What to Do If You Think You Have Diabetes?

Diabetes is a potentially life-threatening disease that affects as many as 23 million men, women and children in the United States. It should also be noted that the American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 6 million cases remain undiagnosed, so if you believe you may suffer from diabetes your first response should be a visit to the doctor. Information is critical as well, and as such the next step is to learn as much as possible about the three types of diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

• Type 1 or juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects as many as 1 in 400 to 600 children and young adults in the United States as of 2007, according to the American Diabetes Association. The disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. It remains unclear what triggers this response, but without insulin the body is unable to process glucose, which is its main source of energy.

  Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include excessive thirst and frequent urination, fatigue, and, in extreme cases, unexplained weight loss and blurred vision. A visit to a pediatrician is warranted if a child experiences these or any other symptoms. If type 1 diabetes is indicated, the pediatrician will refer the child to the nearest hospital that has pediatric facilities and access to a pediatric endocrinologist.

Type 2 Diabetes

• Type 2 diabetes is a condition that typically affects adults and is characterized by insulin resistance. Even though the pancreas is likely still producing insulin, the body is no longer using it effectively, so blood-glucose levels remain elevated. This may lead to many of the same symptoms as type 1 diabetes, but it should be noted that the onset of type 2 diabetes is often much more gradual and therefore more damage may occur before diagnosis. Unmanaged diabetes will damage the vascular system, which can lead to sores that are slow to heal, kidney damage and blindness.

  Regular checkups are a must. If type 2 diabetes is indicated, the most common treatment involves a regimen of exercise, diet and weight loss combined with daily blood-glucose monitoring. If the diabetes is resistant to control, medication or injections of insulin may be necessary.

Gestational Diabetes

• Gestational diabetes is the least common form of the disease, yet still affects between 3 and 8 percent of pregnancies according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Gestational diabetes occurs when the higher levels of hormones associated with pregnancy interfere with the body's ability to use insulin, resulting in insulin resistance. Here timely care is important not only for the mother's sake, but for the baby's as well. Untreated gestational diabetes may elevate glucose levels in the baby's blood, which is then stored as fat. This in turn may result in complications during birth associated with a condition known as macrosomia or that of a "fat" baby.

  Care of gestational diabetes starts with your doctor and is similar to type 2 diabetes. A modified diet, regular physical activity and blood-glucose monitoring are common first steps to controlling the disease, although injections of insulin may be necessary as well. Women who develop gestational diabetes should also be aware that it will recur in as many as two of three future pregnancies, according to the American Diabetes Association. Moreover, mothers who suffer from gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life, so, again, regular medical checks and lifestyle choices such as maintaining a healthy diet and weight are especially important.