Diabetes & Endocrinology

Diabetes is a lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can be caused by too little insulin—a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar—resistance to insulin, or both.

There Are Three Major Types of Diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, which used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the pancreas produces no insulin.

Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream, which leads to increased hunger.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes:

• Increased urination
• Excessive thirst
• Abdominal pain
• Absence of menstruation
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It begins when the body does not respond correctly to insulin.

Insulin resistance, often brought on by obesity, raises risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance means that fat, liver and muscle cells do not respond normally to insulin. As a result, they don’t store sugar for energy, and the pancreas produces more and more insulin.

Because sugar is not getting into the tissues, abnormally high levels of sugar build up in the blood. People who are overweight have a higher risk of insulin resistance, because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes:

Early in the disease, and possibly for years, people may have no symptoms. Here are things to look for:

• Frequent infections
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing cuts and bruises
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Any of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (diabetes) that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy. Because it can cause problems in the baby and increase the mother’s risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy and delivery by cesarean section, it’s important to monitor for gestational diabetes.

Because there usually are no symptoms, all pregnant women should receive an oral glucose tolerance test between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy to screen for the condition. If diagnosed, both the mother and the fetus will be monitored closely during the pregnancy to keep blood glucose levels within normal limits and to make sure the fetus is healthy. The blood glucose level typically returns to normal after delivery.