All about Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus \& Type 1 Diabetes by Accu-chek

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What is Diabetes?

Diabetes

India is the country with the most people with diabetes, with a current figure of 50.8 million, followed by China with 43.2 million *

Diabetes is a condition which occurs as a result of problems with the production and supply of insulin in the body. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, a form of sugar. We use glucose as a source of energy to provide power for our muscles and other tissues. Our bodies transport glucose in our blood to muscles and tissues. In order for our muscles and other tissues to absorb glucose from our blood, we need a hormone called insulin. Without insulin, our bodies cannot obtain the necessary energy from our food.

Insulin is made in a gland behind the stomach called the pancreas. It is released by cells called beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin allows the entry of sugar from the blood into the cells and thus becomes necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When we eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is then used for energy.

When a person has diabetes, either their pancreas does not produce the insulin they need, or the body cannot use its natural insulin effectively. Thus, in diabetes when the glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause following problems: the cells may be starved for energy and over time, high blood glucose levels may cause damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Diabetes Symptoms:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision

* International Diabetes Federation, Press Release, Oct 19, 2009

Type 1 Diabetes

Girl smiling with friends

Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called insulin-dependent, immune-mediated or juvenile-onset diabetes. It is caused by an auto-immune reaction where the body's defence system attacks the insulin-producing cells. The reason why this occurs is not fully understood. People with type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin. The disease can affect people of any age, but usually occurs in children or young adults. People with this form of diabetes need injections of insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children or young adults, although it can occur at any age. Approximately 5-10 % of all people with diabetes are diagnosed with Type 1.

The onset of type 1 diabetes is often sudden and can include the following symptoms:

Abnormal thirst and a dry mouth
Frequent urination
Extreme tiredness/lack of energy
Sudden weight loss
Slow-healing wounds
Recurrent infections
Blurred vision

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system destroys the beta cells found in the pancreas-the cells that create insulin. As a result, the body makes very little or no insulin of its own.

A person with type 1 diabetes supplies their body with insulin in one of the following ways:

Insulin pump
Insulin pen
Insulin injections with a syringe

Insulin therapy along with following a healthy meal-plan, regular physical activity and frequent blood glucose testing are important in the management of type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is sometimes called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes do not usually require injections of insulin. Usually they can control the glucose in their blood by watching their diet, taking regular exercise, oral medication, and possibly insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is most common in people older than 45 who are overweight. However, as a consequence of increased obesity among the young, it is becoming more common in children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes.

If people with type 2 diabetes are not diagnosed and treated, they can develop serious complications, which can result in an early death. Worldwide, many millions of people have type 2 diabetes without even knowing it. Others do not have access to adequate medical care. The onset of type 2 diabetes is also linked to genetic factors but obesity, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet increase the risks.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for more than 90-95 % of people with diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas may make enough insulin, but the body cannot effectively use the insulin it creates. This is known as insulin resistance. Eventually, the pancreas may stop producing insulin altogether.

Type 2 diabetes traditionally affects people later in life, but can affect people at any age.

Additional risk factors or characteristics for type 2 diabetes include

Family history of diabetes
History of gestational diabetes
Obesity
Race/Ethnicity

Because type 2 diabetes develops slowly and is often hard to detect, many people are not diagnosed until various complications appear. One-third of all people with diabetes may be undiagnosed. Depending on its severity, type 2 diabetes can be managed through diet and physical activity, oral medications, or insulin injections, though a combination of these therapies are often prescribed. Self-monitoring of your blood glucose can help measure the success of your therapy.

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2008 [position statement]. Diabetes Care. 2007; 31:S12-S54. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/31/Supplement_1/S12 (accessed January 24, 2008).

Gestational Diabetes

Some women develop a third, usually temporary,type of diabetes called 'gestational diabetes' when they are pregnant. Gestational diabetes develops in 2-5% of all pregnancies but usually disappears when the pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on.

Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnancy hormones and weight gain block a woman's body's ability to use insulin properly. This type of diabetes can affect women who have never had diabetes. Gestational diabetes may affect as many as 7% of pregnant women.

Gestational diabetes can lead to high blood pressure for the mother and high birth weight for the child. Although this type of diabetes usually goes away after the child is born, there is also an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes for both mother and child in the future. Your child may also be at higher risk of childhood obesity.

These risks can be reduced by maintaining a reasonable weight, staying physically active and making healthy food choices. Breast-feeding may lower your child's risk for type 2 diabetes as well. See your healthcare professional to create a management plan that is right for you and your child.

American Diabetes Association. Gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 2003;26:S103-S105. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/suppl_1/s103. Accessed October 16, 2008.

International Diabetes Federation. Who gets diabetes? Available at: http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?unode=3B96880C-C026-2FD3-87046988B851BC00. Accessed November 12, 2008

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes


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Services for Professionals

Kids

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What is Diabetes?

Diabetes Symptoms:

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes

Buy Accu-Chek Meters & Strips Online!

Frost & Sullivan Award

Accu-Chek Combo System