Lots of individuals who don’t have diabetes don’t know that there is more than one form of the condition or even what the differences might be. These days, though, with diabetes on the rise across the country, it’s important that people be aware that there is diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2. Here’s a look at the differences between the two, and what sort of diabetes treatment program you’ll need to follow.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 used to be called adult onset or non insulin dependent diabetes. It’s the most common form of diabetes. The condition is quite different from type 1 because your system is still producing insulin. Rather, what happens is that the body develops problems with properly metabolizing sugar, also called glucose, in the bloodstream. Your cells stop responding to insulin even when it’s present in the system. Other circumstances add to the problem, such as less insulin glucose being transported to the muscles, a rise in production of hepatic glucose, and even improper functioning of the beta cells.
The signs of diabetes mellitus type 2 are easy to miss, which means that in many people it goes unnoticed for a long time. However, that doesn’t mean that similar long term effects won’t take place. Blindness, renal failure, and coronary artery disease are all linked to type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus type 2, unlike type 1 diabetes, typically doesn’t require the use of insulin injections to control the disease. It’s categorized as a chronic disease and there are two objectives when it comes to diabetes treatment: maintaining quality of life for the patient, and reducing the mortality rate. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is considered to be a progressive condition since poor management of blood glucose levels can lead to other problems.
The best way to prevent the condition is to eat properly and exercise regularly.
Doctors will usually recommend lifestyle changes as a first step when treating a patient with diabetes mellitus type 2. For example, a diabetic diet plan should be followed to help stabilize blood sugar, and regular exercise should be taken up. Dietary changes include lowering your food intake or changing the kinds of food that you eat. In many instances, these lifestyle alterations are sufficient to control the problem.
Managing diabetes mellitus type 2 also means that you have to monitor your blood glucose levels. This is performed using a meter that tests a small drop of blood for blood sugar.
When it comes to diabetes mellitus type 2, it’s essential to learn as much as you can about the condition, both in order to prevent it as well as to treat it if you are suffering from the condition.