by TD Small

Created on: March 08, 2009   Last Updated: March 30, 2009

Diabetes affects approximately 20.8 million adults and children in the U.S. and in the year 2000 it was estimated that 171 million people worldwide were afflicted with this chronic disease. Diabetes is a well known health problem, yet many people are not very knowledgeable about this disease.

There are two main types of diabetes that affect adults: Type 1 and Type 2

TYPE 1 DIABETES- INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES

Type 1 also known as insulin dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own healthy beta cells. Beta cells are found in the pancreas and are the only cells in the human body that produce insulin. Half of the patients are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes before they reach the age of 20, but Type 1 diabetes can develop in patients after the age of 30. It affects both men and women and occurs in people of normal weight or who are thin.

SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES

The onset of Type 1 diabetes symptoms occurs quickly often with no known family history of the disease. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by blood sugar levels that are hard to manage with large swings between high and low and is very sensitive to small changes in diet, exercise, and insulin doses. Symptoms to watch for are frequent urination, excessive thirst and dry mouth, weight loss, and possibly increased hunger. Patients with Type 1 diabetes have to administer insulin to survive.

TYPE 2-ADULT ONSET DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body doesn't use the energy in food correctly. When the pancreas produces insulin the body's cells no longer respond to it. As the body becomes insulin resistant, the pancreas may stop making insulin or not produce enough. It is often diagnosed in people over 40 who are overweight. Type 2 diabetics experience fewer variations in blood sugar level and their blood sugar level is easier to control than inType 1.

SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are frequent night trips to the bathroom, excessive thirst, blurred vision, recurring infections that are slow to heal, weakness and fatigue with no known cause. Type 2 diabetes slowly develops over years and has been linked to not only hereditary factors but also lack of exercise, high sugar intake, and a high saturated fat diet.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Blood tests are needed to diagnose diabetes. Random blood sugar tests, fasting blood glucose tests, or oral glucose tolerance tests are commonly used to make the diagnosis. The random blood sugar test

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