The Complications in having Type I Diabetes or Type II Diabetes

The long term effects of not properly managing your diabetes on your body and internal organs can be very damaging. The different problems range from site and heart complications and server cases can even cause premature death.

The leading cause of deaths for diabetics is heart disease. The leading way to prevent heart damage is to follow a diabetic meal plan and work in some form of physical activities each and every day. One way to decrease your chances of developing any heart problems later in life is to give up smoking. A diet that is low in saturated fats will also help promote good heart health and a normal blood pressure too.

You have to get your blood sugar levels controlled or it could lead to serious eye site problems including blindness. High blood sugar or glucose in your systems will make small veins in your eyes will start to bleed. Its a good idea to get a regular check up with a ophthalmologist to look for any trace of damage is highly recommended at least once per year. If you want to prevent this keep your blood sugars under control.

One of the most common side effects of diabetics who let their blood sugars go out of control is kidney failure most common in diabetics who do not keep control of their blood sugars for a extended periods of time. If the kidneys fail they are no longer able to get the blood clean. If kidney failure occurs the only two options for treatment are dialysis. Being hooked up to a machine that will clean your blood or even worst a kidney transplant.

People that are diabetic should take extra care of their gums and teeth because they become more susceptible to gingivitis and other gum related disease. A six month check up at the dentist and regular brushing and flossing should be routine and will help prevent this disease and the potential of the loss of your teeth.

With proper management of your diabetes you can lesson and even avoid all these complications of being diabetic. If you follow the guidelines that are set up by your doctor and by checking your blood sugars daily you can lead a long and healthy life with diabetes.

In the beginning of type 1 diabetes it is fast and once it gets diagnosed there are no doubts about it - you do have diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, with close checking of people who are at high risk it is easy to diagnose a condition known as pre-diabetic. What this means is the person's blood sugars are higher than they should be but are not considered high enough to warrant a reading of diabetes.

When a person is diagnosed with pre-diabetes there is no set period of time that they have until they are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. With careful monitoring, a healthy diet plan and physical exercise the onset of diabetes can be delayed for months, years, or even forever. This is a good idea for everybody not just people diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

Once a doctor determines that you are pre-diabetic an annual or semi annual blood test will be ordered to ensure blood sugar levels are remaining at a healthy level. The doctor will most likely request that a monitor is purchased and blood sugars are monitored on a semi-regular basis at home too. Diabetics need to test daily.

There are many risk factors that are associated with pre-diabetes. They include:

1. Being overweight or obese
2. Little or No physical activity
3. Having had gestational diabetes
4. If you are over the age of 45
5. If members of your family have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

Having some of these risk factors makes it more likely you will be diagnosed but it does not mean it will happen. If you know that you are at risk, then take your health into your own hands and work to create a healthier lifestyle so you can prevent pre-diabetes and the onset of type 2 diabetes. If you have question on how to do this, speak with your doctor for suggestions. He or she will probably recommend starting an easy exercise routine to get you active and help you lose weight. Some hospitals offer education in helping you with your diet and exercise programs.

There are many differences between type 1 and type II diabetes - mostly how and why a person gets the diabetes disease. But there are also some similarities. What they include and how the disease is treated and diabetic diets that should be followed.

Once diabetes is diagnosed it is no longer really a matter of why but how to manage it. Its Whether it is type 1 diabetes and enough insulin is not being produced or it is type 2 diabetes and the insulin that is being produced is not being using the right solution is to provide more insulin to the body.

This is most commonly done with an insulin injection
in the morning or spaced out over the course of the day with multiple injections to the stomach. That will be determined on the individual and their insulin needs - not which type of diabetes they have.

It used to be that type 1 diabetes was found in children or young adults under the age of 25 and type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in adults over the age of 40. But there have been many cases to the contrary proving that anyone may be at risk of being diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes - adults have been diagnosed with type 1 and young child have been found to have type 2 diabetes. Make sure you get check regularly.

The management of either type of diabetes is also dependent on a healthy diet and regular exercise. By maintaining a healthy body weight and keeping active a person can reduce their insulin requirements and keep their blood sugars in a safe range (set by their doctor). Despite the different reasons for having diabetes, the two types are very similar in other ways and the treatment plan that works does so for both. Another common trait they share is the complications that can arise to internal organs (especially the kidneys). Not easy to follow these routines of exercise and diabetic diets.

Where type 1 diabetics does not produce enough insulin for their bodies, type 2 diabetics produce the insulin but their bodies do not make proper use of the insulin. Type 2 diabetes has been traced to lifestyle decisions as a large number of people who are diagnosed reconsidered overweight or being obese. The extra weight that a person carries around can make it hard for there bodies to process insulin the right way.

Some additional risk factors for being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes include a family connections (a first or second generation family member) and also race. Even with these risk factors present a person can prevent out or put-off a diagnosis off type 2 diabetes by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and plenty of physical activity. I find walking a least 30 minutes a day is a good start.

Type 2 diabetes has in the past been diagnosed in patients over the age of 40 but in last few years people of all ages have been diagnosed with this disease diabetes. There is an alarming number of young children who are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are also obese.

People who have not yet been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may exhibit some of these symptoms: Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and skin infections. Moodiness and irritability may also be a symptom of diabetes but is usually not one that precipitates a trip to the doctor and is later explained by high or low blood sugar levels. Other warning signs for type 2 diabetes are the same as type 1 diabetes such as an increased need to urinate, a desire to drink more and a feel of lethargy or constant tiredness. My mouth was alway dry when I did not have enough to drink. I try to drink 8-10 glasses of water everyday.

Type 2 diabetics have a range of options for treatment depending on personal preference and their individual needs in contrast to type 1 diabetics whose only option is to go on insulin injections or an insulin pump. Diet and exercise is the key.

With type 1 diabetes a person's pancreas is not able to make enough insulin for the body to function properly or the right way. Type 1 diabetes is known as an autoimmune disease - the body's cells attack the cells in the pancreas that makes insulin either destroying them entirely or enough of them that there isn't enough insulin for your body.

The people who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are often shocked because it is not linked to lifestyle or a having healthy body weight. As of now, there still is no exact reason that researchers have found what causes a person to develop type 2 diabetes. Although there are risk factors that can increase the chances of someone being diagnosed.

Another name for type 1 diabetes is juvenile diabetes. The reason for this is because the majority of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are under the age of 25. Just like my best friend who was 22 when he was diagnosed. There have been reported cases of patients being diagnosed with the disease much older but those are exceptions. There may be a genetic link that causes people to become insulin dependent, but the exact link has yet to be discovered.

People with type 1 will have to take insulin for the rest of their lives. The amount of insulin they take may vary with their diet and weight through the years. Type 1 diabetics need to carefully monitor their urine for Ketones every morning as they are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetic Ketoacidosis - a very serious condition. This is your body's way of telling you it is not getting enough fuel or energy and is using fat cells as energy instead of the food that is being consumed.

The number of people with type 1 diabetes is pretty small compared to the number of people who are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The numbers for type 2 diabetes continue to grow with the obesity rates. That's why diet and exercise are important.

In addition to taking the initial tests that will be taken when you are first diagnosed with diabetes there will be a lot more that are administered at different times and intervals to make sure you are staying healthy. Some of these tests you will do our self at home daily while others will be done during annual or semi-annual trips check-ups at with your doctor.

The test you are going to perform most often is testing your blood sugar levels. This is done at home using a glucose monitor. Depending on how new the disease is to you and how well controlled your blood sugars are you may be testing once per day up to seven times per day. If you are testing first thing in the morning only, it is a good idea to test seven times a day at least once per week to monitor your blood sugar levels before and after each meal and before going to bed. Not an easy task.

Testing for ketones in your urine is another daily test that you will do at home. This is done once per day in the morning after fasting through the night. The presence of ketones in your urine can signify that you are not eating enough food or that you body is not processing it properly. A another test should be done in the evening if you find ketones in the morning. If they are still present at the second test, a call into the doctor is warranted to prevent the onset of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Your doctor will order a blood test called a Hemoglobin A1C at least once or twice per year. This test looks at the average blood sugars that have been in your system for the previous 3 months. It will give a good overall picture on how well you are managing your diabetes. I know you do like test but very necessary when you are a diabetic.

Smoking on its own is related with many different diseases and can be a high risk factor for multiple types of cancer. But in a person with diabetes or a pre-diabetic there are specific risks that arise. There are some differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and smoking hazards that you need to be aware of.

In type 1 diabetes, smoking is not a risk factor for being diagnoses because people with this type of diabetes were born with the genetic make-up to get the disease. But smoking can exacerbate the complications associated with poorly controlled or monitored diabetes. An increased risk of heart disease and cardiovascular problems is seen in diabetic smokers. In type 1 diabetics people who smoke the risk for kidney disease or kidney failure is increased.

In pre-diabetics or people who may be at higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes smoking is a contributing factor to a diagnosis. Smoking increases the likelihood that their body will develop an insulin resistance and need insulin injections or medication in the future.

There are not many studies that have been conducted on the benefits of quitting smoking if you are a diabetic. But it does stand to reason that because smoking and diabetes both increase the chances of heart disease that by quitting smoking you will improve your health and the state of your diabetes.

If you are having trouble quitting on your own or want more information on the benefits of stopping smoking, make an appointment with your doctor. There are many aids that are available as well as support your can utilize to help you in the process. There are nicotine patches and gum or you can try medication or hypnosis. It is a hard thing to do but you will reap many benefits both financially and in terms of your overall health and life expectancy. Smoking is not good no matter how you look at it.