What is diabetes? From types to causes, what to know about one of the deadliest diseases.
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- 24 Feb 2023
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the country.
It’s also one of the most expensive, costing the United States about $327 billion in 2017, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Despite the leading risk factors being well-documented, health experts estimate cases of Type 2 diabetes to dramatically surge in the upcoming years, particularly in children and young people.
What is diabetes, what’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2, what are the causes and how can you prevent it? Here’s everything to know about the disease that is being diagnosed in 1.4 million Americans every year.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a medical condition where the body’s blood glucose, or sugar, is too high, according to ADA.
It occurs when the body produces no or insufficient quantities of insulin, a hormone that comes from the pancreas to help glucose reach the body’s cells. When there’s not enough insulin to manage the glucose, it begins to build up in blood.
High levels of blood sugar can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and vision loss.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that causes the destruction of cells that secrete insulin from the pancreas, according to the British Diabetic Association, or Diabetes UK.
It can affect people of any age, but it typically develops in children and young people, health experts say.
The ADA says the underlying causes of Type 1 aren't totally clear. Although it’s not classified as a hereditary disorder, a patient is more likely to develop Type 1 if a parent or sibling has the condition.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly, which is called insulin resistance.
It’s often linked to having excess weight and typically affects people over 40, but the ADA said it’s becoming more common in younger people.
Unlike Type 1 diabetes, symptoms of Type 2 develop more slowly and include thirstiness, tiredness and the frequent need to urinate.
Other types of diabetes
Gestational diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and can lead to an increased risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and C-sections.
MODY (maturity onset diabetes of the young): A rare, hereditary condition caused by a mutation of a single gene. Oftentimes, the signs and symptoms are mild, and the condition goes unnoticed unless testing is done.
Neonatal diabetes: Another rare form of diabetes that's also caused by a gene mutation and diagnosed in children younger than 6 months.
Type 3 diabetes is a proposed alternative name for Alzheimer’s disease as it can be linked to insulin resistance, in some cases. Read More…
