Diabetes and types of diabetes

According to studies in 2000, India accounted for 31.7 million diabetics in the world and by 2030 the number is expected to double 100% and cross 70 million. India globally ranks 2^nd in diabetes after China. Over 25 million Indians have type 2 diabetes. 10% of the population of Mithila has diabetes. Around 5 – 10 % individuals having diabetes have type 1 diabetes whereas 90% – 95% people have type 2 diabetes. About over 86 million individuals are said to have prediabetes, however, most of the people who have prediabetes are unaware of their condition.

Types of Diabetes:

Diabetes happens to be a group of diseases wherein which our body either does not make any or adequate insulin. Also, it is a disorder in which one is not able to properly use the insulin which is made by the body. When any of above happens, our body is not able to receive sugar from our blood into cells. This causes high levels of blood sugar.

Glucose which is a kind of sugar traced in our blood is one of the main sources of energy. Resistance to insulin or lack of insulin leads the sugar to pile up in our blood. This can cause several health problems.

3 main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes

Causes of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is said to be an autoimmune condition. It occurs when our immune system by mistake attacks and kills the beta cells in our pancreas which makes insulin. This damage is permanent.

What prompts this attack is not clear. There could be both environmental and genetic components. Lifestyle factors are not considered to play any role.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes starts as insulin resistance. This means our body cannot efficiently use insulin. This stimulates our pancreas to make more insulin till it can no longer bear with the demand. Production of insulin lowers which results in high blood sugar.

The exact reason is not known. Factors that contribute could comprise of genetics, being overweight and lack of exercise. There may also be other health factors & environmental responsibility for the same.

Gestational Diabetes

This type of diabetes is because of insulin blocking the hormones made during pregnancy. This kind of diabetes only takes place during pregnancy.