Of all the ailments associated with glucose metabolism, diabetes is the most common and the most significant. More than 34 million people in the US have diabetes, and only about 7.3 million adults are aware that they have diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease condition where an individual has consistently elevated serum glucose levels over a period. After fasting, the normal glucose concentration for regular persons is often below 100mg/dl. The person could have diabetes if their glucose levels are constantly above 125mg/dl after fasting.

Impaired insulin production is the cause of diabetes. The pancreas produces insulin, which increases the usage of serum glucose by the body cells. If insulin production is insufficient or the cells are not responding to it, the glucose stays trapped in the blood. Hence, the diabetes tests will reveal elevated glucose concentrations.

Several factors could cause impairments in insulin production. These factors are the basis for classifying diabetes. According to studies, there are two common types of diabetes; they are:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes

All types of diabetes have similar symptoms but varying risk factors and management procedures. Some of the symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst and sometimes appetite
• Dizziness and weakness
• Blurry vision
• Slow-healing wounds
• Numbness in the hands and feet
• Increased, unexplained weight loss

1. Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a form of diabetes where elevated glucose levels are caused by insufficient or no insulin production. The pancreas is attacked and destroyed by immune cells, which fail to recognize it as a part of the body. As a result, there is little or no insulin production in the individual.

Type 1 diabetes is common among younger people, often those below 18. However, it could develop at any age. This is why people refer to it as juvenile diabetes.

The several risk factors include:

• Previous viral infections
• Family history
• Autoantibodies in your bloodstream
• Stress from surgery
• Injury to the pancreas, like tumors or accidents

In type 1 diabetes, the symptoms could develop in a short while. Since the problem lies with the amount of insulin produced, people with type 1 diabetes take insulin shots frequently to compensate for the insufficiency.

2. Type 2 diabetes

Type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. It affects over 90% of diabetic patients in the world.

Here, the pancreas produces insulin, but in this case, it is either insufficient or the body cells are not sensitive. Consequently, the serum analysis shows the presence of insulin and elevated glucose concentrations.

The cells are often not responsive to insulin because of fatty tissues. This is why overweight and obese individuals are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include:

• Age, especially those above 45 years
• High cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• Inactivity
• Family history
• Previous experience of stroke, heart diseases, or gestational diabetes.
• Smoking

Managing type 2 diabetes often depends on changing the individual’s habits. Such changes include:

• Maintaining proper diets for the condition. An example is a Mediterranean diet consisting of proteins, fiber, vitamins, and essential oils.
• Being more active physically by exercising often.
• Checking your glucose levels frequently to monitor changes.

Such patients could also take insulin shots and medications. Such medications will improve the situation by:

• Slowing down the release of glucose by the liver.
• Reducing carbohydrate metabolism in the stomach allows the intestinal walls to pick up glucose easily when the pancreas releases insulin.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major deadly diseases in the world now. It is quite easy to manage if the symptoms are recognized early enough, as it has a lot to do with lifestyle and diets. This article contains some of the types and tips for managing them.