.

Diabetes Type 2

This is the most common type of diabetes and is the result of the body's inability to produce insulin or the digestive system's inability to use the insulin once the body has created it.  Without insulin the glucose in your blood cannot make it into your cells where it is needed.  If it remains in your blood then it will find its way into your vital organs and serious damage can occur.

To treat type 2 doctors will normally recommend a change in diet for the patient and tell the patient they have to lose weight in order for the body to begin to react properly to the insulin being added to the system.  In some cases this loss of weight and a change in diet will help keep the type 2 under control.  If this does not work then the next step is a combination of medications that will help the patient control their insulin flow and get their diabetes under control.

Gestational Diabetes

This diabetes is a very specific type and it only affects pregnant women who have never had diabetes before.  Although the cause is not readily known it is believed that a hormone produced during pregnancy begins to affect the body's ability to properly utilize insulin and causes gestational diabetes.

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