Diabete's Types

The Basics

• Know the Basics about Diabetes
• Diabete's Types, Symptoms
• Do I Have Diabetes
• Managing Your Life
• Diabetes and Pregnancy

Obese people risk developing type 2 diabetes in later life

There are two types of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes - also known as insulin-dependent or immune-mediated diabetes - is a disease that that destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin.

Insulin is needed to control blood sugar levels. Without insulin death is inevitable.

Type 1 sufferers, who typically develop the condition as children or young adults, are usually unable to produce any insulin at all.

They have to receive an insulin injection every day. It cannot be administered as a pill because it would be destroyed by the digestive process before it had a chance to work.

What are the symptoms?

Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly. Signs and symptoms are:

• High levels of sugar in the blood;
• High levels of sugar in the urine;
• Frequent urination (and/or bed-wetting in children);
• Extreme hunger;
• Extreme thirst;
• Extreme weight loss;
• Weakness and tiredness;
• Irritability and mood swings;
• Nausea and vomiting.

What causes Type 1 diabetes?

The cause of the disease is unknown, although there is evidence that it might be inherited.

Other environmental factors and illnesses seem to trigger the disease.

Diabetes is a hormone disorder that can cause problems with the kidneys, legs and feet, eyes, heart, nerves, and blood flow. If left untreated, these problems can lead to kidney failure, gangrene and amputation, blindness, or stroke. Diabetes is on the increase, probably because people are living longer, getting fatter and leading increasingly inactive lifestyles

Can Type 1 diabetes be controlled?