Diabetes Facts

TYPE 1 DIABETES

• Scientists do not know exactly what causes diabetes but believe that genes, environmental factors and/or viruses play a role.
• Approximately 5 to 10 percent of americans diagnosed with diabetes have type 1.  Usually, this form of diabetes is diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood, however it can appear at any age.
• Type 1 diabetes is NOT caused by obesity or by eating excessive amounts of sugar.
• Those with type 1 diabetes are vulnerable to diabetic ketoacidosis, a very dangerous condition that can lead to a diabetic coma and even death.
• Type 1 diabetes is one of the most costly, chronic diseases and a disease you never outgrow.
• Type 1 diabetics prick their finger to check their glucose level 6-12 times per day, each and every day, 365 days a year.
• Type 1 diabetics need insulin injections or insulin delivered through their insulin pump every time they eat or drink carbohydrates.
• Insulin pump users replace a catheter every few days under the skin and insulin is continuously delivered into the body.  The catheter must be changed every few days to prevent infection.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

• Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be controlled by eating a healthy diet, staying physically active and losing any extra weight.  If lifestyle changes of such cannot control your blood sugar, you also may need to take pills and other injected medication, including insulin.
• Diabetes pills work in different ways - some lower insulin resistance, others slow the digestion of food or increase insulin levels in the bloodstream.  The non-insulin injected medications for type 2 diabetes have a complicated action but do lower blood glucose after eating.  Insulin therapy simply increases insulin circulating in the bloodstream.
• Multiple medications to control blood sugar is sometimes necessary to treat type 2 diabetes.
• Many people with type 2 diabetes often have elevated blood fats (high triglycerides and cholesterol) and blood pressure, so you may need medications for these problems too.
• Type 2 diabetes is a genetic condition and the predisposition for diabetes always exists.
• 30% or more of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin therapy, however, there are many new drugs available that may delay or even prevent the need for insulin therapy.
• Taking insulin does not mean you automatically have type 1 diabetes.   Your type of diabetes is determined by your genetics, not by the type of therapy.
•  If you currently require insulin therapy to treat your type 2 diabetes, if you lose weight, change your diet, increase your activity level and/or change your medications you may be able to reduce or stop insulin therepy.  
• Type 2 diabetes is a genetic disease and the risk is highest for your children when multiple family members have diabetes and if the children also are overweight.  Your child has a 10-15% chance of developing type 2 diabetes when you hae type 2 diabetes.  If one identical twin has type 2 diabetes, there is a 75% likelihood of the other twin developing type 2 diabetes also.
• Although you cannot change your genetic risk for developing type 2 diabetes, if you exercise regularly and eat properly you may delay or even prevent the development of the disease.

PLEASE NOTE:

• While insulin allows a person to stay alive, it does not cure diabetes nor prevent its devastating effects.
• Stress, hormonal changes, periods of growth, physical activity, medications, illness, infection and fatigue also affect a person's blood sugar control, making the disease much more difficult to manage.