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Understanding the Different Types of Diabetes

Understanding the Different Types of Diabetes

More than one in ten people of all ages in the US struggles with the same health condition: diabetes.

That doesn’t mean that they all face the same wellness challenges. That’s because diabetes isn’t a single condition. Instead, it’s an umbrella term for a group of conditions. The common thread through all of them is that they cause dangerously high blood sugar levels. 

Fortunately, diabetes is treatable. Here at Medical Associates of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, our team specializes in diabetes management. As a result, no matter which type of diabetes is affecting you, we can help you get the right treatment(s) to protect your overall wellness. 

To help you better understand what that might entail, let’s look at the most common types of diabetes individually. 

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes is rooted in an immune system problem. This condition develops because your immune system attacks specific cells in your pancreas by mistake. Those cells help your body make insulin, a hormone your body uses to take sugar from your blood and convert it into energy for your cells.

When your body doesn’t make enough insulin, it doesn’t have a way to convert glucose (sugar) to cell fuel. As a result, the sugar builds up in your bloodstream, causing adverse effects.  

People with Type 1 diabetes are usually diagnosed early in life. They need to take daily insulin to stay alive. 

Type 2

This is the most common type of diabetes. 

Type 2 diabetes develops when your body stops making enough insulin or stops using insulin as effectively. Usually, the insulin problem is directly linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices. While genetics plays a role, being primarily sedentary, eating poorly, and being overweight all increase your risk for this type of diabetes.  

Type 2 diabetes develops over time. You might get diagnosed with prediabetes, meaning your body is struggling with high blood sugar levels.

With both prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes can make a big difference. In fact, you might even be able to reverse this condition with healthy living. 

Other types of diabetes

While Types 1 and 2 are the most common forms of diabetes, other types can come into play. 

Women might encounter gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Medications like corticosteroids can also cause diabetes, and some people develop this health condition because of genetic problems (as with monogenetic diabetes and Wolfram Syndrome). 

Our team can help with whichever type of diabetes affects you. To get a personalized care plan to stabilize your blood sugar levels, send us a message online, call our office at 972-433-7178, or simply walk into our Fort Worth office for same-day care.

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