Type 1 Vs Type 2 Diabetes: Whats The Difference
Type 2 diabetes is not the same as Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesnt make any insulin. In Type 2, your pancreas doesnt make enough insulin, and the insulin it is making doesnt always work as it should. Both types are forms of diabetes mellitus, meaning they lead to hyperglycemia .
Type 2 diabetes usually affects older adults, though its becoming more common in children. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but people of any age can get it.
What Does Undiagnosed Diabetes Feel Like
I remember feeling really tired and sleepy, but I didnt think anything of it as I was trying to juggle work and caring for my three children. When I got diagnosed, it made me think about my mum and her health. I thought she might have had diabetes too. She always used to feel tired and she had a boil on her leg that never seemed to heal. Read Saritas story in full.
Type 2 Diabetes In Older Adults
Your risk of type 2 diabetes goes up as you age because your body can become resistant to insulin and your pancreas might not work as well as it used to.
Diabetes is more likely to cause complications in people 65 and older, especially heart attacks, eye problems, loss of a leg , and kidney disease.
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What Does Skinny Fat Mean
Skinny on the outside doesnt always mean skinny on the inside. Commonly called dad bod or mom bod,skinny fat refers to someone with a normal BMI and weight but low muscle mass. Skinny fat people tend to have a type of fat called visceral fat. Visceral fat grows around your organs instead of under your skin, so it isnt visible.
If you have visceral fat, you may not look overweight, but you may have as much fat as someone who looks heavier.
The medical term for skinny fat is MONW, which stands for metabolically obese, normal weight, says Kosak. People who are MONW may look healthy but are at risk for conditions like diabetes.
How A Thin Person With Diabetes Reversed Her Type 2 Diabetes
Fasting to reverse type 2 diabetes
I received a letter from reader Sarah, who has successfully used low-carbohydrate high-fat diets and intermittent fasting to reverse her type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, she is not particularly overweight as measured by body mass index, yet still suffered from T2D. At her heaviest, she only had a BMI of 24.9, which puts her in the normal range. She writes:
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What Are The Signs Of Type 2 Diabetes
Some signs of type 2 diabetes can be subtle, because the condition tends to develop slowly over time compared to type 1 diabetes, per the NIDDK. In fact, it may take several years for symptoms to pop up, so you may not realize you have the disease until it causes certain complications, like heart issues or blurry vision.
While having just one on this list isnt a surefire indicator of the condition, pay attention to whether youre experiencing several of these, Hien Tran, M.D., an endocrinologist with Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology, tells SELF. Simply having a dry mouth on its own may not be enough to prompt a doctors appointment, for example, but if that sign is paired with other symptoms on this list and you also have any of the risk factors mentioned above, it may be worth getting checked out.
Now, here are the type 2 diabetes symptoms to keep on your radar:
Having too much sugar in the blood is tough on the kidneys since those organs are responsible for processing that excess glucose, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result, they work overtime to eliminate it from the body. As your body loses fluids, you may feel the signs of dehydration creeping in. So, you drink more fluids to make up for it, and the cycle of constantly peeing continues. Thats why frequent urination and increased thirst tend to be the two most common type 2 diabetes symptoms, particularly in the early stages.
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Signs That May Indicate You Are At Risk For Diabetes
**This article is a repost of an earlier written article. We are reposting because we believe the information is valuable and pertinent to many.**
According to the CDC, over 9% of Americans are living with diabetes. This illness is becoming increasingly common, with 1.5 million Americans being diagnosed with diabetes every year.
There are some serious complications that can come with having high blood sugar such as heart failure and stroke. However, diabetes can be managed with prescription medication, diet, and exercise to help you live a normal, healthy life.
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Diabetes Causes Four Classic Signs
If left untreated, diabetes mellitus causes high blood sugar. Severe high blood sugar causes four basic symptoms.
Peeing a lot
The excess sugar leaks out through your kidneys. It takes a lot of water with it.
Drinking a lot
Because you lose so much water through your kidneys, you get very thirsty.
Weight loss
The sugar that you lose through your kidneys represents calories
A fruity smell
In severe cases, the body produces ketones, including acetone. They cause the breath and body to smell like fruit.
Diabetes is not just one disease
Diabetes mellitus is a general term that covers several different diseases. Each type of diabetes is a separate disease, with a different cause and different treatments. But they all have one thing in common. If left untreated, they cause high blood sugar
If you have thin diabetes it means that your pancreas is missing or is so badly damaged that it cannot make enough insulin to keep you alive. Type 1 diabetes is typically the results of an autoimmune disease: the pancreas is being destroyed by the bodys own antibodies. This problem could be triggered by a reaction to a cows milk protein that looks a lot like a protein in the pancreas.
LADA is actually a form of type 1 diabetes. However, the destruction of the pancreas is happening so gradually that the patient is often given a misdiagnosis of type 2 diabetes at first.
Will I Need Medication Or Insulin For Type 2 Diabetes
Some people take medication to manage diabetes, along with diet and exercise. Your healthcare provider may recommend oral diabetes medications. These are pills or liquids that you take by mouth. For example, a medicine called metformin helps control the amount of glucose your liver produces.
You can also take insulin to help your body use sugar more efficiently. Insulin comes in the following forms:
- Injectable insulin is a shot you give yourself. Most people inject insulin into a fleshy part of their body such as their belly. Injectable insulin is available in a vial or an insulin pen.
- Inhaled insulin is inhaled through your mouth. It is only available in a rapid-acting form.
- Insulin pumps deliver insulin continuously, similar to how a healthy pancreas would. Pumps release insulin into your body through a tiny cannula . Pumps connect to a computerized device that lets you control the dose and frequency of insulin.
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Lean Diabetes Mellitus: An Emerging Entity In The Era Of Obesity
Correspondence to: Leon Fogelfeld, MD, Head Division of Endocrinology, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Professor of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, 1901 W Harrison Street, W.Polk , Chicago, IL 60612, United States.
Telephone: +1-312-8640539 Fax: +1-312-8649734
The Occurrence Of Lean Diabetes
Studies have shown that lean diabetes occurs more in people from developing or third-world countries. In other places, it also shows a higher risk among those belonging to the minority communities. Within this group, it has been observed that males are more likely to develop lean diabetes. Some of the most important factors that contribute to the onset of lean diabetes are behavioural, auto-immune and genetic factors. It is common to find a history of low socio-economic status and malnutrition along with early onset of diabetes and the absence of ketosis on withdrawal of insulin in such patients.2
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Tingling Numbness Or Pain In The Hands Or Feet
High blood sugar levels can affect blood circulation and damage the bodys nerves. In people with type 2 diabetes, this can lead to pain or a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
This condition is known as neuropathy, and it can worsen over time and lead to more serious complications if a person does not get treatment for their diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes In Children
Type 2 was once called adult-onset diabetes because it was rare in children and teens. But it has become more common since the mid-1990s, in large part because more young people are overweight or obese, a risk factor for the disease.
Children are also at higher risk of type 2 diabetes if they donât get enough exercise or if they have a close relative with the condition. African American, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Asian American, and Pacific Islander children are more likely to get it.
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If You Ignore The Signs Of Diabetes
Its hard to ignore the signs of type 1 diabetes because symptoms can often appear quite quickly. But leaving it untreated can lead to serious health problems, including diabetic ketoacidosis, which can result in a potentially fatal coma.
Although the majority of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood, the symptoms are the same at any age. Adults with type 1 diabetes may not recognise their diabetes symptoms as quickly as children, which could mean their diagnosis and treatment may be delayed.
Type 2 diabetes can be easier to miss as it develops more slowly, especially in the early stages when it can be harder to spot the symptoms. But untreated diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Being diagnosed early and managing your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications. Use our Know Your Risk tool to check your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Getting diagnosed and the right treatment are vital, and can reduce the chances of developing serious complications.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it’s still really important to see a healthcare professional if you notice any of these signs. They will be able to do a blood test to find out if you have diabetes.
Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes symptoms often take several years to develop. Some people dont notice any symptoms at all. Type 2 diabetes usually starts when youre an adult, though more and more children and teens are developing it. Because symptoms are hard to spot, its important to know the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Make sure to visit your doctor if you have any of them.
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Is Further Weight Loss Recommended In Lean Diabetics
Weight loss is recommended for all overweight or obese diabetics. Studies such as the diabetes prevention program outcome study and Look AHEAD have primarily focused on weight management in overweight and obese individuals. Could such recommendation be also effective in lean diabetics Some concerns may be raised that additional weight loss could worsen both bone loss and decrease further the lean body mass contributing further to sarcopenic obesity. In the Chicago study, it appeared that leaner individuals had worse beta cell failure. One can then postulate that lean diabetics is a special variant of type II diabetes whereby the failing beta cell cannot even cope with the small amount of insulin resistance that lean body weight confers. Could then achievement of a lower body weight or lower adiposity in these patients prevent diabetes Currently there is no answer to this intriguing hypothesis .
Understanding Your Risk Factors
Besides visceral fat, some other causes of diabetes in thin people are:
Diet.You are what you eat. While it may sound silly, theres truth to this adage. Your diet is an important factor in your risk for diabetes. Diets high in sugar and unhealthy fats can increase your risk of developing diabetes, says Kosak.
Sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for long periods can change your metabolism. And it can lead to insulin resistance, a contributing factor to diabetes.
Prediabetes. Having higher than normal blood sugar levels causes this condition. Left untreated, it can develop into Type 2 diabetes.
Stress. When we feel stressed, our body releases a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol triggers our fight-or-flight response.
As part of the fight-or-flight response, cortisol raises your blood sugar level, explains Kosak. That can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance and diabetes.
Fatty liver disease. Having a condition known as fatty liver disease puts you at risk of developing diabetes. There are two types of fatty liver disease. The primary type is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The other type, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease , is caused by a buildup of fat in the liver.
If you have fatty liver disease, talk to your healthcare provider. They can work with you to develop a plan to lower your risk of developing diabetes.
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Know The Signs Of Diabetes And What You Can Do To Lower Your Risk
Medically reviewed in August 2021
You probably know that diabetes is a big health problem in the United States. More than 37 million Americansnearly 1 in 10 peoplehave diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And we have all heard the description of a stereotypical patient with type 2 diabetes: They are overweight or obese and sedentary.
But you may be surprised to learn that people who are slender and active can also develop type 2 diabetes, and the symptoms for the majority of those affected can be subtle.
Where body fat resides matters Interestingly, the risk for diabetes is more about the fat you have inside your body than what is visible. What Im talking about is visceral fat, the fat surrounding your organs.
There is a condition known as Thin Outside, Fat Inside, or TOFI for short. These are people who look trim but have visceral fat, which can lead to inflammation and possibly diabetes.
While normal weight men can certainly develop diabetes, the typical TOFI folks are women who watch their calorie intake to keep their weight down, but they dont eat quality calories.
As an example, skipping breakfast, eating a small bag of potato chips for lunch, pasta for dinner and salad with regular dressing, and drinking diet soda all day may be the kind of diet the aforementioned people might eat. You probably wont gain weight on this diet, but you will likely increase your internal fat.
Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In Adults
When an adult is diagnosed with diabetes, they are often mistakenly told that they have type 2 diabetes. This is because there may be a lack of understanding by some doctors that type 1 diabetes can start at any age, and in people of every race, shape and size. People with type 1 diabetes who have elevated blood glucose and classic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight or physically inactive, are often misdiagnosed. It can also be tricky because some adults with new-onset type 1 diabetes are not sick at first. Their doctor finds an elevated blood sugar level at a routine visit and starts them on diet, exercise and an oral medication.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetes
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes often occur suddenly and can be severe. They include:
- Increased thirst
Pregnancy makes most women have to urinate more often and feel hungrier, so these symptoms donââ¬â¢t always mean you have gestational diabetes. But it is important to get tested, because high blood sugar can cause problems for both you and your baby.Ã
Early Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes
1. Frequent urination
When your blood sugar is high, your kidneys expel the excess blood sugar, causing you to urinate more frequently. One of the early warning signs of diabetes is frequent urination that is urgent enough to wake you up to go to the bathroom during sleep.
2. Increased thirst
While your kidneys are working overtime and youre urinating more frequently, valuable fluids will be pulled from your tissues. Frequent urination will make you feel constantly thirsty.
3. Fatigue
When your blood sugar is high, your body works hard to get rid of the excess sugar. Not only does this process take a toll on your body, but it also alters the way that your body uses glucose for energy. Excessively high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, has fatiguing effects among other symptoms. Additionally, the dehydration that accompanies more frequent urination is a common cause of fatigue in diabetics.
4. Blurred vision
High blood sugar can cause damage to the small blood vessels of the eye, resulting in a swollen lens that can cause blurred vision. As blood sugar levels rise and lower, your vision may return to normal or worsen, respectively.
5. Increased hunger
When you have high blood sugar, your body is actively looking to get rid of it. Because your body expels so much of the glucose you’re getting from your food, you may have increased feelings of hunger.
6. Unexplained weight loss
7. Slow healing cuts and wounds
8. Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
9. Skin discoloration
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Healthy Habits Now Benefit You Later
With a few minor changes, its easy to reduce your diabetes risk. Not sure where to start? Consider these:
- Eat a balanced diet. To feel your best, eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, low-fat dairy, whole grains and lean meats or plant-based protein.
- Get moving. Theres hope for couch potatoes everywhere. Being active helps reduce your risk of diabetes. Another bonus? You may even shed a few pounds. How much activity do you need? Aim for 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Think brisk walking, swimming or lifting weights.
- Reduce your stress levels. No one likes feeling stressed out. Besides feeling good, managing stress is good for you. For less stress, start small. Focus on getting more exercise, better rest, staying connected to the people you love and getting a few laughs.
- Get enough rest. Its important to take time for yourself and make sure youre getting enough quality sleep. A short afternoon nap or going to bed a few minutes earlier can give you the restful sleep your body needs.
Having trouble making changes? Enlist your healthcare providers help. They can recommend resources to help you live your healthiest life.