Diabetes types and treatments



In the United States, the estimated number of people over 18 years of age with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes is 30.2 million. The figure represents between 27.9 and 32.7 percent of the population.


Types


Three major diabetes types can develop: Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes: -


Type I diabetes: Also known as juvenile diabetes, this type occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. People with type I diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.


Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses insulin. While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. This is the most common type of diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and it has strong links with obesity.



Gestational diabetes: This type occurs in women during pregnancy when the body can become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational diabetes does not occur in all women and usually resolves after giving birth.

Less common types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.


How insulin problems develop


Doctors do not know the exact causes of type I diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin resistance, has clearer causes.

Insulin resistance is usually a result of the following cycle:
      1. A person has genes or an environment that make it more likely that they are unable to make enough insulin to cover how much glucose they eat.
      2. The body tries to make extra insulin to process the excess blood glucose.
      3. The pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demands, and the excess blood sugar starts to circulate in the blood, causing damage.
      4. Over time, insulin becomes less effective at introducing glucose to cells, and blood sugar levels continue to rise.

      Prediabetes



      Doctors refer to some people as having prediabetes or borderline diabetes when blood sugar is usually in the range of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
      Normal blood sugar levels sit between 70 and 99 mg/dL, whereas a person with diabetes will have a fasting blood sugar higher than 126 mg/dL.

      The risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are similar. They include:

        • being overweight
        • a family history of diabetes
        • having a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level lower than 40 mg/dL or 50 mg/dL
        • a history of high blood pressure 
        • having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a child with a birth weight of more than 9 pounds
        • a history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
        • being of African-American, Native American, Latin American, or Asian-Pacific Islander descent
        • being more than 45 years of age
        • having a sedentary lifestyle

        Using insulin


        Various types of insulin are available, and most are grouped by how long their effect lasts. There are rapid, regular, intermediate, and long-acting insulins.

        Some people will use a long-acting insulin injection to maintain consistently low blood sugar levels. Some people may use short-acting insulin or a combination of insulin types. Whatever the type, a person will usually check their blood glucose levels using a fingerstick.

        This method of checking blood sugar levels involves using a special, portable machine called a glucometer. A person with type I diabetes will then use the reading of their blood sugar level to determine how much insulin they need.

        Self-monitoring is the only way a person can find out their blood sugar levels. Assuming the level from any physical symptoms that occur may be dangerous unless a person suspects extremely low glucose and thinks they need a rapid dose of glucose.

        Insulin helps people with diabetes live an active lifestyle. However, it can lead to serious side effects, especially if a person administers too much.

        Excessive insulin can cause hypoglycemia, or extremely low blood sugar, and lead to nausea, sweating, and shaking.


        Self-monitoring tips



        However, the following precautions and steps will apply to many of the machines on the market:-

        • Make sure both hands are clean and dry before touching the test strips or meter
        • Do not use a test strip more than once and keep them in their original canister to avoid any external moisture changing the result.
        • Keep canisters closed after testing.
        • Always check the expiration date.
        • Older meters might require coding prior to use. Check to see if the machine currently in use needs this.
        • Store the meter and strips in a dry, cool area.
        • Take the meter and strips into consultations, so that a primary care physician or specialist can check their effectiveness.

          A person who is self-monitoring diabetes uses a device called a lancet to prick the skin.

          Take the following precautions:-


          • Clean the area from which the sample will come with soapy, warm water to avoid food residue entering the device and distorting the reading.
          • Choose a small, thin lancet for maximum comfort.
          • The lancet should have depth settings that control the depth of the prick. Adjust this for comfort.
          • Many meters require only a teardrop-sized sample of blood.
          • Take blood from the side of the finger, as this causes less pain. Using the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger may be more comfortable
          • While some meters allow samples from other test sites, such as the thighs and upper arms, the fingertips or outer palms produce more accurate results.
          • Tease blood to the surface in a "milking" motion rather than placing pressure at the lancing site.
          • Dispose of lances in line with local regulations for getting rid of sharp objects.
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