Diabetes is a complex metabolic condition that results in the individual experiencing high blood glucose levels when left untreated. Unfortunately, in the past years the symptoms of diabetes were often overlooked because they seemed rather harmless. However, in the past years with increased media attention, more people understand the effects that diabetes can have on the body and the symptoms that they should look for.
Diabetes can actually take two different forms, should be treated two different ways and can have two different outcomes. Type 1 Diabetes develops when an autoimmune response damages the ability of the pancreas to produce any insulin. This particular type of diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes because the majority of individuals who developed it were less than 20 years of age. Type 2 Diabetes develops when the person’s body becomes resistant to the insulin being produced by the pancreas. The long-term effects of both are the same but in the second case the body has enough insulin but the cells do not allow it to do the assigned job of ushering in glucose to provide energy. (1,2)
In either case, too much glucose is floating around in the bloodstream which ultimately causes the symptoms and individual experiences in the long-term damage to the body’s organs. Because of the difference in causative factors both types of diabetes will have different treatment protocols.
Often these symptoms appear to be so harmless that an individual may not seek medical help or the advice of their primary care physician. Researchers are finding that people who seek medical advice sooner have less damage done to their hearts, kidneys and peripheral vascular system than individuals who put off seeing their doctor.
References:
(1) American Diabetes Association: Type 1
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/
(2) American diabetes Association: Type 2
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/
(3) University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/diabetes-000049.htm
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