Diabetes - What Is It, Why Does One Get It, Etc??

[jyl]

Reading some of the discussion here has gotten me interested in this.

What is diabetes? What causes it? Who is more likely to develop it, and why? What can you do to reduce your chances of developing diabetes?

I'm coming to this from very little knowledge, so use small words. I gather it is a disorder related to insulin production or ability to use insulin. I also gather the disease is becoming more common, but I don't know why. Is is really all a plot by the evil HFCS industry?

[ChkbookMechanic]

As it is there are two main types of Diabetes.. Type I and Type II (there is also a Type 1.5 called LADA).

Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disorder in which the body destroys the insulin-producing cells. So the body can use insulin, it just doesn't make it. Getting T1D used to be an automatic death sentence; luckily with synthetic insulins, insulin pumps, and constant glucose monitoring systems, you can manage the symptoms of diabetes. As it is; there is no cure. About 5 to 10% of all people who have diabetes have Type 1.

No one really knows what causes TID; I've heard genetics, lack of Vitamin D, and some virus as the main reasons. I call total BS on lack of Vitamin D given how much milk I have drank in my lifetime. Genetics or a virus as the reason is what I lean more towards being the cause given I wasn't a T1D until my mid 20s.

Type II Diabetes, your body produces insulin (initially) but it has a hard time using it. Type II Diabetes can normally be controlled with diet and exercise. However, you still might end up having to take medication to reduce your body's resistance to insulin.

I wish it was some evil plot by the evil HFCS industry and they'd just ship me a cure tomorrow; but it isn't.

Wikipedia has pretty good articles on both T1 and T2. Both of the diabetes cause you to have a lot more health risks than a non-diabetic person. Exercising, eating right, and not doing stupid things with your health becomes the overriding priority in your life. In my opinion, anyone who is diabetic should become their own mini-doctor, nutritionist, and personal trainer.

[cantdrv55]

John, I am T2. My four brothers have the typical Asian build. I, on the other hand, wear size 11 shoes, am an inch taller and have always outweighed them by at least 20 lbs. I'm the only one who played sports. They don't even know how to spell gym. Up until 3 years ago, I was logging 100+ miles a week on my road bike, yet I end up with diabetes. Luck of the draw.

[Tobra]

There is probably more than one reason why people are juvenile onset diabetics IMHO. Lane, I think it likely that you were diabetic for some time prior to being diagnosed. This is true of most diabetics, and in your 20's is pretty old to be diagnosed.

I agree with you 100% that anyone with diabetes needs to learn as much about it as they possibly can. Nobody cares more about your well being than you do, and you are there every day to take care of yourself. I spend an hour with new patients that are diabetics, and every time I see them I spend time doing education. Every single diabetic patient I have ever had has told me at least once, "I did not know that about diabetes."

It is all about glucose control. If BG is too high, your pancreas is supposed to squirt out some insulin turn that glucose into glycogen which is stored in your liver. If BG is too high, your pancreas is supposed to squirt out some glucagon, which mobilizes the glycogen in your liver and turns it back into glucose. There is more to it than that, but that is your thumbnail sketch. Diet, weight and activity level will also have an impact on what your sugar is doing.

Type 1 DM, your body is not making insulin. In type 2 DM, your body either is not making enough insulin, or the insulin it makes is not having the desired effect, for various reasons. That HFCS poison has been shown to play a role in inducing onset of type 2 DM.

You could spend years studying it, and still have things to learn about diabetes

[ChkbookMechanic]

Originally Posted by Tobra

There is probably more than one reason why people are juvenile onset diabetics IMHO. Lane, I think it likely that you were diabetic for some time prior to being diagnosed. This is true of most diabetics, and in your 20's is pretty old to be diagnosed.

I have no doubt there is more than one reason, I'm just pulling the few main ones I've heard off the top of my head.

As far as being diabetic before being diagnosed, looking back I can now pinpoint the exact day that I started having the signs of T1, however, hindsight is 20/20 (and it taught me to listen to my mother more when she says I need to go to the doctor). 20's is definitely old to be diagnosed w/ T1D but from the doctor who diagnosed me, he said it is more common than you'd think.

Originally Posted by Tobra

I agree with you 100% that anyone with diabetes needs to learn as much about it as they possibly can. Nobody cares more about your well being than you do, and you are there every day to take care of yourself. I spend an hour with new patients that are diabetics, and every time I see them I spend time doing education. Every single diabetic patient I have ever had has told me at least once, "I did not know that about diabetes."

I learn something new about diabetes everyday. I've begun expanding what I've learned into working out and getting race driver healthy. Sadly, for as many diabetics as there are, there aren't many exercise routines or books that touch on athletics as a diabetic. So, its been a learning experience to figure out what exactly works and learning how my body responds to every situation.

I've turned learning about diabetes into a continuing education program .

Originally Posted by Tobra

It is all about glucose control. If BG is too high, your pancreas is supposed to squirt out some insulin turn that glucose into glycogen which is stored in your liver. If BG is too high, your pancreas is supposed to squirt out some glucagon, which mobilizes the glycogen in your liver and turns it back into glucose. There is more to it than that, but that is your thumbnail sketch. Diet, weight and activity level will also have an impact on what your sugar is doing.

I don't think anyone has said this yet, but if you are a T1D, having a glucagon kit on you is a smart idea. If you ever pass out from too low of BG, the glucagon kit will cause the liver to convert glycogen into glucose then into the blood stream. This should bring the diabetic person back around in 5 minutes.

Originally Posted by Tobra

Type 1 DM, your body is not making insulin. In type 2 DM, your body either is not making enough insulin, or the insulin it makes is not having the desired effect, for various reasons. That HFCS poison has been shown to play a role in inducing onset of type 2 DM.

You could spend years studying it, and still have things to learn about diabetes

I didn't know HFCS was linked to T2D... something new .

Also, if you are having wild swings in BG you might be able to get a Constant Glucose Monitoring System (CGM or CGMS for short). My insurance ok'd one automatically since I'm T1D, and I've heard of T2Ds getting them as well. I love mine since it provides a lot of valuable information. Not only has it helped me keep my BGs within the 80 to 120 range I prefer, it lets me see exactly how all foods, activities and stress effect my body. Technology has a lot to offer diabetics to help make their life easier, I just wish more would take full advantage of what is out there.

Now, I hate to get on my soap box, but talking about diabetes always causes me to get a little passionate , so you'll have to forgive me. When I go to the Endocrinologist and I'm sitting in the waiting room and I see all the people in there, I look at each of them and pick out who are the T2 and who are the T1s. And it bothers me that so many of the T2s don't appear to have done anything about their condition. I mean, this is something that could cause you to lose a limb, go blind, or even die and I see the same people coming back who don't appear to have done a thing about it. As soon as I found out I was diabetic, my eating habits changed completely: I stopped drinking sodas completely, I stopped eating french fries, I started eating way healthier than I'd ever eaten before, and I started learning what everything I could do did to my body. There is some initiative that people need to have to truly control diabetes and so many people don't take control, they let it control their lives and that is no way to go through life... letting something control you. I admit it takes a lot of will power and there are times I wish I could go out and match my friends drink-for-drink like I used to be able to -- now I'm the DD. Does it suck? Honestly, not really, I've saved my liver but its hard to look back at how you used to be and know its never going to be that way again.

[Instrument 41]

Type 2 diabetic myself. Was diagnosed 23 years ago. Currently on a minimum 4 shots per day. No one in my family has been diabetic. The only thing that I may attach mine to is pre diabetes, in college, I messed with steroids. Maybe and just maybe thats what attacked my pancreas?? Not sure.

My issue with Diabetes is that is has become a HUGE cash cow for all involved. I know of numerous situations that folks that are "just over the edge" with their blood sugar, and are put on a complete regime of medicine, doctor visits, nutritionist, etc....There is no money in a cure and don't see that happening.

[Paul_Heery]

Originally Posted by Instrument 41

There is no money in a cure

Thank you. I was just going to make a similar statement myself. There is too much money being made on treatment. A cure would jeopardize an entire industry that has made billions off of treatment and supplies.

BTW, I'm a Type 1 diagnosed 35 years ago.

[jyl]

I know there have been several new diabetes drugs in the last few years, and several more coming. The drug industry sees this as a growth market.

[Tobra]

What soap box?

You can generally pick out the T 2 diabetics, usually they are the fat ones. T1 usually are skinny. I have seen T 2 diabetics that are not even teenagers yet, which is pretty infuriating really. I sort of look at it that T2 make bad decisions, T1 are just unlucky. I have known dozens and dozens of diabetics, T2 of course, who have made changes and gone from being on insulin to being diet controlled. Of course I have known thousands who did not do a GD thing about it. Too many have ignored my advice and died or lost a leg. I just don't get that part at all. You have the guy in the white coat spend hours explaining that if you do this or that, you are going to lose a leg. They don't do anything different and end up with a prosthetic leg, then are all woe is me, I lost my leg.

If you really want to get a little terrified, go spend some time at a dialysis center.

[Laneco]

The absolute brutal truth is that many/most T2D can benefit from diet control, exercise and LOSING WEIGHT...

I think there is a tendency to look for magic cures when most of the magic can be found by changing our habits. Hard to look at the face in the mirror and admit honestly that the majority of American health issues are lifestyle...

angela (need to lose weight myself - got to enact my own changes...)

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Laneco

The absolute brutal truth is that many/most T2D can benefit from diet control, exercise and LOSING WEIGHT...

YEP!

Type 2 here... got kinda lax last few years... tested myself three weeks ago... 300!

Cut out the booze... low carb diet... more exercise... down to 200 (still too high)

Had my blood drawn yesterday, going back to the doc and see if he can tweak my meds.

[jyl]

What are the warning signs for diabetes? What tests do you monitor for signs of pre-diabetes? Blood glucose level?

I looked up my recent lab tests (OHSU has a cool online system). These were all in the mid-morning, probably after a minimal breakfast.
10/15/10 GLUCOSE, PLASMA (LAB) 94 mg/dL
10/9/10 GLUCOSE, PLASMA (LAB) 121 mg/dL - this was during my repeat vomiting/kidney stone if that matters
4/9/09 GLUCOSE, PLASMA (LAB) 99 mg/dL

I'm physically inactive, take medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol, am Asian, have BMI 27. No family history of diabetes, well my grandfather developed it but he was 95 y/o. I don't think I consume much HFCS - don't have sodas, pastries, sweets, chips, hardly any processed foods actually.

Not sure why I'm anxious about this, but I figured I should pay attention.

[ChkbookMechanic]

I won't make any diagnosis, but one is considered T2D when their fasting BG is > 120 mg/dL and/or their 2 hour post meal BG is > 200 mg/dL.

If you're worried about it, start exercising; take a 20 to 30 minute walk at night, take up gardening or something where you're outside and moving around.

I was the first person in my family to have any form of Diabetes, and I was the lucky one who got T1D so you never know.

[Instrument 41]

Well I just got back from my Endocrinologist. Let me tell you if you have it or think you have it take care. They think that my kidney function is only 20%. No pains, no issues, just a test and another test, and I get this info. Will be seeing a Nephrologist to verify. 23 years of putting up with this mess, no spontaneity in life, 4 to 5 shots a day, no alcohol or tobacco, not overweight and now this....

[tabs]

yeah it is fked...no more pizza, pasta, bread, rice or potatoes

Went in in march of 07 AIC was 7.6...MD said whoops...she said can you do it on your own or do you need help. She said 60 grams of carbs a day and not all at once..and the magic words U can eat all the meat cheese and veggies you want..so I thought Ohhh you mean I can have two 16 oz Ribeye steaks if I want!, not that I do it..Asked her if I needed to get the meter and she said NAW...

I lost about 50lbs and have kept about 40 of them off. Currently am moderating eating a bit to bring it back down about 10. The last 3 A1C were 6.1, 6.3 and 6.5 with 5.9 being a high normal. I take the med

Wasn't hard to do, I call it my Buffet diet.. in the 3.5 years I have had 5 baked potaotes, only an occasional sample of pizza at Sams club when they have em..and I have really moderated carbs..sticking to under 100 grams per day. I check all packaging for carbs and avoid it if it is too high

The only place that I can't really figure is in fruit..watermelon, fresh pineapple etc

Lately I have had some Popcorn..but I measure out the 3 tablespoons for roughly 20 grams of carb...

Everything including the bread I eat is low carb..I will have 3 corn tortilla for 21 grams of carb. Or I will make a serving of Rice noodles instead of rice with Asian food.

At a Buffet I don't go near the carbs just meat, fish, salad, and I hit the sugar free deserts..on a piece of pie I eat the filling but not the crust.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I have seen T 2 diabetics that are not even teenagers yet, which is pretty infuriating really. .

For about nine years I've been helping to organize a charity golf tournament that contributes to DADs (Dollars Against Diabetes). The diabetes presentations we have seen in the past few years are markedly different from previous years. Doctors seem more than just "infuriated" by the sharp rise in "adult-onset" (Type 2)diabetes. They are frightened. Horrified, actually. Apparently, the rise has bene exponential. This, coupled with the expectation that sufferers will experience more, and increasing, overall health problems tells us that the health care industry had better buckle its five-point harness and put its helmet on. This next generation is the first in perhaps the recorded history of humans to be expected to not live as long as their parents.

[jyl]

I was thinking, suppose HFCS are a meaningful contributor to diabetes. Would that substance ever be taken off the market or regulated? The food industry would attack the science like it was global warming. No controlled blinded experiments, no absolute proof, do you want your food prices to soar, think of the jobs, patriotic freedom to eat what we want, the freak hippie leftie greenies want to take your food away, etc etc. It could take a generation for HFCS to ever be taken out of, or strictly limited in, our food. A generation of diabetics.

[wolf76]

I am also a Type 1. Diagnosed 24 years ago. I think it's been easier for me in a way to have type 1 due to the fact that I was young (10 yrs old) so it was easier to regiment my diet and exercise. I have been on an insulin pump for the last 2 years and can't say enough how wonderful it is. My teenage years years were tough due to hormones but as always it's been manageable. Agree 100% n what was said above above constantly learning something new but staying on top of this disease has to be priority. As far as symptoms, I remeber it felt like I had the flu. I was constantly vommitting and became dehydrated. Turns out I was in DKA. My mother took me to the ER and my blood sugar was 820. I don't really remember anthiny about being there, just coming to a day or so later. I'll never forget leaving the hospital about 3 weeks later. It was at that point that my Mom told me they had administered las t rights to me. That really freaked me out but also put things into perspective about how bad things could get if I didn't take care of myself.

Chris

[MMARSH]

My oldest daughter is Type 1. She was diagnosed a year ago when she was eight. SHe recently switched to the pump and its been great. Getting a minimum of four shots a day was really difficult for her. There is no one else in my wife or my family that has diabetes.

[cantdrv55]

I guess I shouldn't complain about being the only diabetic in the family. Luckily, my MD diagnosed my T2 early enough that we can control it with oral meds and a small does of insulin (12 units) once per day. She said 30 minutes on the treadmill every day is non-negotiable. I was more active than that before my diagnosis.