(How Many Types of Diabetes)
The word ‘diabetes’ is quite familiar to all of us. It is difficult to find a family without a diabetes patient. In the UK, about <u>4.3 million</u> people have been diagnosed with diabetes, which equates to about six out of every one hundred people. Furthermore, the number of individuals who are unaware they have diabetes is estimated to be around <u>850,000</u>. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is now considered an epidemic. The WHO recently made this declaration due to the extensive spread of the disease.
However, with a little awareness, diabetes can be easily controlled. To do so, you first need to understand what diabetes is, How many types of diabetes and why it occurs. And to understand diabetes, you must first understand what insulin is and its function. Let’s try to explore the details.
What is Insulin?
The relationship between insulin and diabetes is much like the relationship between heat and temperature. Insulin is a protein-based hormone secreted from the beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the human pancreas. The function of insulin is to lower glucose levels when they are higher than the body’s needs and to help supply the correct amount of glucose to the body.
To explain it better: whatever food we consume, most of it is converted into glucose (sugar). The hormone insulin transports this glucose to various cells throughout the body. In the cells, glucose is oxidized and stored as energy. We perform our daily activities using this energy. Insulin is the primary mechanism our body uses to move sugar from the blood into the cells. Therefore, insulin deserves full credit for converting sugar into usable energy. This vital hormone is produced by an organ in the body called the pancreas. Now, let’s try to understand what diabetes is.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a hormonal disease. When the amount of glucose in the blood increases, the condition is called diabetes.
In other words, there is an organ inside the body called the pancreas, one of its functions is to produce the insulin hormone. If this pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to meet the body’s demands, or if sufficient insulin is produced but it cannot function properly (i.e., it is inactive), this physical state is called diabetes.
When someone has diabetes, the secretion of the insulin hormone in their body decreases. As a result, glucose cannot reach the body’s cells effectively. This causes the amount of glucose in the blood to rise. Typically, excess glucose is expelled from the body through urine. This is why a diabetic patient experiences frequent urination. When urination is frequent, the patient suffering from diabetes becomes very thirsty.
On the other hand, due to frequent urination, a significant amount of glucose is lost from the patient’s body. Consequently, the body’s cells cannot produce the necessary energy. As a result, the patient feels weak. If the patient does not take proper measures to control diabetes, various physical complications can arise, including problems with their blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, eyes, and heart.
How Many Types of Diabetes Are There?
Scientists have primarily divided diabetes into four main types. They are:
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Gestational Diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes
In patients with Type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed, so the pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin. For this reason, insulin must be introduced into the body from an external source. Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes or children’s diabetes.
This is because Type 1 diabetes is often linked to two genes named HLADR 3 and HLADR 4. This type of diabetes is most commonly seen between the ages of 10 and 30. In short, Type 1 diabetes primarily occurs in young people due to genetic factors.
Scientists have further divided Type 1 diabetes into two subtypes: ‘Type 1A’ Diabetes and ‘Type 1B’ Diabetes. Type 1A and Type 1B diabetes are diseases that occur due to the destruction of beta cells through autoimmunity. Although the exact cause of this disease is still unknown, it is presumed to be a type of autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In this condition, the body either does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not respond properly to the insulin that is produced. This phenomenon is known as insulin resistance.
When the cells become resistant to insulin, it becomes difficult for glucose to enter the cells to be used for energy. This causes glucose (sugar) to build up in the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetes is often linked to lifestyle factors, such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle (lack of physical activity), and poor dietary habits. While it typically develops in adults, it is increasingly being diagnosed in younger individuals as well.
3. Prediabetes
(Note: The original article lists Prediabetes as type 3 but does not describe Type 2. This section follows the original article’s structure.)
In this condition, the blood glucose level rises slightly, which may not be considered medically significant by a doctor. However, if one remains careless in this state, it can later pave the way for developing Type 2 diabetes.
4. Gestational Diabetes
Sometimes, pregnant mothers are diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy, which often disappears after delivery. This type of complication is called gestational diabetes. Diabetes during pregnancy can be dangerous for the pregnant woman, the fetus, and the newborn child. To avoid danger, it must be controlled during pregnancy, using insulin if necessary. Patients with this condition should ideally deliver in a hospital. This condition occurs in women due to the secretion of placental hormones during pregnancy.
Summary
Diabetes is a disease that often cannot be completely cured. However, with proper treatment and management, we can certainly control it. In previous eras, this disease typically occurred only in adults. But nowadays, this disease is being diagnosed in people of all ages. The main reason for this shift is poor dietary habits. Diabetes can be controlled by adopting a balanced diet. Therefore, instead of worrying, try to manage it with caution. Success will surely follow.
