Diabetes
...ypes of the diabetes consistently share these similarities but they then branch off to become their own unique case or type. Type I diabetes is also referred to as insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It is the most serious and dangerous type of diabetes. This type of diabetes occurs when the body stops making or makes too little insulin. The body needs insulin to transform food into energy and, without it, the body could not control its blood sugar level and the patient would die. Type I diabetes usually affects children and young adults but it can affect any age and all people with this type of diabetes must take an insulin shot everyday. It has been proven that Type I diabetes is hereditary and genetically transported, but, if a mother has diabetes, her children will not necessarily have the disease. A specific gene has not been found that causes the disease but there are some symptoms and signs that come along with Type I diabetes. A few signs include: high levels of sugar in the blood and the urine, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, and thirst, weakness and tiredness, mood swings, and nausea (“Canada Diabetes Association”, 2) All of the above can be major signs of a possibly fatal disease and if any of the above is very evident in a person, they should contact their doctor immediately. Type II diabetes (non- insulin dependant diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes and it affects the way the body uses food. Type II diabetes is seen in all ages of people but it is more prevalent in people over 30 years old. Type II diabetes is also more common in Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics. This type also affects more overweight people than it does the healthier adults and it has been proven that non- insulin dependant diabetes is also a hereditary disease. Women who have larger babies or have gestational diabetes also are more susceptible to getting type II diabetes in the near future. Type II diabetes can be treated by either a balanced diet or medicine taken orally. The last type of diabetes and the most rare is gestational diabetes. It develops only in 2% to 5% of pregnant women and occurs when the body is resisting the insulin produced. According to the National Diabetes Statistics, Nearly 135,000 women develop gestational diabetes each year and in most cases it clears up on its own after the baby is born, however, studies show that women who have contracted gestational diabetes have a higher risk of going on to develop type II diabetes within 15 years (p. 5). It is also proven that this type of diabetes tends to be hereditary and the obese are more susceptible to it due to their insulin resistance being higher. After researching the different types of diabetes, the next focus is the treatment of the disease and the precautions that can be taken early to help prevent disease. The most recent and popular drug out for type II diabetics is called Avandia. It is a TZD (type of medications for type II diabetics) and it came out after the ever-popular pill, Rezulin. Avandia works on the muscles ...