Understanding Diabetes

The best way to educate yourself on diabetes is by enrolling in one of o4ur classes, but in the meantime, here is a short explanation of each type of diabetes that a person can get. 

Type One Diabetes

Type one diabetes occurs when a person cannot produce enough insulin on their own. This means that your body will need insulin every day in order to survive. Type one diabetes is typically diagnosed in children and adolescents and is believed to be caused by genetics or viruses. Type one diabetes is not very common and is only seen in 200,00 cases per year in the U.S. There is currently no known way to prevent of cure type one diabetes.

Type Two Diabetes

Type two diabetes occurs when a person's body has issues making the correct amount of insulin, which in return raises their blood sugar. A person with type two diabetes may not need to take insulin but they may need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels. Type two diabetes is typically diagnosed in people over 45 and is caused by genetics or an unhealthy lifestyle. Over 90% of people who have diabetes have type two diabetes. You can prevent getting type two diabetes by making a positive lifestyle change.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women when the body fails to produce insulin. This puts your body at risk of having high blood sugar, which can lead to delivery issues. Women who develop gestational diabetes are more inclined to develop type two diabetes later in life. As few as 2% of pregnancies will result in gestational diabetes each year. It is possible and even recommended to lose weight prior to your pregnancy, as a way of preventing your chances at developing gestational diabetes. However, gestational diabetes can happen to any woman of any body type.