Diabetes Prevention and Control
Highlights
The THREE (3) Types of Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood glucose, which is also called blood sugar, is too high. Although the blood normally has some glucose in it to supply energy, when the blood glucose gets too high, it’s not good for the person’s health. The blood glucose gets too high when one of two things happens:
Type 1 Diabetes – The body doesn’t make enough insulin to metabolize glucose, which makes energy (Metabolism is a chemical process).
Type 2 Diabetes – The body doesn’t use insulin properly although the body makes enough insulin.
Gestational Diabetes – This third major type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy, or gestation, which is how it got its name.
Following is a further description of these three types of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes, and insulin-dependent diabetes for two reasons:
- It usually starts in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood, and
- People with Type 1 diabetes have to take insulin every day since their bodies don’t make enough. Insulin is a hormone or chemical that’s made by an organ in the body called the pancreas. The pancreas then releases insulin in the blood as needed in order to help the glucose get into the body’s cells to produce energy.
The focus of treatment for Type 1 Diabetes:
- taking insulin daily
- weight control by eating wisely and staying physically active
- blood pressure control (Many people with diabetes have hypertension or high blood pressure)
- blood cholesterol control (It’s important not to let the bad cholesterol level get too high)
- following the prescribed treatment plan
- keeping medical appointments (diabetes is a chronic disease that requires ongoing care)
- for some, daily aspirin
Type 2 Diabetes, used to be called non-insulin dependent diabetes, and also adult onset diabetes
The focus of treatment for Type 2 Diabetes:
- medications for diabetes, which often involve taking oral medication. Insulin is often not required.
- weight control by eating wisely and staying physically active
- blood pressure control Many people with diabetes have hypertension or high blood pressure)
- blood cholesterol control (It’s important not to let the bad cholesterol level get too high)
- following the prescribed treatment plan
- keeping medical appointments (diabetes is a chronic disease that requires ongoing care)
- daily aspirin, for most