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Three Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body does not properly produce or utilize the hormone insulin. As a result, glucose builds in the blood and can eventually lead to complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, blindness, heart disease, nerve damage and other serious conditions. With the introduction of insulin injections in 1921, diabetes became a treatable disease, with most diabetic patients leading full, normal lives.

  1. Type 1 Diabetes

    • Diabetes mellitus type 1, also known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack and destroy the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Without the hormone insulin, glucose builds up in the blood and can damage the body unless the condition is treated with synthetic insulin. Popular treatments for type 1 diabetes include insulin injections and insulin pump therapies. Left untreated, type 1 diabetes is fatal. Many alternative therapies for diabetes are currently being researched including pancreas transplants, islet cell transplants and the use of stem cells to grow new and working beta cells for diabetic patients with type 1. In addition to insulin therapies, type 1 diabetics can achieve better control of the disease through a controlled diet and exercise program.

    Type 2 Diabetes

    • Diabetes mellitus type 2, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is a disease that causes the body to be resistant to the hormone insulin. Though the pancreas of a type 2 diabetic produces insulin, the receptors in a type 2 diabetic's body do not know how to properly utilize the hormone. This leads to the build up of glucose in the blood, which can damage the body and lead to dangerous complications. In the beginning stages of type 2 diabetes, the disease can often be controlled through diet and exercise alone. As the disease progresses, the use of other treatments, such as insulin injections or other prescription medication, is required to maintain control of the disease. Type 2 diabetes was once considered to be an adult-onset illness, but with the rise of childhood obesity in the United States, more and more cases of type 2 diabetes are being diagnosed in children.

    Gestational Diabetes

    • Gestational diabetes is a term used to describe the condition in which a non-diabetic woman has higher than normal blood sugar during pregnancy. Scientists have not identified an exact cause of gestational diabetes, though many believe that hormones produced during pregnancy can increase a woman's resistance to the hormone insulin. Gestational diabetes can be treated in most women with diet and exercise, though some woman require the use of insulin injections to control the condition. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause a baby to grow too large, causing complications in delivery. Additionally, babies born to mothers with untreated gestational diabetes are at risk for low blood sugar and jaundice. Women with gestational diabetes are at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

    The Importance of Blood Sugar Monitoring

    • All three types of diabetes mellitus can be better controlled by regularly monitoring blood glucose levels at home. Blood glucose monitors and testing strips are available for purchase from pharmacies or retail stores like Walmart, K-Mart or similar. Diabetic patients can use blood sugar monitors to check their glucose level by inserting a testing strip into the meter, applying a drop of blood to the end of the strip and waiting for the result. Some blood glucose meters deliver results in under five seconds. Results can be recorded and used to help the patient identify trends and patterns in blood glucose levels. Most doctors recommend that diabetic patients test their blood glucose levels at least three times a day to maintain tighter diabetes control.

    Symptoms of Diabetes

    • Symptoms commonly associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes include thirst, increased fluid intake, increased urination, chronic fatigue, lethargy, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss and itching of the genitalia. Symptoms are not usually present in gestational diabetes, thus the disease is most often identified through screenings during pregnancy. Anyone experiencing the symptoms associated with diabetes should make an appointment to be seen by their doctor as soon as possible.

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