Summarize the following:
Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high (hyperglycemia) due to a lack of insulin or a tissue insensitivity to it. In general terms, type 1 diabetes is more serious because your body (pancreas) doesn't make any insulin, whereas with the type 2 variety your body doesn't make or use insulin efficiently.. Both forms can be fatal if not treated. All type 1 diabetics need insulin shots on a daily basis, whereas a large proportion of type 2 diabetics can manage their condition with special diets, weight loss and exercise. Type 2 diabetes is much more common and is linked to obesity, which causes tissues of the body to be less sensitive to the effects of insulin essentially ignoring its impact. Insulin can't be taken by mouth (orally) in order to lower blood glucose levels because stomach enzymes interfere with its action. People with type 2 diabetes tend to be overweight and develop their symptoms slowly, whereas type 1 diabetics experience symptoms quickly and they tend to be more severe. The most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, sweet smelling breath (due to ketone breakdown), severe fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores and frequent infections. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, although it usually appears during childhood or adolescence. Diabetic kids are usually very thin, gaunt and tired looking. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, although it's most common in people older than 40 who are obese. Without insulin treatment, diabetes can progress and lead to nerve damage (neuropathy), heart disease, kidney damage, blindness, numbness in limbs and various skin conditions. Having diabetes and needing to inject insulin on a daily basis is sometimes like walking on a tightrope. Injecting too much insulin can lead to hypoglycemia due to having too much glucose removed from your bloodstream. On the other hand, not injecting enough promotes hyperglycemia as too much glucose is left within the blood stream. Your doctor can estimate the amounts, but it depends on your dietary choices. As such, diabetics must monitor their own blood sugar levels and determine for themselves when to inject. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include: excessive sweating, shakiness, weakness, hunger, dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, heart palpitations, irritability, slurred speech, drowsiness, confusion, fainting and seizures. Skipping meals and exercising too much can also promote hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can be treated at home in most cases by consuming quickly absorbed carbohydrates, such as fruit juice, ripe berries, white bread with honey and/or glucose tablets.
Distinguish between diabetes types. Recognize the symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Understand the risks of injecting insulin.