Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Can type 2 diabetes be diagnosed only by the blood sugar levels?

Q. If there is no other sign exept high blood sugar levels, can that be type 2 diabetes? Is it necesary to have some clinical symptoms at all in such case?

A. I had no clinical symptoms. I'm not and wasn't overweight and showed no symptoms whatsoever.

I was diagnosed only because I took a blood sugar test just to be taking one. Imagine my surprise when the numbers came out insanely high.

So yes, you may not show symptoms in the beginning and still be diabetic. Please don't wait for symptoms to manifest themselves before you go see a doctor. The consequences are not good.


how long does it take to develop type 2 diabetes?
Q. I am at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. does it happen just one day all of a sudden? or is it gradual and little symptoms here and there over a long period of time?
are there any early signs?

A. It is very gradual, it can take from between 2 years to 30 years to fully manifest, but it is usually about 10 years from the time it starts before the individual is diagnosed.

Yes, the onset symptoms are usually slow and subtle, especially at first.

The primary cause of diabetes is genetic.

Type 1 occurs when the body loses its ability to produce insulin. This is most likely because the body is programmed to destroy the part of the pancreas that makes insulin [beta islet cells] early in life.

Type 2 occurs because the body loses its' sensitivity to insulin in peripheral tissues [ie arms, legs]. While genetic in nature, its' onset is also affected by luck and lifestyle. Someone who is born with the tendency can keep it at bay for a prolonged period of time by a combination of strict dietary weight control and daily aerobic exercise. This does not mean it won't happen, it just means it will take 20 to 30 years to develop instead of 5 to 10 years. [my mother-in-law held back diabetes for almost 40 years in this manner]


different symptoms in type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Q. I would like to know if there are any differences in the symptoms and complications related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Like, are there symptoms specific to type 1 or specific to type 2 ? Or are symptoms/complications of the two types more or less the same??? Thank you for your response.

A. The symptoms are the same. What is different is the speed with which they appear. Type 1 is rather rapid whereas type 2 may take years to be noticed. There are no symptoms that are more specific to one rather than the other.

Treatment however, is very different. Type 1 is always put immediately on insulins. This is because their pancreas is shutting down and NOT producing insulin or not in sufficient amounts to maintain the body. Type 2 is usually advised to take the basic oral medication and to change their lifestyle. This is because their pancreas still works, probably very efficiently, but their body refuses to use the insulin available.

The complications are alike in that high sugar levels destroy nerves and periferal blood vessels.

It is very important in either condition to keep glucose or sugar levels at an even level. Doctors give us a target number, if we are lucky, to attempt to achieve. Sometimes this is fairly easy, and sometimes not.

Be aware of the horrid myth that obesity and laziness are to blame for type 2! That couldn't be further from the truth.
Also be aware of the horrid myth that only silver haired people get type 2 and not type 1 or a weird combination of the two labeled 1.5!

Type 2 is appearing more and more in children and teens.


what is the difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes?
Q. whats the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
And what are the symptoms?

Thanks for your help.

A. Type l diabetes is when your body doesn't make insulin.
Type ll diabetes, your body makes insulin but either doesn't make enough for the sugar in your body, or your body doesn't use insulin properly.

You can have any of the following symptoms or all of them:

nausea
headache
fatigue
shaky
nervousness
sweaty
increased thirst
increase or loss of weight
increased urination
dizzy or lightheaded
flushed





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