Types of diabetes

The diabetes is a chronic disease characterized because the body loses its ability to produce insulin, or, in any case, so that it effectively fulfills its function: allow glucose contained in food reaches all body cells to become energy in the tissues need to function. People with diabetes not properly metabolize glucose, so that it remains in the bloodstream, while tissues do not receive the amount they need.

However, there are different types of diabetes:

  

• Type 1 diabetes in 13% of cases inherited a predisposition to develop this condition characterized by an autoimmune reaction of the body, so that it attacks the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin, but not it even knows why it happens. It usually begins during childhood and adolescence, but can affect people of any age. The usual symptoms relate to an abnormal thirst with dry mouth, frequent urination, tiredness or fatigue, hunger, sudden weight loss, wounds heal slowly, recurrent infectious diseases occur and sometimes blurred vision. Patients with this type of diabetes must inject insulin daily and require continued monitoring.Treatment should be complemented with a specific diet and regular physical exercise. However, they can lead a normal life.
    
• Type 2 Diabetes is also known as adult-onset diabetes, although today there has been a significant increase in its incidence among children. Besides age, other risk factors that predispose to this type of diabetes are obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and family history (may be genetic in 20% of cases). In this case, the body itself can produce insulin, but their action does not have the necessary (insulin resistance) and efficacy entails the accumulation of glucose in the blood. This type of diabetes can remain asymptomatic for a long time before it is diagnosed, usually after a routine blood analytics. If not treated properly, which involves the control of blood glucose levels in normal numbers, you can have significant health consequences: cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents, peripheral neuropathy, amputation of one or both feet, etc.           

• Gestational diabetes occurs in advanced stages of labor and generally usually disappears after it occurs. It arises because the body can not produce the amount of insulin or use it properly to provide enough energy to body tissues. This diabetes must be treated, but generally may be sufficient to proper diet, but sometimes the use of insulin or oral medications that peritan control blood glucose levels is necessary. Importantly, women who have suffered this type of diabetes have a higher risk than others of developing type 2 diabetes over time. Also, the children of women who have had this type of diabetes during pregnancy have a higher risk of becoming obese and developing type 2 diabetes.
    
• Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes: Cystic fibrosis affects, among other organs, the pancreas, which carry a higher risk of developing the disease, which usually occurs in the second decade of life.
    
• MODY diabetes: is due to the existence of genetic abnormalities of beta cells (there are seven genes involved), which are responsible for producing insulin. It's hereditary, so it is common to find three generations of one family affected. It is characterized by the diagnosis occurs before 25 years of age and patients do not need insulin at least during the first five years.
    
• Secondary diabetes medications: some medicines may alter the functionality or production of insulin, such as glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants.