Symptoms

Diabetes is quite threatening because its symptoms are hardly noticeable during the incubation period. The early symptoms of untreated illness are connected with high blood sugar levels, and deficit of glucose in the urine. For the type 1 diabetes it can be fatigue, sick feeling, which can be considered as the result of the common stress or flue. Weight loss, slow skin healing, eyes problems may be associated with many other illnesses. Scientists have determined that among the classic symptoms of diabetes mellitus are thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and hunger. Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetes symptoms cannot usually be seen until the occurrence of heart attack, blindness, or nerve problems. In type 2 diabetes same symptoms are observed along with pain, dry, itchy skin, skin infections (Mathur 2008).

Types of Diabetes

Scientists distinguish three types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), and gestational diabetes mellitus. Each of these types is characterized by special disease flow, dependence or independence on insulin injections, risk factors and treatment.

Type 1 diabetes is developed when the body’s immune system ruins the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As these cells are responsible for producing insulin, their destruction affects normal blood sugars level. Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes must do insulin injections in order to survive on the daily basis. Though this type of illness may happen at any age, children and teenagers suffer from it mostly. There is no way to prevent this decease now (National Diabetic Statistics 2008).

Type 2 diabetes occurs due to insulin resistance or reduced insulin recognition. It is also accompanied by bad insulin secretion. 90 to 95 percent of adults are recognized to have this type of decease. It often begins with inability of cells to use insulin properly and, thus, results in lose of pancreas ability to produce it. Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetes is observed in older population mostly and can be detected very rarely among young residents of the United States (National Diabetic Statistics 2008).

Gestational diabetes also involves a sequence of inappropriate insulin secretion and receptiveness. It is usually observed among women, during pregnancies and among older generation. According to the research conducted by US scientists in 2008 that 25 % of American women already enter pregnancy with preexisting decease. This number has skyrocketed during the last 5 years. Data shows that there is an enlarged risk of complications connected with diabetes mellitus and increased possibility of decease occurrence among the children born (Types of Diabetes 2007).