What is the difference between
type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
In type 1 diabetes, the body
does not produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes,
either the body does not produce enough insulin or
the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is
needed so the body is able to use blood
glucose (blood sugar). Blood sugar is the basic
fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes
the blood sugar from the blood into the cells.
When glucose builds up in the blood stream instead
of going into cells, it can cause two
problems:
Soon your cells will be starved for energy.
After a time of high blood glucose levels,
you will have permanent damage to your eyes,
kidneys, nerves or heart.
What are the symptoms of
diabetes?
Because diabetes can cause
serious complications, it's important to be on the
lookout for symptoms that you may have diabetes.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often subtle,
but they can become severe. They include:
Increased thirst
Increased hunger (especially after eating)
Dry mouth
Frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss (even though you are
eating and feel hungry)
Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
Blurred vision
Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet,
toes, or legs
Nausea with or without vomiting
Loss of consciousness (rare)
The
symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be the same as
those listed above. Most often, there are no
symptoms or a very gradual development of the
above symptoms. In fact, half of all people who
have type 2 diabetes don't know they have
it.
Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes may
include:
Slow-healing sores or cuts
Itching of the skin (usually in the vaginal
or groin area)
Yeast infections
Recent weight gain
Velvety dark skin changes of the neck,
armpit, and groin called acanthosis
nigricans
If you have any of these
symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right
away so you can get tested for
diabetes.
Can eating too much sugar cause
diabetes?
Eating a lot of sugar, in and of
itself, does not cause diabetes, but it can lead
to tooth decay and obesity.
Can diabetes be
cured?
No. A cure for diabetes has not
yet been found. However, diabetes can be treated
and controlled. Most people with diabetes manage
their disease and lead normal lives. But, without
proper care, diabetes can lead to complications:
Heart disease (heart attack and/or stroke)
Kidney disease (kidney failure)
High blood pressure
Eye damage and blindness
Gum disease
Serious infections in feet, sometimes
requiring amputation
Can I take both pills and
insulin to control my blood sugar?
Yes. The combination of insulin
and an oral medication, when taken as directed by
your doctor, is very safe and effective in
controlling blood glucose. You will need to
monitor your blood glucose often
to evaluate the effectiveness of the
medications and to reduce the risk of low blood
sugar reactions.
Combination therapies are
often helpful for people who have type 2 diabetes.
If you have been taking an oral medications to
control your blood glucose by decreasing insulin
resistance and increasing insulin production, your
doctor may change your treatment plan to include
insulin injections. This change is often made to
help people with type 2 diabetes gain better
control of their blood glucose.
It would not be expected
that a person with Type 1 diabetes would be
treated with any medications other than
insulin.
What complications are
associated with diabetes?
If diabetes is not well
controlled, you may be at risk for developing
serious complications related to your diabetes.
These include problems with your:
Heart: People with diabetes have extra
reason to be mindful of heart and blood vessel
disease. Diabetes carries an increased risk for
heart attack, stroke, and complications related
to poor circulation.
Skin: As many as one-third of people with
diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or
affected by diabetes at some time in their
lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the
first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily,
most skin conditions can be prevented or easily
treated if caught early.
Feet: People with diabetes can develop many
different foot problems. Foot problems most
often happen when there is nerve damage in the
feet or when blood flow is poor.
Fortunately, careful attention to your feet and
legs can prevent or delay the need for
amputation....if you know what to do and what to
report to your doctor.
Mouth: If you have diabetes, you are at
increased risk for gum disease and other
mouth-related problems.
Eyes: Diabetes can cause eye problems and
may lead to blindness. But, early detection and
treatment of eye problems can prevent serious
problems from developing.
Kidney disease: Diabetes can damage the
kidneys, which not only can cause them to fail,
but can also make them lose their ability to
filter out waste products. This leads to
the need for dialysis or kidney transplant.
Nerve damage: One of the most common
complications of diabetes is diabetic
neuropathy. Neuropathy means damage to the
nerves that run throughout the body, connecting
the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels,
and other organs. With proper care and vigilance
on your part, many diabetes-related
complications can be
prevented.
If my mother or father has
diabetes will I get it too?
Diabetes can be inherited
(passed from parent to child). This means that if
you have a parent with the condition there is a
likelihood that you may develop the condition as
well. But, it doesn't mean that you will
definitely develop diabetes, it just means that
you are at greater risk of developing diabetes
than if you had a parent without the
condition.
Is there anything I can do to
keep from developing diabetes - if someone in my
family has it?
Staying very healthy, eating
healthy foods in small amounts, staying very
active are places to begin. Striving for
high level wellness will reduce your risk of
developing Type 2 diabetes.
What type of birth control
should women with diabetes use?
There is no single contraceptive
that is ideal for all women with diabetes. Each
method has some advantages and disadvantages. Talk
to your doctor about what type of birth control is
right for you.
Here are some
options.
Oral contraceptives: Combination
estrogen/progestin pills are best avoided in
women who are more than 35 years of age or who
are smokers. Also, if you have high blood
pressure that is not under control, talk with
your doctor before using this form of birth
control. Oral contraceptives with less than 35
mg of estrogen and a low progestin dose are
recommended.
Norplant: This system consists of
progesterone and is usually inserted under the
skin of the upper arm. It is very effective but
may lead to menstrual irregularities and
increased insulin requirements in women with
type 1 diabetes.
IUD's (Intrauterine Devices): Recent
information suggests that there is no greater
risk of uterine infections in women with
diabetes. Women with no prior pregnancies, with
multiple sexual partners or with a history of
uterine infections should not use this form of
birth control.
Barrier methods: Using diaphragms with
spermicidal jelly or condoms with spermicidal
foam are not related to any medical problems
associated with diabetes. However, these are
less effective forms of birth control.
Tubal ligation: This is a reasonable but
permanent option for women who have completed
their childbearing. There are no known
complications of tubal ligation related to blood
glucose or cholesterol
metabolism.
Can diabetes cause
infertility?
Poor blood glucose control is
associated with increased risk of miscarriage
during the first three months of pregnancy. Also,
women with type 2 diabetes who are overweight or
have polycystic ovary syndrome, may have more
difficulty conceiving.
Should I wear an ID
bracelet?
Most medical experts recommend
that anyone with a medical condition that someone
would need to know about in an emergency (such as
diabetes) wear some form of medical identification
jewelry. Having this kind of information easily
visible can save time in an emergency and may save
your life, especially if you take
insulin.
Having medical identification can
provide emergency personnel with important
information that allows them to act quickly. For
example, hypoglycemia [link to 6.8] (low blood
sugar) is common in some people with diabetes and
can be life-threatening if not recognized quickly;
it can be mistaken for drunkenness, and precious
time can be lost in offering appropriate treatment
if the proper information is not
given.
Medical identification jewelry may
take one of several forms: bracelet for wrist or
ankle, necklace, watch charms, iron-on tags or
wallet cards. Make sure you choose a form that you
are likely to wear every day, but remember that
you should choose a form that is easily seen in an
emergency -- an ankle bracelet may be fashionable,
but easily missed. Emergency personnel tend to
look for necklaces, neck chains and bracelets
first. A wallet card is a good back-up.
The
jewelry can be fashionable, but make sure that it
has clear visibility and durability. Several
companies manufacture medical identification
jewelry. Perhaps the most widely recognized is
MedicAlert, a non-profit organization that
provides a MedicAlert tag, personal ID number and
a 24-hour toll free emergency number. When needed,
they can store important medical information for
you in a computer which is available at any time
from anywhere in the world.
For a complete guide to diabetes
visit WebMD Health
Reviewed by Certified Diabetes Educators in the
Department of Patient Education and Health
Information and by physicians in the Department of
Endocrinology at The Cleveland Clinic.
