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Two Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes accounts for only about 5% to 10% of all diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes is often inherited and most people who get it will develop it as a child.  In type 1 diabetes, immune cells see the insulin producing cells as a foreign body and attack them.  Therefore, type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disorder (Whitney et al. 601).
Type 2 diabetes is much more common.  Someone that has type 2 diabetes has developed a resistance to insulin.  The body is unable to take glucose out of the blood.  The liver makes more glucose, since the muscles are unable to obtain glucose from the blood.  Larger amounts of insulin are then made in the pancreas to overcompensate for the high levels of glucose in the blood.  The pancreas can be overwhelmed and depleted by this overworking.  Type 2 diabetes is noted by insulin deficiency as well as insulin resistance.  Causes of diabetes may be from obesity, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, and drinking alcohol.  Type 2 diabetes is most likely preventable by lifestyle choices (602, 603).
In both types of diabetes, glucose gathers in the blood.  There are short and long term effects on the body.  When this happens, type 1 diabetes can lead to weight loss, ketosis, weight loss, glucose in urine, frequent urination, dehydration, excessive thirst, coma, and death.  Type 2 diabetes can lead to weight gain, glucose in urine, frequent urination, dehydration, excessive thirst, coma, and death (603).
People with diabetes are recommended to eat carbohydrates consistently and spaced out throughout the day.  It is best to get the carbohydrates from foods that are not processed very much and high in fiber.  As with any diet, sugars should be limited. Saturated fats should be less than 10% of diet, but food with omega 3 fatty acids should be consumed.  Proteins in the diet need to be individualized, since they can affect the glucose and insulin responses in different ways for different people.  People with type 1 diabetes need to plan their insulin doses around eating, exercise, and current health.  They also must take care to watch their blood sugar levels during and after exercise to avoid hypoglycemia.  People with type 2 diabetes are advised to exercise regularly and to lose some weight, if they are overweight.  Doing so may help with blood pressure, insulin resistance and blood lipids (604, 605).



Works Cited
Whitney, Ellie, and Sharon Rady Rolfes. Understanding Nutrition. 14th ed., Cengage, 2016.








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