Type 1 diabetes
Causes, symptoms and complications
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body's immune system attacks and destroys the pancreas cells that make insulin. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter your body’s cells, and it builds up in the blood. The cells starve. The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown. Doctors think genetic and environmental factors like viruses are involved.
Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly. Common symptoms include:
Blurred vision
Extreme hunger combined with weight loss
Extreme weakness and fatigue
Frequent urination
High levels of sugar in the blood when tested
High levels of sugar in the urine when tested
In children, symptoms may be similar to those of having the flu
Irritability and mood changes
Nausea and vomiting
Unusual thirst
The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes can mirror other medical conditions. Be sure to see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Complications of Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes can cause many health problems. The most common complications include:
Ketoacidosis: Also known as a diabetic coma, this condition causes loss of consciousness from untreated or poorly managed diabetes.
Hyperglycemia: This is high blood sugar, which can be a sign that diabetes is not well controlled.
Hypoglycemia: This is low blood sugar, sometimes called an insulin reaction. This occurs when blood sugar drops too low.
Type 2 diabetes
Causes, symptoms and risks
Type 2 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin that’s available. While the cause of the condition is not known, genetics appear to play a part. Type 2 diabetes runs in families. You can inherit a tendency to develop Type 2 diabetes. Usually, you need a contributing factor like obesity to bring on the disease.
Many people with Type 2 diabetes have no symptoms. Symptoms can be mild and easy to confuse with signs of aging. The most common symptoms are similar to those for Type 1 diabetes and include:
Blurred vision
Dry, itchy skin
Extreme hunger with loss of weight
Extreme weakness and fatigue
Frequent infections that are not easily healed
Frequent urination
High levels of sugar in the blood when tested
High levels of sugar in the urine when tested
In children, symptoms may be similar to those of having the flu
Irritability and mood changes
Nausea and vomiting
Tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet
Unusual thirst
Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes
You have a higher chance of getting Type 2 diabetes if you have one or more of these risk factors:
Age (people over the age of 45 are at higher risk for diabetes)
Being overweight
Family history of diabetes
History of gestational diabetes, or giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
Lack of regular exercise
Low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), the "good" cholesterol
Race and ethnicity: African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans are at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes