For those not up to speed when it comes to epidemiology, you should know that there are around 10,000 diseases that can adversely affect an individual’s health and overall wellbeing. And this includes metabolic disorders, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 34 million Americans have diabetes. Of those, 5 to 10 percent were diagnosed with type 1, and 90 to 95 percent were diagnosed with type 2. While the cause of type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ, both can trigger a wide range of unpleasant symptoms and severe diabetic complications if not monitored and kept under control.
What Is Diabetes and What Causes It in the First Place?
In short, diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by excessive amounts of sugar, otherwise known as glucose, in the blood. Diabetic symptoms will present themselves when the body cannot make or use available insulin. In either case, the root cause is blood sugar spikes, which stem from having too much sugar in the bloodstream. That stated, let’s turn our attention to what causes this kind of disease in the first place.
Starting first with type 1 diabetes, this form of the disease is common among young children and teenagers but can occur at any age. While the exact cause is unknown, some studies have suggested that type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system confuses insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas with bacteria or viruses and mistakenly destroys them. Other studies have cited environmental and lifestyle factors as also being causally related to the development of type 1 diabetes. Some of these factors include the following:
- Being breastfed as an infant
- Exposure to enteroviruses
- A vitamin D deficiency
- Consuming an unhealthy diet
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Exposure to polluted water or contaminated soil
- A family history of type 1 diabetes
When an individual has type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer secretes insulin. And this lack of insulin invariably leads to hyperglycemia. Once this happens, cells in the body lose the ability to convert food to energy and are eventually damaged. Some of the early symptoms typical of type 1 diabetes include the following:
- Feeling chronically hungry or thirsty
- A frequent urge to urinate
- Feeling fatigued
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Halitosis
- Itchy skin
As far as type 2 diabetes is concerned, studies show that this form of the disease often stems from being either overweight or obese. Also known as adult-onset diabetes, this form of the disease generally develops when individuals are in their mid-30s. However, it can sometimes occur earlier or much later in life as well. Unlike type 1 diabetes, the pancreas still secretes insulin in those with type 2 diabetes. But it is not enough to be used effectively by cells in the body. Commonly referred to as insulin resistance, the cells’ inability to properly use and convert blood sugar into energy causes a dangerous spike in blood sugar levels. Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes are nearly identical to those associated with type 1, with the only discernible difference being the amount of time before symptoms begin to reveal themselves.
Diabetic Complications: Why Diabetes Is So Dangerous
Many will argue that the most dangerous part of living with diabetes is the risk of suffering a diabetic complication, which can happen if blood sugar levels remain too high for too long. Some of the ones associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes include the following:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Nerve and kidney damage
- Retinopathy
- Foot ulcers
- Skin problems
- Hearing impairment
- Vision problems
- Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases
What You Should Know About Preventing and Treating Diabetes
Studies show that just 30 minutes of exercise each day can contribute to a healthy weight, which, in turn, reduces the risk of developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Likewise, consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet can help in this regard as well. Avoiding hormonal imbalances, such as low human growth hormone (HGH) levels, for example, can also go a long way toward lessening the risk of developing either form of the disease.
As far as treatments, insulin replacement drugs can benefit those diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In essence, these medications, such as Humalog, Novolog, and Apidra, work by facilitating the removal of sugar from the blood and transporting it to tissue throughout the body. Once the sugar has made its way to these various tissues, it turns into energy and allows the body to function optimally. Additionally, these medications prevent the liver from secreting more sugar, which forestalls the resumption of high blood sugar levels.
Keeping Your Growth Hormone Levels Normal: How an HGH Deficiency Could Lead to Diabetes
Along with all of the other ill-effects that come with having low growth hormone levels, such as low bone density, weight gain, and low libido, for example, high blood sugar is one of them, say many endocrinologists. When blood sugar levels remain too high for too long, it can increase the risk of developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. And there are a couple of reasons why this is the case. Firstly, low HGH levels can interfere with lipolysis, a process whereby the body breaks down fat. Usually Norditropin Flexpro Pen is used as one of the most common and effective HGH brands for deficiency treatment. Second, it interferes with ketosis, a metabolic state whereby the liver produces ketone bodies.
These ketone bodies are responsible for breaking down fatty acids and supplying the body with energy. The longer these processes continue to be interrupted, the more likely it is that an individual will develop type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Of course, this is in addition to the ill-effects associated with having below-average growth hormone levels. Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that includes the use of growth hormone replacement drugs can boost low GH levels, which, in turn, minimizes the chances of developing either form of diabetes. And for those who already have the disease, HRT can also ease diabetic symptoms and lower the likelihood of suffering a diabetic complication.
Bottom Line
In summary, many things can put individuals at risk of developing diabetes, from excess body fat and hormonal imbalances to genetics and everything in-between. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to those struggling with this particular metabolic disorder. That being said, if anything detailed in this article resonates with you, you’re encouraged to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician or an endocrinologist today.
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