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Types of Diabetes

Author: Dr John Anne

The American Diabetes Association adopted the following classification in 1979: Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes and Type-2, non insulin-dependent diabetes

There are two other kinds of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes and secondary diabetes. There is also a special kind of diabetes in India called malnutrition related diabetes.

Type-1 Insulin-Dependant Diabetes: This is the most severe form of diabetes. It develops when pancreas makes little or no insulin. Without insulin in the blood stream, sugar does not get into the cells, and remains in the blood. People with type-1 diabetes depend on injections of insulin to regulate their smaller metabolism.

Type-2 Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes: This type of diabetes is also known as adult onset diabetes. It seldom develops before the age of 40 years, although it may occur at any stage. Infect the incidence of type-2 diabetes in adolescents in on the rise. But because the symptoms are milk, these may not notice and the condition remains undetected for a long period and till later years.

One common factor in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes is elevated blood sugar levels. However, unlike type-1 diabetes, type-2 is not a disease of the immune system. While people with type-1 diabetes must use insulin to live, most of those with type-2 diabetes are able to control the disease and even reverse it. This is possible by a combination of appropriate diet, proper weight control and adequate exercise.

Find complete diabetes information, diabetes supply, diabetes treatment, diabetes diet, diabetes causes, diabetes types. More on Diabetes Mellitus Information and Treatment Supply

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/types-of-diabetes-61185.html

About the Author

Dr John Anne

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Gestational Diabetes – A Guide For Pregnant Moms

Author: Diana Mortenson

Gestational diabetes is something that is not to be overlooked by pregnant mothers. This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy to women who have never been diagnosed with diabetes before.

The actual cause of gestational diabetes is still unknown, although there is a strong possibility that the hormones responsible in the development of the placenta have something to do with it.

The Symptoms

If you are looking for tell-tale signs to know if you do have gestational diabetes, you may only get frustrated. The usual signs of diabetes such as increased thirst, increased urination and fatigue may be confused with the normal signs of pregnancy.

Test for Diabetes

While not every expecting mother is diagnosed with gestational diabetes, pregnant women are nonetheless advised to undergo certain tests (usually on the 5th month of their pregnancy) to determine whether or not they have gestational diabetes. One of these tests is the oral glucose tolerance test in which you will be made to drink a glass of glucose solution. After an hour you will undergo a blood test to measure the levels of sugar in your blood.

The complications

It has to be emphasized that this form of diabetes can hurt both you and the baby. Although it does not cause birth defects as it usually occurs after the organs of the baby have already developed, it can nonetheless lead to a host of problems such as a fatter baby, hypoglycemia, jaundice, respiratory distress, and developmental problems like difficulty in walking, jumping, etc.

On your part, you will be at greater risk for:

pre-eclampsia
urinary tract infections

Treating gestational diabetes

So what should a mother do if she has gestational diabetes? When you have gestational diabetes, you need to seek treatment immediately. Go to a diabetologist at once so he can assess your needs and come up with the right treatment plan.

The treatment plan in gestational diabetes has the principal goal of regulating blood sugar levels through:

the right diet
exercise
medications

The Right Diet

The right diet for you in this case includes fruits and vegetables and whole grains. As much as possible you must refrain from eating foods that are high in fat and low in essential nutrients. It is also recommended to eat at least six meals a day.

Exercise

Regular exercise is to be encouraged as this can prevent weight gain which can trigger or worsen complications. If it's okay with your doctor, engaging in aerobic exercises is a good way of regulating blood sugar levels.

Medications

For some women, eating the right foods and exercising are enough to maintain normal blood sugar levels, but for others, they need insulin injections, along with diet and exercise.

Close monitoring is very important in this case; your diabetologist may even advise you to use a special device to monitor your blood sugar levels throughout the day. Your doctor, too, will monitor the development of your baby. He may request for ultrasounds and run other tests to make sure that the baby is coping well.

Although this type of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, mothers are at greater risk of developing type II diabetes later in life. That is why monitoring of blood sugar levels, as well as eating the right foods and engaging in regular
exercise, will prove to be of great value to a woman with gestational diabetes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/gestational-diabetes-a-guide-for-pregnant-moms-986908.html

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Our site provides information about diabetes types , diabetes treatment and helpful advices how to cure diabetes

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Signs of Diabetes: Examining the Causes of Diabetes

Author: Steven R Arnold

Healthily eating and regular exercise greatly reduces your risk of developing the signs of diabetes, regardless of the diabetes types in question. The symptoms of diabetes are always improved through consumption of nutritious, water-rich food and daily physical activity.

What causes diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus type II is caused by inadequate nutrition, overconsumption of high-fat foods, lacking exercise standards and a basic misrepresentation of health over years. Diabetes type 2 does not just happen overnight. In most instances, diabetes mellitus type 2 and gestational diabetes are the results of year after year of self-neglect. The facts are that we eat terribly-inefficient foods and we have become a physically inactive society. In fact, over one quarter of all Americans are labeled as completely sedentary.

What are the signs of diabetes?

The signs or symptoms of diabetes are as follows:

• Being constantly thirsty;
• Having to urinate far too often;
• Never-ending hunger accompanied by unintentional weight loss;
• Dry skin and/or itchy skin;
• Tingling extremities;
• “Velvet-like” skin on your neck or underarms;
• Weakness and becoming easily fatigued;
• Being grouchy or irritable for no good reasons;
• Having difficulties waking from sleep;
• Bedwetting;
• Headaches;
• Nausea and/or vomiting;
• Blurry vision;
• Inability to focus mentally;
• More…

If you ignore the signs of diabetes for long enough and actually develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus, then you are going to need to seek medical assistance and drastically change your lifestyle. It is far better to manage the symptoms of diabetes before you ever have to. Remember that the things that are the causes of diabetes are the same as what you need to reverse the symptoms of diabetes. They are:

• A diet that is mainly comprised of water-rich food sources – i.e. plants;
• Proper eating habits including portion sizes, proper carbohydrate levels and preset eating times;
• Daily physical activity that gets your heart pumping for at least 20 minutes or so;
• A stress management program that you employ constantly;
• Learning to see food as fuel instead of convenient pleasure;

Always remember that the signs of diabetes are able to be spotted, dealt with and reversed – at least in the vast majority of cases. If you feel that you may exhibiting any of the symptoms of diabetes, then schedule a visit with your physician and discuss them with him or her.

Symptoms and signs of diabetes left untreated for extended time periods can lead to:

• Blindness;
• Kidney failure;
• Amputation of extremities;
• Nerve damage throughout the body;
• Heart disease;
• Strokes;
• Coma;
• Premature death;

Take the signs of diabetes seriously and deal with them expeditiously. Your health is your own responsibility and only you can know for sure how you are feeling. A water-rich diet and daily exercise are the keys to the prevention of diabetes mellitus Type 2.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/signs-of-diabetes-examining-the-causes-of-diabetes-715289.html

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Steven R Arnold is editor of http://fatsense.com

The Healthy Heart Series of Essential Knowledge Guides is a new audio book series that will show you how to naturally lower your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose numbers safely and easily.

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Age and Diabetes Risk

Author: Juliet Cohen

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Diabetes means a disease where people have too much sugar in their blood. The three main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes , type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body's system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin years earlier. Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue. The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and ethnicity. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Symptoms may include fatigue or nausea, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores.

Diabetes is not contagious. People cannot “catch” it from each other. About 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. There are 20.8 million children in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes mellitus is a disease where people have too much glucose (a kind of sugar) in the blood. Glucose level in the blood is controlled by several hormones. Hormones are chemicals in your body that send messages from cells to other cells. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Diabetes is likely to be underreported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates. About 65 percent of deaths among those with diabetes are attributed to heart disease and stroke.

Obesity is the single most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Between 80% and 90% of people with diabetes are overweight--that means they weigh at least 20% more than the ideal body weight for their height and build. More than 40 percent of people with diabetes have abnormal levels of cholesterol and similar fatty substances that circulate in the blood. These abnormalities appear to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among persons with diabetes. Nearly 40 percent of the women who have diabetes during their pregnancy go on to develop type 2 diabetes later, usually within five to ten years of giving birth. Diabetes prevalence in the United States is likely to increase for several reasons. First, a large segment of the population is aging. Education is important for both types of diabetes. Diabetics must learn about diet. Diabetics must also be careful about exercise. Exercise is important to stay healthy. High Cholesterol or other fats in the blood and Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose can precede the development of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Treatment Tips

1. Medicines, diet, and exercise to control blood sugar and prevent symptoms and complications.

2. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is treated with insulin, exercise, and a healthy diet.

3. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is first treated with weight reduction, a healthy diet and regular exercise.

4. Gestational diabetes is treated with insulin and changes in diet.

5. Alcohol use Try to have no more than 7 alcoholic drinks in a week and never more than 2-3 in an evening.

6. Smoking: If you have diabetes, and you smoke cigarettes or use any other form of tobacco, you are raising your risks markedly for nearly all of the complications of diabetes.

7. Diet: A healthy diet is key to controlling blood sugar levels and preventing diabetes complications.

8. Drink extra fluids that do not contain sugar before, during, and after exercise.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/age-and-diabetes-risk-203341.html

About the Author

Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and women health care. More information on health related topics visit our site at http://www.health-care-articles.info.

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Diabetes Causes

Author: Tom alter

DIABETES CAUSES

Since there are different types of diabetes, each type has a unique possible cause.

The main two causes of diabetes is the body’s failure to produce enough of the insulin hormone, and secondly the body develops a resistance to insulin.

· Type 1 diabetes is due to decreased insulin production.

· Type 2 is due to insulin resistance in peripheral tissues.

· In juvenile diabetes, the cause might probably be a lack of vitamin D.

There is also gestational diabetes that only occurs in pregnant women.

Causes of diabetes -

Diabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas does not create sufficient or any of the hormone insulin, or when the insulin produced does not work efficiently. Thus, this causes the level of glucose in the blood to be higher than normal levels

1. In Type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are attacked and destroyed by the body’s own immune system, causing a severe lack of insulin.

It is not clear why this happens, but possible triggers of this reaction could be -

· infection with a specific virus or bacteria;

· exposure to food-borne chemical toxins or

· exposure to cow's milk when as an infant, where as a yet unidentified component of the milk triggers an autoimmune reaction in the body.

However, these are only assumption, and are yet to be proven.

Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children, teenagers or young adults. Scientists believe this is a genetically caused condition and is not related to lifestyle habits.

Risk factors for developing type - 1diabetes include:

1. Family history - a child that has a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a 2-6% chance of developing the disease.

2. Autoimmune disorders - such as thyroid disease and celiac disease, raises the risk of type 1 diabetes.

3. Early stoppage of breastfeeding and/or exposure to cow’s milk - breastfeeding an infant for at least three months decreases the risk of type 1 diabetes. Some studies also show that exposure to cow’s milk or cow’s milk-based formula before one year of age may increase diabetes risk.

4. Ethnicity - Americans, Caucasians have a greater risk of type 1 diabetes as compared to African-Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans.

5. History of childhood virus diseases

2. Type 2 diabetes is believed to develop when:

· the receptors on the human cells in the body that respond to the action of insulin fall short of being stimulated by it - known as insulin resistance. In reaction to this, more insulin may be produced, and this over-production exhausts the insulin-manufacturing cells in the pancreas;

· there is just insufficient insulin available in the body and

· the insulin that is available may be abnormal and therefore doesn't function properly.

The following risk factors increase the chances of one developing Type 2 diabetes:

· increasing age

· if it runs in the family, ie. hereditary

· obesity

· high blood pressure

· diet which is high in fat and low in dietary fibre

· sedentary lifestyle with no or very less physical activity.

· certain medicines such as diurectics, which increase the amount of water flowing into the urine. Corticosteroids can also lead to diabetes because they work against the action of insulin.

· gestational diabetes

· any illness or disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin e.g. pancreatitis. (inflammation of the pancreas) and thyrotoxicosis (a poisonous condition that results from an overactive thyroid gland).

· hormone treatments, such as growth hormone, thyroid hormone and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH).

What does not cause diabetes?

It is also important to be aware of the different myths that have arisen about the causes of diabetes over time.

Eating sweets, excess sugar or the wrong kind of food (fried and fatty food) does not cause diabetes. However, this type of a diet may cause obesity, and overweight people are generally prone to developing Type 2 diabetes. So, its not the food, but the effect of food that may cause diabetes.

So, if you love eating and are a foodoholic, make sure to burn out the extra calories that go on to make the flab.

Stress does not cause diabetes, although it may be a trigger for the body turning on itself as in the case of Type 1 diabetes. Stress, however does definitely make the symptoms worse for those who already have diabetes.

People with diabetes should never eat sugar and sweets. Sugar and sweets do raise the blood glucose, but people with diabetes can safely eat sugar as part of their meal plan.

People with diabetes should eat a special diabetes diet. This is a false notion. One has to eat regulated, along with a balanced diet.

Diabetes is not contagious. Someone with diabetes cannot transmit it on to anyone else.

For diabetes information, diabetes diet, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-causes-99912.html

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For diabetes information, diabetes diet, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

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Food You Should Avoid if You Have Diabetes

Author: Jack Stanley

There is not a diet for diabetes. General guidelines exist, like "eat less fat and saturated fat and eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables" .. Your meal plan diabetes must be based on your individual needs. When it comes to what to eat and what not to eat for diabetics, advice is plentiful. With so much sense and advice from various sources, it may be difficult to determine what food you should be including in the framework of your diet. Instead what we should eat, why not start with the wrong types of foods for diabetics?

In principle, a diet low in saturated fats well controlled blood sugar that integrates weight control, exercise and less refined sugars is recommended. The control of blood sugar with diet, and in some cases, medication is the key. To keep blood sugar under control, diet strikes a balance between carbohydrates, fats, proteins and you take in. In addition, a 1500 calorie diet restricted in calories and fat. These fruits helps control blood sugar, levels. Because of their low glycemic index, they favour a gradual increase in the level of sugar in the blood which is very beneficial for diabetics.

Carbohydrates include a wide range of foods, including table sugar, fruits and vegetables and cereals such as rice and wheat. Carbohydrates (either potatoes or table sugar) usually five minutes to three hours to digest, while the protein takes three to six hours and fat can take eight hours or more. That is why different foods have different effects on blood sugar, such as why ice cream (higher in fat) raises blood sugar more slowly than potatoes. Carbohydrates choice must come from whole grains or cereals, bread, pasta, brown rice, beans, fruits and vegetables. Increasing dietary fiber is a general guideline for the whole population rather than specifically for people with diabetes. Avoid simple, processing and carbohydrates concentrated. Very carbohydrates in processed foods packaged like fast food, white bread and flour products white, have a high glycemic index causing spikes in the sugar sector. Sugar and refined carbohydrates are undeniably linked to diabetes.

Beware of sugar-free cookies and other products for diabetics. Even if they are without sugar, May they contain trans fatty acids or fat have more than their sweet counterparts. Foods sweetened are fattening. Many foods that have a lot of table sugar are very rich in calories and fat. Without sugar candy and other products using the term "sugar" must be assessed for the entire content of carbohydrates. Sugar alcohols, although listed by their weight in food listed in the table of nutritional value, are not metabolized (broken down and used for energy) how sugars are true.

If you have any alcoholic drinks on an empty stomach, they can make your blood glucose levels too low. Alcoholic beverages may also increase your blood fats. Many people do not realize that milk can increase the sugar in the blood, because it doesn? T? Taste sweet? But it contains lactose, which will turn to glucose. A container of sugar free, fat-free yogurt is also equal to one carb choice.

Eating foods high quality that are rich in nutrients and fiber can help normalize blood sugar. Working with a doctor and be vigilant about diet can make a difference long-term health of a person living with diabetes. Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables May satisfy sugar cravings without compromising levels of sugar, fiber in fruits, vegetables and grains may regulate how the sugar is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.

The ideal diet for people with diabetes is to maintain a balance between sugars, fiber, fat and salt. No food is completely banned, but certain foods, especially sugar, fat and salt should be consumed in limited quantities. Learning about diabetes and making the right lifestyle changes can help keep blood sugar levels and fat as close to normal as possible and maintain a body weight. All these factors will help reduce the risk of developing serious complications of diabetes. The fat must be removed before cooking.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/food-you-should-avoid-if-you-have-diabetes-522417.html

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For info on signs of diabetes and diabetes statistics, visit the Diagnosing Diabetes website.

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Diabetes Mellitus - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Author: Juliet Cohen

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn't produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. Insulin is needed to turn sugar and other food into energy. Three main forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy),[1] which have similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but different causes and population distributions. Ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia.[2] Type 1 is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin. Type 2 is characterized by tissue-wide insulin resistance and varies widely; it sometimes progresses to loss of beta cell function. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes, in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy cause insulin resistance in those women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.

People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Gestational diabetes also involves a combination of inadequate insulin secretion and responsiveness, resembling type 2 diabetes in several respects. It develops during pregnancy and may improve or disappear after delivery. Insulin is called the "hunger hormone .

Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

Glucose into most cells from the blood (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells), deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus. Much of the carbohydrate in food is converted within a few hours to the monosaccharide glucose, the principal carbohydrate found in blood. Type 1 diabetes mellitus—formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), childhood diabetes or also known as juvenile diabetes, is characterized by loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas leading to a deficiency of insulin. The main cause of beta cell loss leading to type 1 diabetes is a T-cell mediated autoimmune attack. Type 2 diabetes mellitus—previously known as adult-onset diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

1.Drowsiness.

2.Nausea.

3.Decreased endurance during exercise

Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Person with diabetes keeps blood sugar levels tightly controlled, complications are less likely to develop. People with diabetes should always carry or wear a medical identification bracelet or tag to alert health care professionals to the presence of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes who are able to maintain a healthy weight may be able to avoid the need for large doses of insulin. People with diabetes also tend to have high levels of cholesterol in the blood, so limiting the amount of saturated fat in the diet is important. Drugs may also be needed to help control the level of cholesterol in the blood. Diet management is very important in people with both types of diabetes. Doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet and efforts to maintain a healthy weight. Some people benefit from meeting with a dietitian to develop an optimal eating plan. Diabetic ketoacidosis is also a medical emergency, because it can cause coma and death. Oral medications are available to lower blood glucose in Type II diabetics include tolbutamide, tolazamide, acetohexamide, and chlorpropamide.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-mellitus-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-153856.html

About the Author

Juliet Cohen writes articles for health disorders. She also writes articles for acne treatment and health tips.

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Types of Diabetes(type 1, Type 2 and Gestational)

Author: Tom alter

Types Of Diabetes

In medical parlance, this disease is known as "diabetes mellitus" - diabetes from the Greek word for siphon, to illustrate the excessive thirst and urination, which is characteristic of this condition, and mellitus from the Latin word for honey - as urine of a diabetic person contains sugar and is sweet.

Commonly, this disease is called diabetes.

There are many types of diabetes, but the three most common are:

« Type 1 diabetes

« Type 2 diabetes

« Gestational diabetes

1. Type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin dependent diabetes):

This is an autoimmune disease where the body's own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. It can appear at any age, although mostly under 30 (very often in childhood or during teens), and is caused by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or people genetically predisposed. This type of diabetes, is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes.

It is not really known what causes type 1 diabetes and it is not caused by eating too much sugar or sweets.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin much earlier. Common symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme weakness. If not timely diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person with type 1 diabetes can go into life-threatening diabetic coma, also known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

2. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes):

This is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all diagnosed people. It is also known as late-onset diabetes, and is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.

Type 2 diabetes is genetic in origin, but other factors such as excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, ethnicity and faulty diet are its major risk factors. Symptoms may not show up for many years, and by the time they crop up, considerable harm may have been done to the body.

In this condition, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for reasons unknown, the body cannot use the insulin effectively - termed as insulin resistance. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make proficient use of its main source of energy.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, frequent urination, excess thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds. Some people may show no symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive, lifetime condition; and over time, it may be difficult to keep the blood glucose level in the target range. However, good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of complications.

One can do this by:

« Eating healthy meals and snacks

« Following regular physical activity

« Taking diabetes medications (including insulin), if prescribed.

3. Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy. In most cases, all diabetic symptoms disappear following delivery. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 % chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years, especially if they were overweight before the pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by blocking effects of other hormones (estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen) on the insulin that is produced, a condition referred to as insulin resistance. Normally, the pancreas is able to make additional insulin to overcome insulin resistance. However, when the production of insulin is not enough to overcome the effect of the placental hormones, gestational diabetes results.

Carbohydrate intolerance is diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal level after delivery, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes later on; while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life.

Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The complications of gestational diabetes are usually manageable and preventable. The key to prevention is careful control of blood sugar levels as soon as the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made.

Other types of diabetes -

4. Diabetes insipidus:

Diabetes insipidus is an uncommon condition, that occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water as they perform their function of filtering blood. The anti-diuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin) controls the amount of water conserved. Diseases of the kidney (for example, polycystic kidney disease) and the effects of certain drugs may also cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

The common symptoms are excessive urination and extreme thirst.

5. Syndrome X:

Syndrome X, also known as the "metabolic syndrome" or "Insulin Resistance Syndrome", is a condition that is linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

It is characterised by abdominal obesity, elevated levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Other symptoms include smoking, high fat and calorie diet, pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome.

This is more common in older people than in younger people. In addition, women were more likely to have the syndrome than men.

For diabetes information, Diabetes Testing, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

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Diabetes mellitus types

Author: thiruvelan

Diabetes are broadly classified into 2 groups, they are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It is sub-classified into pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes types

Diabetes mellitus can be broadly classified into two categories, they are
• type 1 and
• type 2

Type 2 diabetes has to other sub types, they are
• gestational diabetes and
• pre-diabetes

"Type 1 diabetes" is also being called as childhood-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Likewise, "type 2 diabetes" is also being called as adult-onset diabetes, obesity-related diabetes, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Beyond these two types, there is no standard diabetes types, but various sources have defined "type 3 diabetes" as: gestational diabetes, insulin-resistant type 1 diabetes or double diabetes, type 2 diabetes which requires injected insulin, and latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (or LADA or "type 1.5" diabetes).

Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by loss of the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas which leads to insulin deficiency. The majority of type 1 diabetes is of beta cell loss by autoimmune attack. There is no known preventive measure against type 1 diabetes, which causes approximately 10% of diabetes mellitus cases. Type 1 diabetes can affect children or adults but was previously termed "juvenile diabetes or childhood-onset diabetes" because it represents a majority of the diabetes cases in children.

Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance which may be combined with relatively reduced insulin secretion. The improper utilization or sensitivity of body tissues to insulin is believed to involve the insulin receptor. However, the specific defects are not known, but excess fat deposits in the muscle cell are assumed to be the cause. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.

In the early stage of type 2 diabetes, the abnormality in insulin sensitivity can be overcome by medication that improve insulin sensitivity or reduce the production of glucose by liver. As the disease progresses, due to low level of insulin secretion a therapeutic replacement of insulin often becomes necessary.

Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a sub class of type 2 diabetes, involving a combination of relatively inadequate insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. It occurs in about 2%-5% of all pregnancies and mostly it will disappear after delivery. About 20%-50% of all gestational women develop type-2 diabetes later in their lives.

Even though it may be transient, untreated gestational diabetes can cause health issues for both the fetus and mother. Risks to the baby include high birth weight and breathing difficulties after delivery.

Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes mellitus indicates a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose level is higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose as type-2 diabetes. Many people diagnosed as type-2 diabetes may spend many years in a state of pre-diabetes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-mellitus-types-1766919.html

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Author's Diabetes Resource
Diabetes types
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