Many people know that there are two types of diabetes, but not everyone is aware of the differences. Glucose levels can become too high in type 1 and type 2 diabetes due to the body’s failure to supply insulin or improper insulin usage. However, the problem is essentially the same in both types, with different origins and treatments.
Type 1 Diabetes
The contrast between the two types of diabetes is that type 1 is a congenital issue that manifests almost immediately in everyday life. In contrast, type 2 is mainly diet-related and manifests itself over time. If you have diabetes type 1 then your immune system is attacking and obliterating the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. The good news is that current medications allow people with type 1 diabetes to learn how to manage the disease’s effects while maintaining a moderately “ordinary” lifestyle.
There are a few steps to tackle type 1 diabetes:
- Check your glucose levels. Living with diabetes necessitates familiarising yourself with steady glucose levels and checking them regularly. Depending on your medical care provider’s specific proposal, you may need to review it four to numerous times every day. To quantify glucose levels in a pin-prick of blood on a dispensable test strip, you’ll need a little glucose meter called a glucometer. The other option is to use a continuous glucose monitor, which regularly monitors your glucose levels using a sensor inserted under the skin.
- Take insulin, for example. You’ll have to find another means to acquire it because your body can’t deliver it all by itself. Regular infusions or a wearable insulin siphon, which provides minor, constant quantities of adequate insulin throughout the day through a small cylinder, are two methods for administering insulin. Although it is not the healthiest way of life, it is frequently natural for type 1 diabetes.
- Maintain a healthy dietary routine. You don’t have to be very strict, but starches are the food sources you’ll want to keep an eye on, attempting to eat them consistently while not overdoing them. If you’re using insulin, it’s critical to maintain a consistent sugar intake to stay on track.
- Exercise. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is always important, but for those with type 1 diabetes, it can help keep blood sugar levels under check and cause your body to use insulin more effectively.
Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes
You’ll need to complete a series of blood tests to diagnose type 1 diabetes, one of which is an A1C screening. A1C screenings evaluate type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and prediabetes by measuring your glucose levels over several months. Through our home tests, Life Line Screening also provides an A1C screening from the comfort of your own home.
It’s the right time to visit the doctor:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Coma
The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes frequently follows the discovery of DKA. Another issue is low glucose, often known as hypoglycaemia, which can occur due to taking too much insulin. Hypoglycaemia requires rapid therapy to restore glucose levels by eating high-sugar foods, drinking juice or regular sodas, eating sweets, or taking glucose tablets or gel. If the blood glucose levels drop low, you may notice the following signs and symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Shakiness
- An irregular or fast heartbeat
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Hunger
- Irritability
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is common than type 1, and lifestyle choices frequently cause it. When you have type 2 diabetes, the body produces a small amount of insulin, but it isn’t enough to keep you alive. The pancreas is oblivious to the high glucose levels that result from a poor diet and lack of physical activity. Some people with type 2 diabetes have “insulin resistance,” which means their pancreas makes insulin, but their bodies don’t remember it.
Type 2 diabetes risk factors:
If your diet has high carbs and fat but low fibre, your chances of developing type 2 diabetes are more elevated if you’re not physically active and have hypertension. Increased alcohol use and advanced age are both risk factors. Although personality traits play a role in developing type 2 diabetes, they can be avoided with the correct lifestyle choices, unlike type 1.
How to treat type 2 diabetes:
Unlike people having type 1 diabetes, those with type 2 diabetes don’t always need to take insulin because their bodies manufacture a small amount of it. Medications such as Metformin are available to assist lower glucose levels, but the following are the basic approaches to treat type 2 diabetes:
- A balanced diet. The first and most important step in managing type 2 diabetes is eating whole grains, lean proteins and avoid consuming more than a few high-fat, high-sugar foods.
- Exercise. It’s also crucial to stay active. There are so many different ways to work out. Try a variety of activities to discover an activity you enjoy and include it into your weekly regimen.
- Loss of weight. If you work on improving your diet and exercising, this could be a result. Getting in shape is less about the number on the scale and more about taking care of your body and reducing the pressure on your pancreas.
- Checking blood glucose levels. Checking your glucose levels regularly will become a part of your daily routine. Keep track of how your classes progress throughout the day, adjust your meals, and exercise accordingly. You’ll eventually figure out the schedule and balance that works best for you.
Prevention
Blood tests to determine the likelihood of type 1 diabetes aren’t done regularly or recommended by specialists because type 1 diabetes is thought to be genetic. When adverse effects do occur, blood testing is required to conclude. An A1C test, as previously mentioned, determines glucose levels from the previous few months and is commonly used to diagnose type 1, type 2, and prediabetes.
Surprisingly, there are a variety of techniques to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. It’s essential if you come from a family with a history of diabetes. You can reduce your risk by:
- Exercise and weight management
- Healthy diet
- Maintain average blood pressure
- Maintain low alcohol consumption
- Quit smoking
- Increase your fibre intake
Prediabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose level is more significant than usual but not high enough as type 2 diabetes. The causes, symptoms, and precautions are all as old as two, but people under 45 are at significantly lower risk. If you experience the symptoms of diabetes or prediabetes, you should get tested right away. Set a date for an A1C test to begin.
Conclusion
Type 1 diabetes is a congenital condition that usually manifests itself early in childhood, whereas type 2 diabetes develops over time, mainly due to food. In both circumstances, your body does not produce enough insulin to direct your glucose, although for different reasons correctly. If you have symptoms, you can be tested for diabetes using an A1C test, which calculates your glucose over the previous 2-3 months.