What causes diabetes?
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Each presents different symptoms and has various causes.
Type 1 diabetes is usually present at birth or develops in childhood or early adolescence. It is an autoimmune condition, and it may have a genetic component.
Type 2 diabetes tends to develop in adulthood but can also be present in children. Chronic fluctuations in blood sugar or consistently high blood sugar cause this form of diabetes.
Both forms of diabetes are characterized by the body’s inability to manage glucose properly. This compromises the insulin response, which normally helps to regulate how sugar is used in your cells.
While type 1 diabetes is incurable, people with type 2 diabetes can recover if they address the cause of their blood sugar fluctuations with proper dietary and lifestyle strategies.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Diabetes can be complicated to diagnose, as symptoms can vary from one individual to the next. In fact, most people with diabetes don't know they have it
Some common symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:
- Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- A frequent need to urinate, especially at night
- Skin problems or wounds that are slow to heal
- Blurry vision or eye problems
- Frequent, extreme thirst
- Carbohydrate cravings
- Inability to heal quickly from illnesses
- Crushing fatigue
- Menstrual irregularities in women
Your symptoms may also vary depending on the state of your blood sugar.
What are diabetes treatment options?
People with type 1 diabetes must continually manage their blood sugar, usually with insulin. If you have type 2 diabetes, you might take other types of medication that help improve the insulin response.
For both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, diet is a critical factor in managing symptoms and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. A core focus of nutritional therapy for diabetics is to reduce carbohydrate consumption and maintain stable blood sugar by consuming plenty of protein and healthy fats.
Other methods that your physician might recommend include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Committing to a safe and effective exercise routine
- Managing stress
- Learning to monitor your glucose levels and symptoms to avoid extreme highs or lows in blood sugar
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